Art Ensemble of Soweto was created in 1989.

Art Ensemble of Chicago with Fontella Bass was created in 1970-08.

Phase One - Art Ensemble of Chicago album - was created in 1971-02.

Nathan Coppedge says that art in the high sense is 'decorative metaphysics'. And that it consists of up to three parts: (1) Ensemble, (2) Conceptualization, and (3) Perspective. Ensemble is the easiest form of originality. Conceptualization is the easiest way to cheat. Ultimately, however, art depends on perspective, which is actually not present in every type of art.

Slavery and the cultural factors are critical to understanding the 20th century art.