Essentially a brand name for Jack DeJohnette's groups. Originally an exploration of freebop and composition, in a two-woodwinds, bass (or cello), and drums format (with DeJohnette occasionally handling keyboard parts), and the beginning of mainstream acceptance for 70s avant-gardists, as ECM signed the Art Ensemble of Chicago (et al) during this period. SE (and ECM, with its major-label distribution) gave players like Arthur Blythe, David Murray, and Chico Freeman wider exposure.