Industrial noise and African percussion, guitar and saxophones blowing freely over rock and funk rhythms, standard progressions morphed beyond recognition as vehicles for chord-based soloing...and points in between. Recitation of Baha’i text and scatting with processed vocals; dramatic reading (with accompaniment) of the Bodo Chronicles, the adventures of Bodo in Wichita, wide-open cowtown of the eighteen-eighties. Bodo Ensemble has been operating since 1989 when it was a trio and all the material was improvised on the spot. At that point the band consisted of Craig Owens(Wichita) guitar and guitar synth; Glenn Holmes (Cleveland), electric and acoustic bass; and Randy Bowen (Colorado Springs) drums, percussion, electronics, a lot of other stuff. That band released a number of cassettes but so far none of that material has been converted to cd. Some of it may come out this summer. Since the mid-nineties Bodo Ensemble has played Craig Owens’ compositions along with the free improvisations. Noted soloists have been Mike Unruh, Andrew Bishop and Ryan Anselmi. The current lineup is the youngest to date with Bobby Shurden on alto and Jason Whitmore on tenor and flute. Through it all there is a concern for interesting textures, good rhythms and unique song structures.