Fifty years ago, the popularity of rock ‘n roll was in the process of eclipsing, or some even say killing jazz. Changing tastes, sagging record sales, and shuttered clubs left a lot of musicians out of work. Much of the music didn’t feel as vibrant as it did in decades past. And kids weren’t exactly lining up to carry the torch. Into this void stepped a group of South Side players who decided to take matters into their own hands. They called themselves the AACM — the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, and their work went on to have a massive effect on music, art, and culture that continues to this day. Who they are, what they do, how they do it, and why we should pay attention is the subject of an exhibition at the DuSable Museum called “Free at First: The Audacious Journey of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians.” Co-curator and former DuSable CEO Dr. Carol Adams joins us to talk about it. (Courtesy of AACM)