Don Cherry: Pocket Trumpet, Global Soul

Don Cherry's pocket trumpet guides free jazz from Ornette Coleman's quartet to global fusion, pioneering 'collage music' and a nomadic spirit from 1965's 'Complete Communion' to 1975's 'Brown Rice'.

Tracklist

  1. Complete Communion — Don Cherry
  2. Lonely Woman — Ornette Coleman
  3. Mopti — Don Cherry
  4. The Shadow of the Cat — Gato Barbieri
  5. Makondi — Don Cherry
  6. Brown Rice — Don Cherry
  7. Mother Of The Veil - Live (Remastered) — Don Cherry
  8. North Brazilian Ceremonial Hymn — Don Cherry

Transcript

Welcome to OffStereo. Good morning — let's get into it.

Complete Communion — Don Cherry

Don Cherry's pocket trumpet became a symbolic instrument for his pioneering integration of global musical traditions with free jazz, reflecting his nomadic lifestyle and collaborative spirit across continents. In 1965, he released his debut as a bandleader, 'Complete Communion', an album that broke new ground in free jazz composition. It featured two side-long suites recorded in continuous takes, weaving together multiple thematic complexes with Argentinian saxophonist Gato Barbieri, bassist Henry Grimes, and drummer Ed Blackwell.

Lonely Woman — Ornette Coleman

Before his solo endeavors, Cherry was a foundational voice in Ornette Coleman's revolutionary quartet. Beginning in 1957, his compact pocket trumpet created a smaller, more nasal sound that, as Ammar Kalia noted, made him the 'open ear capable of turning a monologue without form into a dialogue.' This track, 'Lonely Woman,' captures their groundbreaking collaboration.

Mopti — Don Cherry

By the late 1960s, Cherry's search for new sounds led him to Europe, where he made a profound impact on the burgeoning free jazz scene. He settled in Tågarp, Sweden, with his wife, artist Moki Cherry, and began developing his theory of 'collage music,' incorporating diverse influences. This adventurous spirit is evident on 'Mopti,' a piece that hints at his evolving global vision.

The Shadow of the Cat — Gato Barbieri

Cherry’s time in Europe was also marked by deep collaborations, including with Argentinian saxophonist Gato Barbieri, a key figure in his early Blue Note recordings. They led a band together across Europe from 1964-1966, further cementing Cherry's influence on the continent's avant-garde. 'The Shadow of the Cat' showcases Barbieri's distinctive voice from this era.

Makondi — Don Cherry

In the 1970s, Cherry fully embraced world fusion, studying Indian music with Vasant Rai and mastering a variety of non-Western instruments like the donso ngoni and berimbau. His 1972 double-LP 'Organic Music Society' showcased this pan-ethnic expression, featuring original compositions and covers. 'Makondi' exemplifies his early forays into this global synthesis.

Brown Rice — Don Cherry

Cherry's ability to convey emotional depth through subtle musical manipulation was unparalleled, a strength Blue Note Records highlighted. He refused to be labeled solely a jazz musician, collaborating with figures from experimental theater director Robert Wilson to poet Allen Ginsberg. His 1975 album 'Brown Rice' features this title track, where Cherry's pocket trumpet, sometimes an unconventional Pakistani model, evoked Miles Davis's 'New Directions' while remaining distinctly his own.

Mother Of The Veil - Live (Remastered) — Don Cherry

From 1978 to 1982, Cherry further explored 'world jazz' with Codona, a cooperative trio featuring Brazilian percussionist Naná Vasconcelos and sitar/tabla player Collin Walcott. Their music was a vibrant pastiche of African, Asian, and other indigenous sounds. This live recording of 'Mother Of The Veil' captures the communal, ecstatic spirit that Jennifer Lucy Allan described as the 'beating heart of Don Cherry's oeuvre.'

North Brazilian Ceremonial Hymn — Don Cherry

Don Cherry's journey was one of continuous exploration, proving that wherever and whenever the idea of “world music” was invented, he was its finest exponent. His final works, like 'Multikulti' in 1990, continued his fusion of disparate genres, proving his lifelong dedication to a truly global sound. 'North Brazilian Ceremonial Hymn' captures his enduring fascination with diverse traditions.

Thanks for listening to OffStereo. May the spirit of a traveling horn continue to inspire journeys of sound in your own life.