LESS THAN 1
TEMPO DE LEITURA MIN
Don Cherry
★★★
Hear & Now
REAL GONE. LP
Avant-garde trumpeter’s ’70s fusion excursion; a fascinating curio.
A nomadic free spirit who travelled the world absorbing the music of other cultures to build a uniquely personal sonic language, Don Cherry was a supremely versatile horn player who didn’t recognise musical boundaries. Though mainly known for his pioneering work in the avant-garde and world music spheres, in 1977 Cherry ventured into jazz fusion territory for a one-off LP for Atlantic Records produced by Narada Michael Walden. The album wasn’t a critical or commercial success but, as this vinyl reissue reveals, it was certainly adventurous, blending mystical, Easterntinged heavy rock (Mahakali) with Santana-style Latin grooves (California) and Weather Report-influenced funky fusion (Karmapa Chenno). The best track is the atmospheric Universal Mother, where Cherry’s prescient spoken rhymes anticipate hip-hop. The album also boasts a stellar supporting cast, including saxophonist Michael Brecker, bassist Marcus Miller (then just 17), and drummer Tony Williams.