Elephantasy: Elephantasy/Our Feelings/Bismallah/Wind, Sand and Stars
Blue Note arrived late on the '60s avant-garde scene, only recording figures like Eric Dolphy, Ornette Coleman, and Cecil Taylor after they had disappeared from the rosters of other major American jazz labels. Complete Com... more »munion, from 1964, was Don Cherry's first session as a leader after brilliant sideman contributions with Ornette Coleman and Sonny Rollins, and it's one of the landmark records of the era. The music consists of two long suites of interlocking Cherry compositions, and they're played with telepathic precision and explosive energy by a great quartet of Gato Barbieri on tenor saxophone, bassist Henry Grimes, and Cherry's long-term collaborator Ed Blackwell on drums. Cherry is in superb form, throwing off high notes like bright spears and twisting lines that suddenly rebound into the ensembles. For those who only know Barbieri's work from his later, more commercially inclined Brazilian-flavored work, his playing here will be a revelation. He combines an original sound, booting energy, and a startling melodic fluency that leaps freely over his horn's range. This is an essential document of jazz in the '60s. --Stuart Broomer« less
Blue Note arrived late on the '60s avant-garde scene, only recording figures like Eric Dolphy, Ornette Coleman, and Cecil Taylor after they had disappeared from the rosters of other major American jazz labels. Complete Communion, from 1964, was Don Cherry's first session as a leader after brilliant sideman contributions with Ornette Coleman and Sonny Rollins, and it's one of the landmark records of the era. The music consists of two long suites of interlocking Cherry compositions, and they're played with telepathic precision and explosive energy by a great quartet of Gato Barbieri on tenor saxophone, bassist Henry Grimes, and Cherry's long-term collaborator Ed Blackwell on drums. Cherry is in superb form, throwing off high notes like bright spears and twisting lines that suddenly rebound into the ensembles. For those who only know Barbieri's work from his later, more commercially inclined Brazilian-flavored work, his playing here will be a revelation. He combines an original sound, booting energy, and a startling melodic fluency that leaps freely over his horn's range. This is an essential document of jazz in the '60s. --Stuart Broomer
Robert M. Ethington Jr. | Akron, Ohio USA | 04/26/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This long unavailable album is a true masterpiece of the '60's avant-garde - At times wild, at times serene and contemplative, always captivating... The interplay between the musicians is amazing, with Barbieri's sax and Blackwell's drumming especially noteworthy. Being a limited edition makes this cd an immediate must-buy for any fan of Coltrane, Ornette, or transcendent music!"
A great outing
teresa ruggles | olathe, KS United States | 06/30/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"upon first seeing this album, i was a bit skeptical. i know that i love Don Cherry, Ed Blackwell, and Henry Grimes. but Gato Barbieri? The master of Latin Jazz? he stopped me from actually giving the disc a listen for a long time. but finally i did hear it and to much my surprise (and happiness) it was hot! Barbieri almost steals the show. but Don Cherry matches him every step of the way. if you love Ornette Coleman's recordings with Cherry and want to hear him in a "leader" role then this album is a good place to start. his later stuff really moved a lot into world music and i don't dig it as much. but this album smokes!"
Just unmissable
Corrado Beldi | Jazz Critic, Milano, Italy | 01/13/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Era ora! Dopo anni di oblio torna alla luce uno dei grandi capolavori del free jazz. Questo disco, registrato nel 1965 dal cornettista Don Cherry con il tenorsassofonista argentino Gato Barbieri ed una sezione ritmica composta da Henry Grimes al contrabbasso e Ed Blackwell alla batteria, rimane uno dei momenti più importanti di tutta la stagione free. Cherry, reduce da una lunga militanza nel quartetto di Ornette Coleman, trova in Barbieri il compagno ideale per intraprendere un dialogo brillante, fatto di suggerimenti, urli ed intrecci, condotto con una comunione d'intenti che sembra quasi telepatica. Anche la sezione ritmica, che crea una base poliritmica sulla quale i fiati tessono le loro trame, non disdegna d'intervenire nella conversazione. Nei due lunghi brani che compongono il disco, l'improvvisazione free e post-bop si contamina d'influssi etnici, regalando una musica che ancora oggi suona innovativa e non può che farci notare come molti degli attuali astri del jazz stiano in effetti ripercorrendo strade gia esplorate trentacinque anni fa.
Arthur Cravan"
ELEPHANTASTIC
Roscoe Stromboli | Gondwanaland | 04/22/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"one of the best conceived free jazz works i've heard in a long time, great reissue top flight band Blackwell, Barbeiri, Grimes and Cherry - complete and collective communion , spiritual swing"
Playful and evocative
Chet Fakir | DC | 07/02/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is a very good CD comprised of two tracks approximately 20 minutes each in length. Each track is divided into several sections alternating between composed and improvised free workouts which flow together to form a suite. There is a great variety in the many composed and improvised parts in each of the pieces. Some are boppish' others full of melodic and rhythmic abandon. Some have an almost tribal feel to them courtesy of Ed Blackwell. Still others are quiet and gentle, though never for long. Throughout the CD Ed Blackwell plays some complex and swinging drums. He's a sympathetic and aware player who pushes and pulls at the right moments. Likewise Henry Grimes bass playing. He's a nimble player who keeps everthing moving and is dynamically aware. Don Cherry and Gato Barbieri are playful with the composed parts and very free and lyrical with their solos. Initially I was surprised by Gato's presence in this a more free setting, but he plays fine and has a warm and strong tenor sound. Don plays exceptionally well, really stretching out and is in fine tone throughout. These guys seem to be having a lot of fun and its infectious. Overall this CD is both complex and rewarding. The twenty minutes per song goes by quickly. Not groundbreaking but a very enjoyable set of 1960's era free jazz. One can really hear the influence of this CD and Ornettes early work in the Masada series by John Zorn."