Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Don Cherry: Live at Cafe Montmartre 1966 Volume Two

Don Cherry: Live at Cafe Montmartre 1966 Volume Two

By Jerry D'Souza
July 10, 2008
Sign in to view read count

Don Cherry: Live at Cafe Montmartre 1966 Volume Two

Don Cherry was an enigma. In the early days of his career the trumpeter was part of the scene that took jazz through several changes. He did this playing with Ornette Coleman and John Coltrane where the music was transformed into something electrifying. But he also did it with Gato Barbieri, Nana Vasconcelos and Okay Temiz, among others, where his music absorbed different world strains. All of it comprises an interesting body of work that showed not only Cherry's strengths but also his weaknesses.

Cherry had a residency at the Café Montmartre in Copenhagen in 1966. When a decision was made to record the band, bassist Cameron Brown had to make way for Bo Stief because of a local labor laws stipulation that there had to be one Danish musician in the band. The other members were Karl Berger (vibes), Aldo Romano (drums), Barbieri (tenor sax), with multi-instrumentalist Cherry sticking to the trumpet.

Cherry was an adventurer and his band serves him well. They acknowledge the source and then find their own founts of inspiration led by Cherry. They dive in and surface from several stylistic genres, keeping interest pumping all along the way.

The broadcast has been released in two volumes. The first Live at Café Montmartre 1966 Volume One, (ESP Disk) was released in 2007. This volume starts with "Orfeu Negro," a blast of free air from Cherry settling into a mournful line from Barbieri. Cherry noodles quick interjections before he favors melody over fragment as the whole seethes, settles and then jumps up again as Cherry and Berger find the openings to slip in bop, bossa and free jousting.

The band pays tribute to Albert Ayler on "Suite for Albert Ayler" setting up their journey with a march that is Ayler's "Ghost." From there it moves into a saucy samba before they fancy bop. Cherry is at the vanguard, constantly divining the next bend.

The set ends with the appropriately titled "Complete Communion." The band forges a tempestuous run, with Barbieri and Cherry playing with high intensity. Berger rattles the vibes, but keeps melody in focus while Stief and Romano drive the rhythm with high octane energy.

It has been over 40 years since the performance and it has not lost its impact.

Personnel

Don Cherry

trumpet

Album information

Title: Live At Café Montmartre 1966 Volume Two | Year Released: 2008 | Record Label: Nonesuch

< Previous
Ahmad Jamal at The Blue Note

Next >
Within The Fourteenth Hour

Comments

About Don Cherry

Instrument: Trumpet

Tags

For the Love of Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help

To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.