Vattel Cherry

Vattel Cherry: Disciplines

by Mark Corroto
February 1, 2002

Bassist Vattel Cherry’s double disc release of chamber, free-jazz begs for its listener’s patience from the outset. It delivers the goods, but not without a wait. Cherry is probably best known for his work with Charles Gayle, having recorded with the saxophonist on the Knitting Factory, FMP, and Silkheart labels. With his high-energy jazz credentials established, he opts for less grandiosity in these trio sessions.

This recording is split between two trios. The first finds Cherry with Jackie Blake and ...

Blaise Siwula, Vattel Cherry and Jeff Arnal: Expositions of Freedom...Now!

by Derek Taylor
September 30, 2001

Under the unifying sobriquet of Expositions of Freedom...Now! the trio of Blaise Siwula, Vattel Cherry and Jeff Arnal is an aggregate that seizes the process of spontaneous composition as its central fuel source. Siwula and Cherry's association hearkens back half a decade to where the two met in a Cecil Taylor large ensemble. The saxophonist has since lent his skills to an album under Cherry's name For Those Who Heal. Arnal is a recent addition to the fold, but his ...

Badlands: Expositions of Freedom...Now!

by Glenn Astarita
June 1, 2001

No doubt, saxophonist Blaise Siwula has blossomed into one of New York City's most prominent modern jazz-based improvisers and free-jazz event organizers. However, the trio known Badlands is a group effort featuring the equally noteworthy bassist Vattel Cherry and drummer Jeff Arnal, as this set was recorded live at the “Knitting Factory." From the onset of the fifteen minute opus “Freedom of Thought," the band's charter is quickly established as expressionistic imagery converges with multifarious elements and well-stated ...

Vattel Cherry's Bassresp: Bassresp

by AAJ Staff
May 1, 2001

You have to give Bassrespänse credit for boldness and imagination. It's not every day that a bass quartet steps out and covers the ground from down-home blues to swinging jazz and extended drones and scrapes. As expected, Bassrespänse delivers a sonority rich in the lower frequencies. The four bassists in this group strive for a balance of thunder and lightning: by also attacking the upper register, they cover a much wider range than one might imagine. Though the quartet has ...

F. Vattel Cherry: For Those Who Heal

by Glenn Astarita
October 1, 2000

For Those Who Heal is a self-produced live set brought to us by ex-Charles Gayle bassist, solo artist and altogether industrious modern jazz denizen, F. Vattel Cherry.

A series of duets with fellow bassists Peter Hickey, John Voigt, alto saxophonist Blaise Siwula and guitarist, multi-instrumentalist Ras Chris, the music was recorded at various East Coast venues while at times, it seems as though the mic’s were placed a tad too far away from the musicians. Yet many of these improvisations ...

F Vattel Cherry: Is It Because I'm Black

by Glenn Astarita
January 1, 2000

F. Vattel Cherry utters his sentiments while paying tribute to “pre-Revolutionary” America through the mouthpiece of his double-bass, small percussion instruments and spoken word on Is It Because I’m Black. Cherry displays formidable technique yet digs deep from within while performing on his rich, resonant double-bass as he stylishly renders deeply personalized if not passionate versions of public domain pieces, such as “Oh, Freedom”, “Go Down, Moses” and others. His composition titled, “1982”, features Cherry tapping out a engagingly melodic ...