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Posted (edited)

I think that Cherry's album "Complete Communion" is the apogee of the concepts presented more than 5 years before its recording by the Coleman - Cherry groups. It extends and crystallizes the same ideas of harmonic freedom but it is also much more fun to listen.

The first piece "Complete Communion is more than 20 minutes long but one never feels it. It works on a subconscious level without trying to understand what exactly is going on. Constantly interesting and what is more important constantly surprising.

The wealth of melodic material is amazing. Don Cherry was a super talented writer. Most of the tunes are short, simple and iterated many times. They serve as starting material for improvisations and also as links between the parts of the composition. The song like themes are get stuck in your brain and you just can't get rid of humming them all day long. Cherry's improvisations are far from being perfect but they are full of melodic discoveries and an imaginative exploration of his own tunes. Gato Barbieri with his tenor sax is much more powerful. He is technically accomplished and exciting.

My favorite tune is the one that starts circa the 14th minute when Blackwell changes his use of the drum (I'm not a drummer and can't tell exactly what he is doing but I love it). The final theme is relaxed and somehow official before the beginning is restated and the music halts.

"Elephantasy" starts with a playful tune that is built in a ABA form and a rubato coda which also serves as an introduction to the next theme. The A section has a jumpy melody made of strong rhythmic motifs while the short B is more relaxed and ceremonial. The coda (circa 4 minutes and 45 seconds from beginning) actually contains one phrase initiated several times by Cherry. After the phrase is stated the band locks into a harmony and moods and comments freely. Cherry plays the role of a conductor and a composer simultaneously leading the musicians to new moods and leaving them space for self expression.

The second tune begins at about 6 min. and 20 sec. Barbieri solos typically for him, fiercely with great passion but also logically and songfully. The end of his solo is marked by an accompaniment comprised of long tones played by the horn and Don is next. Notice the difference and the similarities in Gato's accompaniment for him. Grimes brief solo is built around the central motive of this tune and Blackwell changes his drumming to a more subtle one.

The final bunch of melodic material is presented between the 11th and the 14th minutes when a 3/4 groove starts on which Cherry, Barbieri and Grimes run their solos. Most of the ending after the 17th minute mixes prewritten melodies with ornamentations on those melodies. The ornamentations are not the exactly the same as the old masters like Armstrong and Lester Young used to do.

The restatement of the first tune before the ending makes this piece into a cohesive whole.

Edited by Alon Marcus
Posted

Nice review. :tup I'm in total agreement about how much fun this record is ( :wub: ), as well as how the tunes can easily get stuck in one's head (which I think is a good thing!!).

Communion is my favorite Cherry album (among many great ones), and it certainly rivals the best of Ornette's recordings from the 50's and 60's.

The other thing I love about Communion is that it has enough hooks, or tunes if you will, to allow someone who's not necessarily into Free music to get (and keep) a handle on things. That, and though the tunes are memorable, they're not overly simplistic either.

My wife, who isn't into Free jazz (not even one tiny bit -- she really dislikes the stuff, greatly) -- she could listen to this and admit there was structure, and definitely a sense of group interplay.

One of the most "perfect" recordings I can think of, start to finish. Definitely a 5-star recording, if ever there was one.

Guest akanalog
Posted

as one who does not care for "freer" jazz, and who also doesn't generally enjoy this kind of pianoloss (or guitarless or vibeless-i need something chordal or textural besides bass/drums/horn) form-in fact i do not care for ornette's quartets and also i don't generally care for barbieri when he gets a full head of steam-i have to say this is a great album. it does have all these little hooks. just cleverly constructed and very intelligent music. and ed blackwell is incredible. i really like his snappy way of keeping the rhythm going. i also did not like "symphony for improvisers" nearly as much as this.

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