Don Cherry (1936-1995) crafted an extraordinary legacy by blending Bebop with Free Jazz and World Music. He rose to prominence in the late 1950s through his pioneering work with Ornette Coleman, whose avant-garde sound and unconventional compositional structures challenged jazz norms. Their collaborations not only revolutionized the jazz scene but also became part of the broader social and cultural revolution of the 1960s in America.

Cherry’s musical curiosity transcended American jazz, drawing inspiration from global musical traditions. His arrangements often combined experimental instrumentation with the ancient, sacred musical practices of the regions he explored. His Bebop-infused solos, though rooted in tradition, gave Free Jazz a sense of continuity with the past, maintaining an essential connection to jazz’s evolving narrative.

At the time of his passing, Don Cherry had solidified one of jazz’s most distinctive legacies. His unique fusion of jazz with exotic musical traditions emphasized artistic expression over technical virtuosity, creating a fresh contemporary style that was both deeply spiritual and musically adventurous. Cherry’s music, marked by its joyful energy and thoughtful depth, fused the ancient with the modern, the avant-garde with the traditional. He remains a pivotal figure in the development of World Music, standing as a jazz original who expanded the boundaries of the genre.

Don Cherry: Pocket Trumpet, Keyboards, Doussin Gouni, Melodica, African Percussion, Flute, & Vocals
Peter Apfelbaum: Tenor Sax, Keyboards, Flute, & Percussion
Bo Freeman: Bass
Joshua Jones: Drums & Tablas