The music in the Chateauvallon concert aspired to a universal language that would bring people together through song. In a fairly unprecedented move, Don abandoned his signature pocket trumpet for the piano and harmonium, thereby liberating his voice as an instrument for shamanic guidance. The show opens with him beckoning the audience to clap their hands and sing the Indian theta Dha Dhin Na, Dha Tin Na, and the set cycles through uplifting and sacred tunes of Malian, South African, Brazilian, and Native American provenanceincluding pieces that would later appear on Dons albums Organic Music Society and Home Boy (Sister Out)all punctuated by outbursts of possessed glossolalia from the puppeteers. Relativity Suite, Part 1 notably spotlights Bothn on donso ngoni, a Malian hunters guitar, prior to Vasconcelos taking an extended solo on berimbau. A vortex of wah-like microtonal rattling, Vasconceloss masterful demonstration of this single-stringed Brazilian instrument is a harbinger of his work to come as a member, with Don, of the acclaimed group Codona. The sounds of children playing on the ensembles achingly tender rendition of Jim Peppers oft-covered beacon of spiritual optimism, Witchi Tai To, lends the proceedings an especially intimate, domestic glow. Given the context of the star-studded international jazz festival, the concerts laid back, communal vibe feels like an attempt by the Cherrys to show Dons jazz audience that he was moving on. At the same time, however, Don was extending a warmhearted invitation for them to come along for the ride. Blank Forms Editions

Organic Music Theatre: Festival de jazz de Chateauvallon 1972 by Don Cherry’s New Researches featuring Nan Vasconcelos

Label:

INA BF-023

Series:

Blank Forms Editions 023

Format:

2 x Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo

Country:

USA & Europe

Released:

18 Jun 2021

Genre:

Jazz, Folk, World, & Country

Style:

Avant-garde Jazz, Free Improvisation