CiTR

Don Cherry of course is associated with Ornette Coleman but this album shows us by 1965, he was his own man on the trumpet and as a composer. This wonderful album done for Blue Note Records who by the mid-60s had opened it's doors to some of the more adventurous Jazz players like Cecil Taylor, Andrew Hill, Eric Dolphy, Ornette Coleman and of course Don Cherry. Cherry put together a great quartet with newcomer Leandro "Gato" Barbieri from Argentina on tenor saxophone, Henry Grimes on bass and the always creative Edward Blackwell on drums. Two compositions make up the date and both are mini-suites. The first is "Complete Communion" and the second is called "Elephantasy" both are divided into various movements. Freedom and cohesion dominate this date and the band sounds as if it's having fun. There is a wonderful joy and dancing quality to the music along with more introspective moments too. Complete Communion is a gem in Don Cherry's discography.