🎵 AotW AOTW: Don Cherry - ART DECO (CD-5258)

[Captain Bacardi]

Don Cherry
ART DECO
A&M CD-5258

Released 1989
Peaked at #9 on the Top Jazz Albums chart (1989)

Format: Vinyl/CD/Cassette

Produced by John Snyder
Executive Producer: Steve Ralbovsky

Songs:

• 1. Art Deco (Don Cherry) - 8:39
  2. When Will The Blues Leave (Ornette Coleman) - 7:08
  3. Body And Soul (Johnny Green) - 6:30
  4. Bemsha Swing (Denzil Best/Thelonious Monk) - 9:39
  5. Maffy (Don Cherry) - :39
  6. Folk Medley (Charlie Haden) - 2:42
  7. The Blessing (Ornette Coleman) - 5:32
  8. Passing (Billy Higgins) - 3:00
  9. I've Grown Accustomed To Your Face (Jay Lerner/Frederic Loewe) - 6:50
  10. Compute (Ornette Coleman) - 5:05

Musicians:
Don Cherry - Trumpet
James Clay - Tenor Saxophone
Charlie Haden - Bass
Billy Higgins - Drums

Recorded directly to two-track digital tape using a Sony 3402 (Dash) recorder, on August 27, 28 and 30, 1988 at Van Gelder Recording Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Rudt Van Gelder - Engineer

Art Direction: Chuck Beeson with Ph.D
Design: Ph.D
Photography: Carol Friedman
Liner notes: Doug Ramsey, Charlie Haden, Billy Higgins, James Clay and Don Cherry

This was the first release of the A&M Modern Masters Jazz Series


Capt. Bacardi

 

[LPJim]

What a fine series this was, and I purchased every item in it. Still have the long boxes.
Great solos and ensemble work by all. This was the first appearance by Clay, who had retired from the road, in many years.
Recommend highly.
JB

 

[Captain Bacardi]

In fact, this album is a reunion of sorts as all four of these musicians were a part of Ornette Coleman's early band in the 50's. James Clay had come back here to Texas and just played locally before getting the call to do this album.

This was an exceptional series. I have a couple of these on vinyl, but the rest only on CD.



Capt. Bacardi

 

[Captain Bacardi]

This is just an outstanding album. For those who didn't care for Don Cherry's "free jazz" albums, this one may surprise you. Here Cherry follows a more mainstream mode playing many standards. Cherry's trumpet playing is solid, and James Clay's sax work is equally strong. It's hard to pick a favorite on this album, but I'll pick the title tune as well as "I've Grown Accustomed To Your Face". I also love Cherry's interpretation of the Monk classic "Bemsha Swing". This is a great album from top to bottom. 5 stars.

Incidenatlly, I just learned that Rolling Stone magazine declared this album as the Record of the Year for 1989. Not bad for a jazzer!



Capt. Bacardi