Elemental Music / Europe / RE 2024
By September 1966, the free jazz movement was in full swing, with musicians like Ornette Coleman, Cecil Taylor, Albert Ayler, and John Coltrane pushing the boundaries of jazz. Amid this experimental landscape, Don Cherry's Symphony for Improvisors stood out for its connection to bebop traditions. While Cherry was part of the free jazz movement, his music retained bebop elements, including walking bass lines, steady rhythms, and structured solos.
The album's traditional feel is largely credited to drummer Ed Blackwell, whose New Orleans-influenced, time-keeping style bridges bebop and free jazz. Cherry’s work also features free jazz elements, such as Karl Berger's use of vibes, the expressive saxophone work of Gato Barbieri and Pharoah Sanders, and collective improvisation.
Symphony for Improvisors represents a blend of bebop's structure and free jazz's adventurous spirit, creating a style often called "free bop." The album's melodic, engaging nature challenges the notion that Cherry's music was once considered un-musical or un-listenable. The result is a joyful, dynamic recording that honors tradition while embracing innovation.