Customer Reviews

Multikulti

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

MULTIKULTI was originally released in the U.S. as the second Don Cherry project for A&M's Modern Masters Jazz Series (A&M CD 5323)in 1990. Unfortunately it quickly went out of print. I gave this one 4 stars because the self-indulgent experiments sometimes get in the way of otherwise beautiful music. The other project, ART DECO (A&M SP and CD 5258), with Charlie Haden, James Clay and Billy Higgins, is a more straight-ahead jazz album, which I'd give 5 stars. It should be reissued as well. What a pity so many great jazz albums go out of print so we have to depend on imports.

Don Cherry was a man of extraordinarily cosmopolitan musical tastes, and better than any other record, "Multikulti" displays this. It may not be his best work, but it is probably his most accessible, and is a highly enjoyable experience.

Moving between different moods, Cherry, backed by several ensembles including such musicians as Nana Vasconcelos, Carlos Ward, Ed Blackwell, Karl Berger and Peter Apfelbaum, the record is a stirring mix of American, European, and African musical traditions, moving seemlessly between forms. Cherry is at his most entertaining on "Multikulti Soothsayer"-- spoken word over doussn'gouni (a bassy, single stringed hunter's bow), pocket trumpet, and synthesizers-- a bizarre story about coming into a shop and meeting a woman of seemingly unlimited potential, and his skills as an instrumental arranger shine on "Birdboy" (a electronics-meets-reggae piece), "Dedication to Thomas Mapfumo (Eastern European-tinged swing with blazing soloing from Ward and Apfelbaum), "Pettiford Bridge" (tuba-driven jazz with phenomenal soloing from Cherry and Ward) and "Until the Rain Comes" (a bizarre pop meets a dozezn world traditions piece with a great vocal from Ingrid Sertso).

All in all, its a great record and there's quite a bit to hear on this. Dig it up, even out of print, its well worth the effort.

This fantastic album by Don Cherry definately rates as one of my all time favourites for its soulful charm and warm atmosphere. There is a strong element of story telling and the listener is take on a journey to the mystical land of musical dreams and traditions. I really can't believe this album is not exremely well know and talked about, thats why I'm raving on!!! I love the variety of styles, flavours, moods and instrumental timbres. A classic Don Cherry.

This is like a sample from several different Don Cherry projects -- Cherry alone with various instruments; Cherry in a great small band with Carlos Ward, Bob Stewart and Ed Blackwell; and Cherry as guest star with Peter Apfelbaum's Hieroglyphic Ensemble. They're all great and quirky each in its own way, and it doesn't sound like a collection of odds and ends -- it sounds like Don Cherry, the original multi-kulti man, jumping from style to style, from era to era, but always capable of making any song his own with two notes from his pocket trumpet!