Don Cherry appeared on the first two releases by JCOA, albums under the leadership of label founders Carla Bley and Michael Mantler, so their decision to commission him for the third album seemed a wise move, as indeed it was. Using many of the same musicians who contributed to those records and were then established as the loose collective called the Jazz Composer's Orchestra, Cherry molded into a suite a string of the pieces he'd been composing and performing in the previous few years. Under the tutelage of Pandit Pran Nath, Cherry had been studying and increasingly using Indian karnatic singing in his recordings and concerts; he begins this album with a similarly derived chant. As the energy heats up, the orchestra launches into the captivating "Mali Doussn'gouni," featuring a raging tenor solo by Frank Lowe and delightful vocal acrobatics by Cherry. When it slowly dissolves into his achingly beautiful "Desireless," the first half of the album comes to an extremely satisfying conclusion. The remainder of the session is somewhat more of a mixed bag, succeeding off and on. Highlights include Selene Fung's lovely work on the ching, a Chinese koto-like instrument, and Ed Blackwell's exuberant New Orleans marching patterns on the concluding number. While not as breathtaking or cohesive as his Eternal Rhythm, Relativity Suite almost matches that release in its first half and contains many a worthwhile joy. Recommended. - Brian Olewnick
Tracks
01. Tantra
02. Mali Doussn’Gouni
03. Desireless
04. The Queen Of Tung Ting Lake Ching
05. Trans-Love Airways
06. Infinite Gentleness
07. March Of The Hobbits
CHARLES BRAKEEN alto and sopranos saxophones, voice
CARLOS WARD alto saxophone, voice
CHARLIE HADEN bass
ED BLACKWELL drums
SHARON FREEMAN french horn
PAUL MOTIAN percussion
CARLA BLEY piano
DEWEY REDMAN tenor saxophone, voice
FRANK LOWE tenor saxophone, voice
BRIAN TRENTHAM trombone
JACK JEFFERS tuba
LEROY JENKINS violin
JANE ROBERTSON cello
PAT DIXON cello
JOAN KALISCH viola
NAN NEWTON viola
MOKI CHERRY tamboura
SELENE FUNG ching
DON CHERRY trumpet, voice, percussion,
Music composed and conducted by Don Cherry
Recorded on February 14, 1973 at Blue Rock Studio, New York City
JCOA Records / Trio Records PA 7069