# CD review: Don Cherry – Cherry Jam 2021: Video, CD cover

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2021/02/26/cd-review-don-cherry-cherry-jam-2021-video-cd-cover/
- Published: 2021-02-26T22:47:46+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**After having released Don Cherry’s Cherry Jam as a limited Record Store Day title
in the Autumn of 2020, Gearbox presents this essential release on specialist Japanese
Edition vinyl and CD as well as digitally.**

‘Cherry Jam’ sets the scene in 60s Copenhagen, a city which at the time proved instrumental
in the hosting and development of jazz musicians both local and American. Cherry
had performed and recorded there with Archie Shepp in 1963, toured with Albert Ayler
in the autumn of 1964, and would go on to have a residency at the hip Cafe Montmartre
in 1966.

Our recording is taken from the original tape of a 1965 radio broadcast, programmed
by Denmark’s national radio station (Danmarks Radio.) It was in this same year that
Cherry
 would record his landmark Blue Note recording, ‘Complete Communion’, with
Leandro ‘Gato’ Barbieri on tenor saxophone, Henry Grimes on double bass, and Edward
Blackwell on drums, as well as feature on fellow American expatriate George Russell’s
live album ‘George Russell Sextet at Beethoven Hall’. This particular line-up however,
consisting of Danish musicians, has never been heard after its original broadcast
date, and neither have the three original Don Cherry compositions that are featured
on the recording credits.

These four pieces show Don Cherry in the midst of his transformation from pivotal
sideman in New York’s avant-garde jazz scene to leader of his own groups and world
traveller. His endless curiosity, free-thinking openness to different cultures, 
and rejection of musical boundaries paved the way for future creators in jazz, world
music, and beyond.

 1. The Ambassador from Greenland (05:32)
 2. You Took Advantage of Me (05:15)
 3. Priceless (06:47)
 4. Nigeria (04:48)

**Don Cherry – cornet**
 **Mogens Bollerup – tenor saxophone** **Atli Bjørn – piano****
Benny Nielsen – bass** **Simon Koppel – drums**

![Don Cherry - Cherry Jam - CD – Rough Trade](https://i0.wp.com/images.roughtrade.
com/product/images/files/000/191/956/original/Don_Cherry_-_Cherry_Jam.jpg?w=640&
ssl=1)

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