Hear and Now

Don Cherry

Don Cherry is perhaps the most important avant-garde trumpeter in jazz history. His career took off when he joined up with saxophonist Ornette Colemen in the late 1950s. Coleman's album THE SHAPE OF JAZZ TO COME, on which Cherry is prominently featured, essentially invented the concept of free improvisation in jazz. Cherry would play with Coleman for many years, but also collaborated with avant-garde icons such as John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Archie Shepp and Steve Lacey, to name but a few. Cherry was one of jazz's most eclectic stylists and embraced a host of musical concepts from around the globe, while also guesting on albums for the likes of Lou Reed. A visionary personality with remarkable passion and heart, Don Cherry passed away in 1995. His step-daughter Neneh and son Eagle-eyed have both had successful musical careers as well.