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The discography of trumpeter Don Cherry is one of the
most fascinating in music. Although famously associated
with the ground-breaking free explorations of Ornette
Coleman as his career progressed, Cherry delved into all
manner of waters from cosmic mediative wig-outs to
mainstream funk. He also pioneered what is now branded
as world music, At the other end of the spectrum is this
delicious collaboration with Jon Appleton called "Human
Music". Jon Appleton was an early pioneer of electronic music in
America. He established his first primitive studio whilst
studying at the University of Oregon in the mid-60s.
Assisted by a financial grant this was greatly expanded at
Dartmouth College in New Hampshire in the late 60s where
Appleton began to record his sonic explorations at his
bespoke electronic music studio. It seemed only natural that Appleton would come to the
attention of the questing ears of Flying Dutchman label
supremo Bob Thiele. This led to the album "Appleton
Syntonic Menagerie" released on Flying Dutchman in 1969.
Recorded at the Dartmouth studio it's a fascinating album
rich in ideas, proto synthesiser sounds and sonic
exploration. Listening today, it's as if Steve Stapleton from
Nurse With Wound went back in time to record a secret
album. It was probably Bob Thiele's idea to put Appleton and
Cherry together. Thus, Cherry went to Appleton's
electronic music studio at Dartmouth College to record an
album of improvisations. Apparently, laid down live the
four extended tracks are sparse, spacious and a
compelling listen and where jazz meets early electronica.
As a jazz musician, Cherry not only played wood, bamboo
and metal flutes, kalimbas; earthquake drums, coronet with
traditional mouthpiece and bamboo reed but listened to
Appleton's oscillations to ensure that his parts fit into this
unlikely musical jigsaw.