David Dalle
Thursday July 10th, 2025 with David Dalle
Don Cherry's groundbreaking "Mu First Part" with drummer Ed Blackwell; music from Morocco, Algeria, Mali, and more.
I've been listening to Don Cherry's 1969 album "Mu First Part". He recorded this album a couple of weeks after attending the 1969 Pan-African Festival in Algiers. This event drew musicians, writers, scholars, and revolutionaries from all over Africa as well as Europe and United States, from Miriam Makeba to Nina Simone. It was significant in launching a deep interest in African music and culture among many great jazz musicians, including Don Cherry. "Mu First Part" is essentially one long suite of music, celebrating freedom and an incredible openness towards music. Don Cherry had tremendous interest in not only African music, but Asian music and this became central to his music in the 70's. When Don Cherry plays his pocket trumpet on this album, I am reminded of the double-reeded ghaitas from Morocco, when he switches to bansuri, I am reminded of Balinese music. This is such joyful music making.
| Brilliant Action Don Cherry and Ed Blackwell - Mu First Part - BYG Records |
| Amejelo Don Cherry and Ed Blackwell - Mu First Part - BYG Records |
| Total Vibration (Part 1) Don Cherry and Ed Blackwell - Mu First Part - BYG Records |
| Total Vibration (Part 2) Don Cherry and Ed Blackwell - Mu First Part - BYG Records |
| Sun of the East Don Cherry and Ed Blackwell - Mu First Part - BYG Records |
| Terrestrial Beings Don Cherry and Ed Blackwell - Mu First Part - BYG Records |
| Along the same lines as that 1969 festival in Algiers, these fantastic recordings, literally two of the best recordings of Malian music I know (which is saying something!), were from a National festival in Mali in 1970. What wouldn't I give to go back in time and attend it... These are two separate recordings with the same title. There are more... I need to find them. |
| Terena Orchestre Regional de Kayes - Les meilleurs Souvenirs de la 1ier Biennale artistique et culturelle de la Jeunesse (1970) - Editions du Ministere de l'Information |
| An jigi ye mali ye Orchestre Regional de Mopti - Les meilleurs Souvenirs de la 1ier Biennale artistique et culturelle de la Jeunesse (1970) - Mississippi Records |
| The drums in this Jajouka piece really end up moving the Earth! Heartpounding! |
| Dancing Under The Moon Master Musicians of Jajouka - Dancing Under The Moon - Glitterbeat |
| Not surprising the Pan-African festival in 1969 was held in Algiers, I have a friend from Algiers who has told me Algiers is the city of music. Many of the great Algerian musicians I have recordings of, are from Algiers, as is the Andalusian music association. |
| Da'u muqlati tabka al-Adjazairiya al-Mossiliya - Musique andalouse d'Alger - Institut du Monde Arabe |
| Law kana al-milah al-Adjazairiya al-Mossiliya - Musique andalouse d'Alger - Institut du Monde Arabe |
| Lawlaka ma himtu wajda al-Adjazairiya al-Mossiliya - Musique andalouse d'Alger - Institut du Monde Arabe |
| Fi'ichqati har at-tabib al-Adjazairiya al-Mossiliya - Musique andalouse d'Alger - Institut du Monde Arabe |
| Bittu achku al-gharam al-Adjazairiya al-Mossiliya - Musique andalouse d'Alger - Institut du Monde Arabe |
| Ya tura tura... Atani zamani - Qudum al-habib - Ma kuntu adri al-Adjazairiya al-Mossiliya - Musique andalouse d'Alger - Institut du Monde Arabe |
| Emmanuele Abel Selaocoe - Hymns of Bantu - Warner Classics |
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WHAT A TREAT, David ! Thank you, man !
2:02 PM, July 10th, 2025