Don Cherry (trumpeter)

Don Cherry
Don Cherry
	Cherry in Münster, 1987
Background information
Birth name	Donald Eugene Cherry
Born	November 18, 1936; Oklahoma City, U.S.
Died	October 19, 1995 (aged 58); Málaga, Spain
Genres	Free jazz, world fusion, avant-garde jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instrument(s)	Cornet, trumpet, wood flute, tambura, gamelan

Donald Eugene Cherry (November 18, 1936 – October 19, 1995)^[1] was an American jazz trumpeter. Beginning in the late 1950s, he had a long tenure performing in the bands of saxophonist Ornette Coleman, including on the pioneering free jazz albums The Shape of Jazz to Come (1959) and Free Jazz: A Collective Improvisation (1960). Cherry also collaborated separately with musicians such as John Coltrane, Charlie Haden, Sun Ra, Ed Blackwell, the New York Contemporary Five, and Albert Ayler.

Cherry released his debut album as bandleader, Complete Communion, in 1966. In the 1970s, he became a pioneer in world fusion music, drawing on traditional African, Middle Eastern, and Hindustani music. He was a member of the ECM group Codona, along with percussionist Naná Vasconcelos and sitar and tabla player Collin Walcott.^[2] AllMusic called Cherry "one of the most influential jazz musicians of the late 20th century."^[3]

^ Kernfeld, Barry (20 January 2001). "Cherry, Don(ald Eugene)". Grove Music Online (8th ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.05535. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0.
^ Shatz, Adam (6 June 2019). "The Apostle of Now-ness". New York Review of Books. LXVI (10): 30–32.
^ Kelsey, Chris. "Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 July 2021.