John Coltrane & Don Cherry - The Avant-Garde (1960) CD Rip

The Avant-Garde is a landmark recording that captures a unique meeting between saxophone innovator John Coltrane and avant-garde trumpeter Don Cherry. Originally recorded in 1960 and later reissued in various editions including this 2006 Atlantic release (catalog WPCR-25103), the album stands as a bold exploration of the emerging free jazz movement. Drawing heavily from the compositional style of Ornette Coleman, the sessions feature a pianoless quartet format that emphasizes melodic freedom, collective improvisation, and unconventional harmonic structures. Coltrane’s soprano and tenor saxophone work blends seamlessly with Cherry’s expressive trumpet lines, creating a dialogue that is both exploratory and cohesive. Supported by a strong rhythm section featuring Charlie Haden and Percy Heath on bass, along with Ed Blackwell on drums, the music balances structure and spontaneity. With compositions like “Focus On Sanity” and “Bemsha Swing,” the album represents a transitional moment in Coltrane’s artistic evolution and remains an essential work in avant-garde jazz history.

Tracklist:
1. Cherryco (6:50)
2. Focus On Sanity (12:17)
3. The Blessing (7:54)
4. The Invisible (4:16)
5. Bemsha Swing (5:06)

Personnel:
John Coltrane - soprano & tenor saxophones
Don Cherry - trumpet
Charlie Haden - acoustic bass
Percy Heath - acoustic bass
Ed Blackwell - drums