Don Cherry, Complete Communion (side A)

While there was a several year break between Don Cherry's work in Ornette's quartet and his first solo record as a leader, the stylistic evolution is gradual and subtle.  With 1966's Complete Communion, Cherry's melodies and compositional explorations pick up where Ornette's quartets left off, complete with Ed Blackwell on drums.  The biggest structural difference is that while discrete tracks are identified on the record, they flow into each other to create sidelong pieces with continuity between movements.  The other big leap from Ornette's work is the introduction of Gato Barbieri on tenor — where Ornette's alto playing could grow shrill and slightly harsh, Barbieri employs a much smoother sound to soften the entire sound of the quartet.  After Complete Communion, Cherry developed a more personal compositional style, beginning with this album's successor, Symphony for Improvisers.  The glossy paper used for my recent reissue copy does not flatter the packaging design as much as the original matte outside, but the mastering of the vinyl sounds surprisingly impressive.