Don Cherry – Symphony for Improvisers Blue Note BST 84247 (1967)
Cherry leads an all-star cast through a “suite” with plenty of space for raging solos. Some bag on this album because Cherry refined and perfected the style later on Eternal Rhythm, etc. But taken on its own this is still fine stuff. The uniformly excellent performances make it worthwhile. Saxophonist Gato Barbieri has hardly sounded better, Karl Berger is stunning on vibes, and bassist Henry Grimes is sublime. Count this among Cherry’s best.