Mu (album)

''Mu'', First Part and Second Part, is a pair of albums by multi-instrumentalist Don Cherry. The albums, which also feature drummer Ed Blackwell, were recorded in August 1969 at Studio Saravah in Paris, and were released by BYG Records as part of their Actuel series in 1969 (First Part) and 1970 (Second Part). In 1971, BYG released both parts together as a single box set. ''Mu'' was one of the first efforts in what would come to be known as world music.

In December 1977, Cherry and Blackwell presented a concert at New York University called "Mu, Part Three."

Reception

In a review for AllMusic, Brian Olewnick wrote: "This classic pair of recordings... captures Don Cherry near the height of his global quest to absorb as much music as possible from different cultures and funnel it back through his jazz sensibility. It's one of the earliest, and most successful, experiments in what would later come to be known as world music... The ''Mu'' sessions have long held legendary status and it's not difficult to hear why. Highly recommended."

The authors of ''The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings'' called the recordings "an exhilarating musical experience," and stated: "This one never fails to delight... herry'srange is astonishing, everything from bright New Orleans vamps and marches to African songs, folksy Americana to totally free passages."

Robert Palmer, writing for ''The New York Times'', noted that the albums "were of real importance. They announced a new, world-embracing esthetic for jazz, for while they included improvising in a Coleman-inspired vein, they also reached out to include rhythm patterns, scales and instruments from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific."

Author Ekkehard Jost commented: "Stripped of all frills and governed solely by the creative will and musical experience of Cherry as 'agent,' and the sensitivity of Blackwell as 'reagent,' these duo recordings afford a unique view of the quintessence of Cherry's music."

The authors of ''Music Is Rapid Transportation'' wrote: "''Mu''... represents a powerful early example of world-jazz fusion... The way in which Ed Blackwell... can draw out dozens of referents and subtly coax Pan-African sounds from his kit is remarkable... Throughout there is an engaging energy and plenty of space for improvisation."

Track listings

All music composed by Don Cherry.

First Part

# "Brilliant Action" – 8:50
# "Omejelo" – 7:25
# "Total Vibration (Part 1)" – 3:00
# "Total Vibration (Part 2)" – 6:00
# "Sun of the East" – 7:30
# "Terrestrial Beings" – 4:42

Second Part

# "The Mysticism of my Sound" – 4:00
# "Medley: Dollar Brand / Spontaneous Composing / Exert, Man on the Moon" – 3:15
# "Bamboo Night" – 6:07
# "Teo-Teo-Can" – 6:30
# "Smiling Faces Going Places" – 5:00
# "Psycho-Drama" – 2:45
# "Medley: Theme Albert Heath / Theme Dollar Brand / Baby Rest, Time For..." – 3:55

Personnel

* Don Cherry – trumpet, piano, flute, voice, bells, percussion
* Ed Blackwell – drums, percussion, bells

References

{{Reflist

1969 albums
1970 albums
Don Cherry (trumpeter) albums
BYG Actuel albums