Codona

Last updated
Codona
Genres Free jazz
World fusion
Years active1978 (1978)–1982 (1982)
Labels ECM
Past members Don Cherry
Nana Vasconcelos
Collin Walcott

Codona was a free jazz and world fusion group which released three self-titled albums on the ECM label in 1979, 1981 and 1983. [1] The trio consisted of multi-instrumentalists Don Cherry, Collin Walcott, and Nana Vasconcelos. The name of the group was derived from the first two letters of the musicians' first names (COllin, DOn, NAna). [2]

Contents

The members of the group declared that their goal was "to be open and incorporate all we know, without turning the whole world into milk toast - still encouraging the survival of the traditions". [3] Critic Robert Palmer stated that the group's "self-appointed mission is to fuse African, Indian and other music traditions in the heat of improvisation". [4] The authors of The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD called the group's debut album "one of the iconic episodes in so-called (but never better called) 'world music'", and stated: "Any tendency to regard Codona's music... as floating impressionism is sheer prejudice, for all these performances are deeply rooted in modern jazz (Coltrane's harmonies and rhythms, Ornette Coleman's melodic and rhythmic primitivism) and in another great and related improvisational tradition from Brazil." [5]

Background

The musicians had crossed paths on a number of occasions prior to the formation of the group in 1977. [6] Vasconcelos appeared on Cherry's album Organic Music Society , recorded and released in 1972, [7] while Walcott played on Cherry's Hear & Now , recorded in 1976 and released in 1977. [8] Cherry also appeared on Walcott's Grazing Dreams , recorded and released in 1977, [9] while both Walcott and Vasconcelos played on Egberto Gismonti's Sol do Meio Dia , recorded in 1977 and released in 1978. [10] The members' involvement with Codona overlapped with their participation in other projects, Cherry with Old and New Dreams, Walcott with Oregon, and Vasconcelos with Pat Metheny, Milton Nascimento, Jan Garbarek, Jon Hassell, and others. Although the group was conceived as a leaderless trio, Walcott was the organizer and primary composer. [11] [12]

Codona was noted for its use of a broad range of instrumentation. [13] While Cherry was primarily known as a trumpet and cornet player, he also performed on various flutes, organ, melodica, and the Malian doussn’gouni. [14] Walcott played sitar, tabla, hammered dulcimer, sanza, and timpani, while Vasconcelos performed on berimbau, cuica, talking drum, and a variety of percussion instruments. [14] In addition, all three musicians sang. [14] The group was also known for its unusual arrangements, an example being "Colemanwonder", a medley of two Ornette Coleman tunes combined with Stevie Wonder's "Sir Duke", performed on trumpet, sitar, cuica, and percussion, and appearing on the group's debut album. [13]

The group disbanded following Walcott's death in a traffic accident in East Germany in 1984. [1]

Discography

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<i>Grazing Dreams</i> 1977 studio album by Collin Walcott

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<i>Codona</i> (album) 1979 studio album by Collin Walcott, Don Cherry & Naná Vasconcelos

Codona is the first album by the jazz trio Codona, which featured sitarist and tabla player Collin Walcott, trumpeter Don Cherry and percussionist Naná Vasconcelos. It was recorded in 1978 and released on the ECM label in 1979.

<i>Saudades</i> (Naná Vasconcelos album) 1980 studio album by Naná Vasconcelos

Saudades is an album by Brazilian jazz percussionist Naná Vasconcelos recorded in 1979 and released on the ECM label.

<i>Mágico</i> (album) 1980 studio album by Charlie Haden, Jan Garbarek & Egberto Gismonti

Mágico is an album by bassist Charlie Haden, saxophonist Jan Garbarek and guitarist Egberto Gismonti recorded in 1979 and released on the ECM label.

<i>Folk Songs</i> (Charlie Haden album) 1981 studio album by Charlie Haden, Jan Garbarek & Egberto Gismonti

Folk Songs is an album by bassist Charlie Haden, saxophonist Jan Garbarek and guitarist Egberto Gismonti, recorded in 1979 and released on the ECM label in 1981. The album follows the trio's first recording Magico (1980).

<i>Codona 2</i> 1981 studio album by Collin Walcott, Don Cherry & Naná Vasconcelos

Codona 2 is the second album by the jazz trio Codona, which featured sitarist and tabla player Collin Walcott, trumpeter Don Cherry and percussionist Naná Vasconcelos. It was recorded in 1980 and released on the ECM label in 1981.

<i>Codona 3</i> 1983 studio album by Collin Walcott, Don Cherry & Naná Vasconcelos

Codona 3 is the third and final album by the jazz trio Codona, which featured sitarist and tabla player Collin Walcott, trumpeter Don Cherry and percussionist Naná Vasconcelos. It was recorded in 1982 and released on the ECM label the following year.

<i>Duas Vozes</i> 1985 studio album by Egberto Gismonti & Naná Vasconcelos

Duas Vozes is an album by Brazilian composer, guitarist and pianist Egberto Gismonti and percussionist Naná Vasconcelos recorded in 1984 and released in 1985 on the ECM label. The album follows the duo's 1977 collaboration Dança Das Cabeças.

<i>In Montreal</i> 2001 live album by Charlie Haden and Egberto Gismonti

In Montreal is an album by bassist Charlie Haden and guitarist/pianist Egberto Gismonti recorded in 1989 at the Montreal International Jazz Festival and released on the ECM label in 2001.

<i>Mágico: Carta de Amor</i> 2012 live album by Jan Garbarek, Egberto Gismonti & Charlie Haden

Mágico: Carta de Amor is a live album by saxophonist Jan Garbarek, guitarist Egberto Gismonti and bassist Charlie Haden recorded in 1981 and released on the ECM label in 2012. The album follows the trio's first two recordings Magico (1979) and Folk Songs (1981).

The following is a list of notable events and releases of the year 1981 in Norwegian music.

References

  1. 1 2 "Codona Biography". Musician Guide. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  2. ↑ Nastos, Michael G. "Codona: Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  3. ↑ Lake, Steve (2004). The Codona Trilogy (liner notes). Codona. ECM Records. p. 7. ECM 2033-35.
  4. ↑ Palmer, Robert (April 13, 1983). "The Pop Life". NY Times. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  5. ↑ Morton, Brian; Cook, Richard (2000). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD. Penguin Books. p. 288.
  6. ↑ Lake, Steve (2004). The Codona Trilogy (liner notes). Codona. ECM Records. pp. 5–6. ECM 2033-35.
  7. ↑ "Don Cherry: Organic Music Society". AllMusic. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Don Cherry: Hear & Now". AllMusic. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Collin Walcott: Grazing Dreams". AllMusic. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Egberto Gismonti: Sol Do Meio Dia". AllMusic. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  11. ↑ Stockton, Jeff (May 16, 2009). "Codona: The Codona Trilogy". All About Jazz. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  12. ↑ Lake, Steve (2004). The Codona Trilogy (liner notes). Codona. ECM Records. p. 5. ECM 2033-35.
  13. 1 2 Kelman, John (January 20, 2009). "Codona: The Codona Trilogy". All About Jazz. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  14. 1 2 3 Grillo, Tyran (May 16, 2011). "Codona: The Codona Trilogy". Between Sound and Space. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  15. ↑ "ECM website". Archived from the original on 2008-12-10. Retrieved 2008-12-11.
  16. ↑ "ECM website". Archived from the original on 2008-12-05. Retrieved 2008-12-11.
  17. ↑ "ECM website". Archived from the original on 2008-12-08. Retrieved 2008-12-11.
  18. ↑ "The Codona Trilogy". ECM Records. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
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