Codona 3
One of our favorite ECM Records bands, Codona features free jazz trumpeter Don Cherry alongside sitar player Collin Walcott and Brazilian percussionist Naná Vasconcelos. The band’s name is a bit cute – composed of the first two letters of each of the group members’ names. All three of the “world jazz” albums the trio released are great, but Codona 3 might be our favorite out of the three simply because of its trippy, melting brick wall cover design by Moki Cherry, Don Cherry’s wife and artistic partner. Highlights include the hypnotic percussion of A2 “Hey Da Boom” which will quickly lull any listener into a deep trance and the almost pastoral raga B1 “Lullaby.” Sadly, the Codona project ended in 1984 when Walcott passed.
– Phil Cho
Recommended – A2 Hey Da Ba Boom, B1 Lullaby
A1 Goshakabuchi
A2 Hey Da Ba Boom
A3 Travel By Night
B1 Lullaby
B2 Trayra Boia
B3 Clicky Clacky
B4 Inner Organs
Berimbau, Percussion, Voice – Nana Vasconcelos*
Cover – Moki Cherry
Engineer – Martin Wieland
Layout – Barbara Wojirsch
Photography By – Ralph Quinke
Producer – Manfred Eicher
Sitar, Dulcimer [Hammered], Mbira [Sanza], Tabla, Voice – Collin Walcott
Trumpet, Organ, Guitar [Doussn’gouni], Voice – Don Cherry