Don Cherry --- Musical Tour Guide One of the greatest things about Don Cherry was that he was open to all kinds of musical ideas and expressions. From the hip-hop street rhythms, to the bouncing beat of African high-life, from the blaring roar of a brass band to the intricacies of "HARMOLODICS", to the sounds and swings of other lands, Don remained a musical explorer. We first met briefly during the 70's when he and the band OLD AND NEW DREAMS appeared at the Keystone Korner in San Francisco. At that time I was just becoming aware of his place in music history as a member of the revolutionary Ornette Coleman Quartet of the 50's and 60's. Because of what that music was beginning to mean to me there were so many questions I wanted to ask. Some of my questions were answered years later when I had the opportunity to interview Don for the first time in 1988. I found him to be extremely enthusiastic about music, not just what was happening at the time, but also what had happened in the past and what's to come in the future. I found that he traveled the world with his ears always open to the many different sounds around him. He studied their history, and their meaning, and how they applied to his being. Although considered a "JAZZ" musician Don was truly a WORLD musician. Don and I developed a friendship that I will always cherish. Through him I became aware of a more spiritual side of music that exists within the various rhythms and textures, a side that he displayed during his numerous recordings with Ornette Coleman, Steve Lacy, Charlie Haden, Dewey Redman, Sonny Rollins, Collin Walcott, John Coltrane,and countless others. Often I would find him turning me on to some Indian Raga, or a rare Mahalia Jackson recording, but whatever it was I knew that since it came from Don Cherry I was in for another musical journey. Greg Bridges Nov. 1995 Editors note: Don Cherry died in Spain, October 19, 1995.