In Search of the Mystery

Personnel: Gato Barbieri (tenor saxophone); Calo Scott (cello); Sirone (bass); Bobby Kapp (percussion).
Recorded NYC, March 15 1967.
Personnel: Gato Barbieri (saxophone, tenor saxophone); Calo Scott (cello); Norris Sirone Jones (bass instrument); Bobby Kapp (drums).
Audio Remasterer: Douglas McGregor.
Fresh from his collaboration with free jazz icon Don Cherry on the seminal Blue Note LPs COMPLETE COMMUNION and WHERE IS BROOKLYN?, the Argentinian saxophonist Gato Barbieri made his solo debut with 1967's IN SEARCH OF MYSTERY on the ESP label. The unusual instrumentation, featuring Sirone on arco bass and a cello, is similar to Albert Ayler's contemporaneous string ensemble which can be heard on the latter's LIVE IN GREENWICH VILLAGE album. Stylistically, Barbieri is very much under the Ayler influence as well, but his playing is strongly melodic and demonstrates a keening, crying character very much his own over two sidelong, freely improvised suites.