Hear & Now (2022 Reissue)

Hear and Now's cover depicts a smiling Cherry posing like Buddha, and holding a trumpet with a bent mouthpiece -- an indication of some meditative sounds, but it's really a mishmash of styles with a leaning toward African rhythms. An underlying social message runs through the album of Cherry compositions (except one) produced by Narada Michael Walden. Cherry plays very little trumpet on "Universal Mother"; the African-based excursion is carried by Neil Jason's bass, Sammy Figueroa's congas, and Raphael Cruz's percussion work. He plays stretching, calling trumpet notes on "Karmapa Chenno"; African chants and verbiage flavor the tune, along with Stan Samole's sparkling lead guitar.

The guitar-driven "California" is a groove; Cherry plays to a roadhouse beat, sounding like Miles Davis on a tune that's much too brief (less than three minutes). He dusts off his flute and gives a good account on "Buddha's Blues," on which he also plays trumpet; the beat is funky but jumpy and disjointed. "Eagle Eye" is a trio with Cherry (on flute), Figueroa (conga), and Cruz (percussion) -- tight, but again less than three minutes. "Journey of Milarepa," "Shanti," and "The Ending Movement Liberation" are done as a suite, turning out to be a saving grace as the only mind-bender here.

Mahakali 9:52
Universal Mother 6:42
Karmapa Chenno 7:15
California 2:52
Buddha's Blues 3:39
Eagle Eye 0:56
Surrender Rose 3:32
Journey To Milarepa / Shanti / The Ending Movement-Liberation (10:17)

• Journey To Milarepa
• Shanti
• The Ending Movement-Liberation (From Welkin Of Infinity)

https://youtu.be/bWwZNbs22LM