Don Cherry's cult downtown Paris Funk masterwork

produced in 1985 by Ramuntcho Matta and originally released by Barclay in France only, finally gets a worldwide release on Wewantsounds. The album, which typifies the formidable multi-ethnic Paris sound of the 80s, features French post-punk muse Elli Medeiros (Stinky Toys, Elli & Jacno), avant garde poet Brion Gysin and cult drummer Abdoulaye Prosper Niang (from the mythical Senegalese group Xalam). Newly Remastered, the album is augmented by a second LP worth of bonus tracks and a deluxe gatefold sleeve featuring a new essay by French journalist Jacques Denis.

 

Recorded at Studio Caroline, a hotbed for the African diaspora in Paris during the 80s, and produced by French-Chilean musician and producer Ramuntcho Matta (his father is Chilean painter Roberto Matta and half-brother is cult New York artist Gordon Matta-Clark), "Home Boy, Sister Out" is one of Don Cherry's most original albums.

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Matta is one of the true architects of that 80s Paris sound mixing music from all over the Planet with the street vibe of the French capital. He had spent his formative years in Paris and then switched to New York where he lived between 1978 and 1980 interacting with the cream of the Downtown scene including Laurie Anderson, Meredith Monk, Peter Gordon, Arto Lindsay, The Talking Heads and many more. Returning to France, Matta started delving into  Paris' hip underground scene led by Actuel Magazine, working and going out with Elli Medeiros, which led to a chance meeting with Don Cherry, and to the recording of Home Boy in Spring 1985.

 

Very little known outside of France where it has achieved cult status, the album perfectly embodies the spirit of the "Sono Mondiale", the multi-ethnic sound that that came out of the Paris streets mixing Funk, Jazz, Hip Hop, Electro, African & Latin music. A  unique sound that was spear-

headed by Radio Nova, Celluloid Records, Crammed Disc and producers like Ramuntcho Matta, Martin Meissonnier and Hector Zazou. Featuring the legendary drummer 

Abdoulaye Prosper Niang, Negrito Trasante, Elli Medeiros, Jannick Top and Don Cherry on various instruments plus vocals, the album is a fascinating blend of Funk, Jazz, Hip Hop, Reggae and African music. Above all, it's Don Cherry's love for the song format that shines all the way through.

 

This edition of Home Boy also includes a handful of bonus tracks taken from Ramuntcho Matta's vaults including the cult 1983 single "Kick" featuring legendary multi artist Brion Gysin who influenced the likes of David Bowie, Keith Haring, John Zorn, Genesis P-Orridge and Brian Jones.