The Ballad of the Fallen

Charlie Haden’s Liberation Music Orchestra was a curious beast. Taking shape during a turbulent point in history, as the Vietnam War was ravaging the sociopolitical landscape, the American bassist saw fit to make a statement. And while some have claimed he knew little about the claims he was staking, the music speaks for itself as a viable expression of community in a divided world. The band itself is a wonder, featuring such visionaries as Carla Bley (who also does all the arranging), Dewey Redman, and Paul Motian, among many others, exploring a sequence of freedom songs and original motifs.