Cohelmec Ensemble - 5 Octobre (1974)

Originally captured during a legendary live concert performance on October 5, 1974, and beautifully resurrected in 2017 by SouffleContinu Records, "5 Octobre" stands as a vital milestone of the French radical avant-garde. The Cohelmec Ensemble—whose name is a clever syllabic combination of its founding members' surnames—was a true product of post-May '68 political and cultural liberation, seeking to merge uninhibited collective improvisation with highly structured, lyrical forms. The dynamic front line of saxophonist Jean Cohen and trumpeter Jean-François Canape delivers fierce, soaring melodies alongside delicate flute passages, while guitarist Joseph Dejean adds complex, exploratory textures. Anchored by the incredible interplay of the Mechali brothers on double bass and percussion, pieces like "Teotihuacan" and "Saturations" shift seamlessly from subtle group conversations to intense, roaring walls of creative energy. It remains an essential document for collectors of European free jazz, beautifully showcasing a unique indigenous sound that balances political urgency with deep musical empathy.

Tracklist:
1. Cohelmec 20H45 – 04:47
2. Les Cloches De Montoinou – 10:41
3. La Croix Fry 1 – 00:16
4. Teotihuacan 1 – 06:30
5. Teotihuacan 2 – 09:04
6. Saturations – 09:35
7. The Alpaca Cassok – 05:53
8. "Éparpiller Sa Mémoire Dans Une Fureur D'Aveux" – 07:19
9. La Croix Fry 2 + Fouchtra – 09:19