Irreversible Entanglements Take Over Philadelphia’s Solar Myth With An Exploration of Don Cherry’s 1972 LP ‘Organic Music Society’ (SHOW REVIEW)

On March 27, the Free Jazz Collective Irreversible Entanglements released Future Present Past, their moving and daring new LP. The spellbinding ten-song album successfully balanced the band’s dark experimentation and refreshing takes on spiritual jazz traditions with an urgent message meant to uplift and alarm, featuring a tracklist that ranges from risk-filled cacophonies, like the colorful “The Messenger,” to lively moments of bliss, like “Keep Going.” The wildly impressive, sprawling new release from IE marked a creative breakthrough for the quintet, and the band celebrated with their beloved city across two nights at Solar Myth. This unassuming yet burgeoning jazz club has provided a safe space for bands like this to flourish. 

The first show of their two-day stint was a release celebration for Future Present Past, while the following day would be more of an homage to IE’s spiritual jazz roots. On a brisk day in lovely South Philadelphia, the band took over Solar Myth to explore the music of Don Cherry’s 1972 landmark release Organic Music Society. The stunning 12-song album marked a major shift in jazz fusion, combining Brazilian undertones with Cherry’s already-experimental spiritual jazz orchestrations, contrasting his blaring horns with complex percussion and droning vocal performances. IE’s organic modernization of spiritual jazz can be traced back to albums like Organic Music Society. In their journey to bring the essence of this subgenre into the future, they performed in this dark, backroom, painting the walls with cosmic swirls and letting the world become fully aware of their wide-ranging prowess. 

Solar Myth, which functions as a bar/coffee shop/record store and also hosts performances in the back room, was buzzing on this Saturday night. The front of the house was lit with one of the first vibrant sunsets of Spring, while a small crowd filled the performance area. What is typically an open floor was arranged into a seated venue, adding a layer of intimacy to an already cramped room. The seating arrangement, though, meant very little when the quintet walked on stage and began their meditative exploration of Organic Music Society, which would prove to have an atmosphere-changing impact on the seated crowd. 

Almost immediately, as IE launched into the performance, a dream-like mindstate began to rest upon the crowd. Almost as if watching a painting in a museum come to life, the band unearthed the songs of Organic Music Society, lifting them with the care one would use to pick up an infant, and raising them to new heights. It already felt special to hear the music of an artist from a bygone era in a live setting. Still, IE not only honored Cherry and his masterpiece but also found intricate ways to detail the nuances of these songs, nuances that influenced their own musical journey. Throughout the dramatic, immersive performance, IE’s individuality shone but never overshadowed the spirit of Organic Music Society, highlighting the innate chemistry this quintet shares while proving their limitless creativity. 

Irreversible Entanglements have long showcased their importance to contemporary jazz, but after this weekend, the band has cemented itself as more than just a contributor to the genre. With the release of Future Present Past, the quintet established a singularity that can’t be taken away from them, and in the same breath, proved their devotion to jazz with an unforgettable, stunning performance of a timeless classic from the genre. The band, at the time of this article, has two overseas shows booked for 2026, but if you find the great IE performing near you, this is a must-see band not only for jazz-heads but for anyone interested in seeing transformative art take shape before your eyes and ears.