Ornette Coleman: Genius

[Zomby Woof]

I don't throw that term around lightly. If you love jazz, and you don't have "The Shape Of Jazz To Come" or "Free Jazz" in your collection, get them.

[GOPisEvil]

1. Damn straight!

"The Shape of Jazz To Come" was WAY ahead of its time!

[Zomby Woof]

7. Assholes have great taste!

:D

[Whitacre D_WI]

2. "Free Jazz"

Shaped a generation.

Not only did it lead to "the New Thing," but it also inspired a generation of rock and roll artists (Stooges, Beefheart -- even if he wouldn't admit it, and Zappa come to mind instantly).

PLUS it's just a great fuckin' record. The best players in the business, playing their hearts out.

And no, it's not just random noise (for the naysayers out there). It was a VERY structured piece. It's just that each player was permitted to do whatever he damn well felt like doing WITHIN that structure.

[jpgray]

3. Yeah for random noise, there's always Cecil Taylor

Just kidding, Taylor fans! It's not random, but sometimes you do wonder 'is the cat on the piano again?'

[tigereye]

4. Dancing in Your Head

oh he is wonderful. Saw him play with his son here some year's ago. That was neat. I would say he's a genius. Damn. I didn't miss a bunch of jazz threads, did I you guys??!!

[Red_Storm]

5. "the best players in the business"

At that time, I think that would be Miles Davis's band (Miles, Bill Evans, Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Paul Chambers, Jimmy Cobb)

[Zomby Woof]

6. oh yeahhhhhh

Miles is my favorite jazz musician, hands, arms, and legs down. You just listed one helluva combo - late 50's Columbia...mmmmm........

[Qutzupalotl]

8. Tomorrow is the Question!

Excellent album. How the hell he and Don Cherry stay tightly together when the rhythms are so...nonstandard...is beyond me. I guess they're good or something.

[Zomby Woof]

9. it's telepathy

Even skeptics like me agree, lol.