Biography
Charlie Haden was born on August 6, 1937, in Shenandoah, Iowa, into a highly musical family that performed as the Haden Family on KMA radio, playing country and folk music. Haden began his musical journey as a singer, making his professional debut at just two years old. His early life was shaped by both his family's musical environment and a bout with polio at age fifteen, which ended his singing career but led him to focus on the double bass—a passion inspired initially by the music of Johann Sebastian Bach.
In the late 1950s, Haden moved to Los Angeles, where he became immersed in the jazz scene and played with legends such as Art Pepper, Hampton Hawes, and Paul Bley. His most significant early contribution came as the bassist for Ornette Coleman's revolutionary quartet, where Haden helped redefine the role of the bass in jazz, moving beyond traditional accompaniment to a more liberated, interactive approach. Over the next decades, Haden's career spanned a wide array of genres and collaborations, including his politically charged Liberation Music Orchestra, his work with Keith Jarrett, and his own Quartet West. He was also a prolific recording artist, composer, and educator, known for his lyrical style and deep commitment to musical and social expression.
Haden's legacy is profound: he is celebrated as one of the most influential jazz bassists, admired for his melodic improvisation, harmonic innovation, and ability to bridge genres from free jazz to cool jazz and even country. His work inspired generations of musicians, and his recordings remain touchstones for both their artistry and their social consciousness.
Fun Facts
- Charlie Haden made his professional debut as a singer at just 22 months old on his family's radio show.
- He contracted polio as a teenager, which ended his singing career but led him to focus on the bass.
- Haden was politically active and formed the Liberation Music Orchestra to express his leftist views through music.
- He turned down a full scholarship to Oberlin College to pursue jazz in Los Angeles, as Oberlin did not have a jazz program at the time.
Associated Acts
- Old and New Dreams - bass, original (1976–1987)
- Charlie Haden’s Liberation Music Orchestra - double bass, eponymous, original (until 2014)
- Keith Jarrett Trio - bass
- The Ornette Coleman Quartet - double bass
- Ornette Coleman Quintet - bass
- Alice Coltrane - bass
- Don Cherry Quartet - bass
- Ginger Baker Trio
- Roswell Rudd Sextet - bass
- Charlie Haden Quartet West - double bass, eponymous, original
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Haden Family - Early musical training and inspiration from family band and radio performances (Haden Family radio show) [1937–1952]
- Johann Sebastian Bach - Inspired Haden's interest in the bass through classical music (Bach's compositions (general influence)) [Early teens]
Key Collaborators
- Ornette Coleman - Founding member of Coleman's pioneering free jazz quartet (The Shape of Jazz to Come, Change of the Century) [1957–1960]
- Carla Bley - Arranger and pianist for Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra (Liberation Music Orchestra (1969), subsequent LMO albums) [1969–2014]
- Keith Jarrett - Member of Jarrett's trio, quartet, and quintet (Life Between the Exit Signs, The Mourning of a Star) [Late 1960s–1976]
- Pat Metheny - Frequent duo partner and collaborator (Beyond the Missouri Sky (Short Stories)) [1990s]
- Paul Bley - Early collaborator in Los Angeles jazz scene (Paul Bley recordings (late 1950s)) [1957–1959]
- Hank Jones - Duo recordings and performances (Steal Away) [1990s]
Artists Influenced
- Josh Haden - Son, bassist and leader of the band Spain, influenced by Charlie's approach to bass and songwriting (Spain's albums) [1990s–present]
- Petra, Rachel, and Tanya Haden - Triplet daughters, all professional musicians influenced by their father's legacy (Work with The Haden Triplets, various collaborations) [2000s–present]
- Countless jazz bassists - Haden's liberated approach to bass playing and harmonic innovation influenced generations of jazz musicians (General influence across modern jazz) [1960s–present]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Beyond The Missouri Sky | 1997-01-01 | Album |
| Jasmine | 2010-05-07 | Album |
| Last Dance | 2014-06-13 | Album |
| Nocturne | 2001-01-01 | Album |
| Come Sunday | 2012 | Album |
| Lookin Out | 2004-01-01 | Album |
| Heartplay | 2006 | Album |
| Charlie Haden Family & Friends - Rambling Boy | 2008-01-01 | Album |
| Tokyo Adagio | 2015-06-05 | Album |
| Not In Our Name | 2005-01-01 | Album |
| American Dreams | 2002-01-01 | Album |
| Steal Away | 1995-01-01 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Cinema Paradiso [Love Theme] (Beyond The Missouri Sky)
- One Day I'll Fly Away (Jasmine)
- The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress (Beyond The Missouri Sky)
- Where Can I Go Without You (Last Dance)
- The Moon Song (Beyond The Missouri Sky)
- Our Spanish Love Song (Beyond The Missouri Sky)
- Spiritual (Beyond The Missouri Sky)
- Waltz For Ruth (Beyond The Missouri Sky)
- Two For The Road (Beyond The Missouri Sky)
- Nightfall (Nocturne)
External Links
Tags: #2008-universal-fire-victim, #hard-bop, #jazz
References
Heard on WWOZ
charlie haden has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 28, 2025 | 16:18 | el ciegofrom nocturne | Jazz from Jax Breweryw/ T.R. Johnson |