ORNETTE COLEMAN

Biography

Ornette Coleman (March 9, 1930 – June 11, 2015) was a pioneering American jazz saxophonist, composer, and bandleader, widely recognized as the principal initiator of free jazz. Born in segregated Fort Worth, Texas, Coleman grew up in a musical family and began playing the alto saxophone at age 14, later adding tenor sax to his repertoire. Early hardships, including the loss of his father and sister, shaped his resilience and determination. He started his career in local rhythm-and-blues bands and, after moving to Los Angeles in the early 1950s, supported himself as an elevator operator while studying harmony and theory independently. His unconventional approach to improvisation—eschewing fixed chord changes in favor of melodic and expressive freedom—led to rejection by many established musicians but also set the stage for his revolutionary ideas.

Coleman's breakthrough came in the late 1950s, when he formed a quartet with Don Cherry, Charlie Haden, and Billy Higgins. Their recordings, including 'The Shape of Jazz to Come' (1959) and 'Change of the Century' (1960), introduced his radical 'harmolodic' theory, which allowed improvisers to abandon traditional harmonic patterns. Moving to New York, Coleman became a polarizing figure, hailed as a genius by some and dismissed as a fraud by others. His landmark album 'Free Jazz' (1960) featured two improvising quartets and cemented his status as a leading figure in avant-garde jazz. Over his career, Coleman received numerous accolades, including a MacArthur Fellowship, a Grammy, and a Pulitzer Prize for Music, and his influence extended far beyond jazz, shaping the course of modern music.

Fun Facts

• Coleman was expelled from high school, allegedly for improvising during a performance of 'The Star-Spangled Banner,' though he later denied this.
• He often played an inexpensive plastic saxophone early in his career, which contributed to his distinctive sound.
• Coleman developed his own musical philosophy called 'harmolodics,' emphasizing equal roles for harmony, melody, and rhythm.
• He won the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2007 for his album 'Sound Grammar,' one of the few jazz musicians to receive this honor.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Charlie Parker - Major stylistic influence; inspired Coleman's early saxophone playing and approach to improvisation. (Coleman cited Parker's bebop recordings as formative influences.) [1940s–1950s]

Key Collaborators

• Don Cherry - Trumpeter and key member of Coleman's classic quartet; co-developed the free jazz sound. (The Shape of Jazz to Come, Change of the Century, Free Jazz) [1958–1962]
• Charlie Haden - Bassist in Coleman's seminal quartet; foundational to the group's sound and improvisational approach. (The Shape of Jazz to Come, Change of the Century, Free Jazz) [1958–1962]
• Billy Higgins - Drummer in Coleman's early bands and on his most influential recordings. (Something Else!!!!, The Shape of Jazz to Come) [1958–1960]
• Ed Blackwell - Drummer who replaced Higgins and contributed to Coleman's evolving sound. (This Is Our Music, Free Jazz) [1960–1962]
• Paul Bley - Pianist who briefly collaborated with Coleman in Los Angeles, helping introduce his music to new audiences. (Live at the Hillcrest Club) [1958]

Artists Influenced

• John Coltrane - Coltrane was inspired by Coleman's approach to free improvisation and harmonic freedom. (Ascension, later period Coltrane albums) [1960s]
• Eric Dolphy - Dolphy adopted elements of Coleman's free jazz style in his own avant-garde explorations. (Out to Lunch!) [1960s]
• Pat Metheny - Guitarist who collaborated with Coleman and cited him as a major influence on his own genre-blurring work. (Song X (with Ornette Coleman)) [1985]
• Anthony Braxton - Saxophonist and composer who embraced Coleman's harmolodic ideas in his avant-garde compositions. (Creative Orchestra Music) [1970s–present]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Lonely Woman (The Shape Of Jazz To Come)
2. Peace (The Shape Of Jazz To Come)
3. When Will The Blues Leave? (Something Else!!!!: The Music Of Ornette Coleman (Original Jazz Classics Remasters))
4. Eventually (The Shape Of Jazz To Come)
5. Broad Way Blues (New York Is Now!)
6. Invisible (Something Else!!!!: The Music Of Ornette Coleman (Original Jazz Classics Remasters))
7. The Blessing (Something Else!!!!: The Music Of Ornette Coleman (Original Jazz Classics Remasters))
8. Tomorrow Is The Question! - Instrumental (Tomorrow Is The Question!)
9. Focus on Sanity (The Shape Of Jazz To Come)
10. Congeniality (The Shape Of Jazz To Come)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #2008-universal-fire-victim, #american, #avant-garde-jazz