Ornette Coleman

Ornette Coleman was a hugely influential saxophonist, who arguably lead the charge of free jazz in the 1960's. He is seen today as one of the biggest figures in jazz of that era, although his contemporaries at the time were very divided. Free jazz was seen as a fantastic development by the likes of John Coltrane and Charles Mingus, although some were quite outspoken about their distaste for "the new thing"; most notably Miles Davis.

No harmonic instruments, very little amounts of composition, all members of the band soloing... suffice to say, it can be quite intense.


The Shape Of Jazz To Come
Free Jazz
Change Of The Century