Ken Burns JAZZ Collection: Ornette Coleman

Ken Burns JAZZ Collection: Ornette Coleman

ASIN: B000050HVX

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
One in a series of single-artist compilations that make up the musical component to Ken Burns's documentary Jazz, the Ornette Coleman collection showcases the work of one of jazz's last great innovators. It's also undoubtedly some of the most adventurous music included in the Ken Burns project. Texas altoist Ornette Coleman and his talented quartet turned the jazz world upside down in 1959, creating a radical new way to hear and play music. Challenging bop's infatuation with complex harmonics and chord changes, Coleman used harmonic sequences to move songs along rather than adhering to a recurring set of changes. This disc features the heart of Coleman's seminal early work, which he recorded for Atlantic: the landmark recording of "First Take" from Free Jazz, which features a double quartet that includes Eric Dolphy, the catchy "Ramblin," and the yearning beauty of "Lonely Woman." There is also a piece from his Skies of America symphony and a track from his funk-fueled electric band of the 1970s. --Tad Hendrickson

Ken Burns JAZZ Collection: Ornette Coleman,Ornette Coleman,Sony,Avant-Garde Jazz,Free Jazz,Jazz,Jazz Music,Pop

Average customer rating:

Great selection of Ornette Coleman

Definately Different

Definitive

Difficult and quite brilliant

Great intro to the cutting-edge of modern jazz!

Ken Burns JAZZ Collection: Ornette Coleman
Ornette Coleman
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Avant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
General | Jazz | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000050HVX
Release Date: 2000-11-07

Tracks:

The Sphinx
Congeniality
Lonely Woman
Ramblin'
Embraceable You
Blues Connotation
First Take
European Echoes
Law Years
The Good Life
Theme From A Symphony (Variation 2)

Amazon.com

One in a series of single-artist compilations that make up the musical component to Ken Burns's documentary Jazz, the Ornette Coleman collection showcases the work of one of jazz's last great innovators. It's also undoubtedly some of the most adventurous music included in the Ken Burns project. Texas altoist Ornette Coleman and his talented quartet turned the jazz world upside down in 1959, creating a radical new way to hear and play music. Challenging bop's infatuation with complex harmonics and chord changes, Coleman used harmonic sequences to move songs along rather than adhering to a recurring set of changes. This disc features the heart of Coleman's seminal early work, which he recorded for Atlantic: the landmark recording of "First Take" from Free Jazz, which features a double quartet that includes Eric Dolphy, the catchy "Ramblin," and the yearning beauty of "Lonely Woman." There is also a piece from his Skies of America symphony and a track from his funk-fueled electric band of the 1970s. --Tad Hendrickson

Customer Reviews:

Great selection of Ornette Coleman.......2006-02-11

This disc gives a great overview of many periods of Ornette Coleman's musical history, from his early days up to his more recent work. The scope of the selection makes it a good choice for someone who wants a broad overview of Coleman's very important work.

Definately Different.......2004-03-10

I am relativley new to jazz and trying to build a modest collection. After researching top jazz artists recommendations and "must have" cd lists, Ornette was among them. I must admit I was skeptical at first, being he was a controversial musician at the time. Listened to the album I was blown away. Each piece was masterfully played. Ornette played with such passion and I am intrigued with the way he switches from smooth and relaxed style of playing to an intense high pitched style. Definitely a good startup cd for beginners like me who are looking for good quality jazz playing.

Definitive.......2002-05-01

With over 70 minutes of music, you definitely get your money's worth with this one. And there is no other compilation that includes tracks from various labels for which Ornette recorded. One track from Ornette's first session, two tracks from the 'shape of jazz to come' one from 'the golden circle'and even some of his later work like 'Dancing in your head'. You even get 17 minutes of 'first take' from 'Free Jazz'. Quite simply, the definitive compilation of Ornette Coleman out there.

Difficult and quite brilliant.......2001-09-05

I didn't really know anything about Ornette Coleman before this cd. So when I heard it for the first time, especially the 17 minute "First Take", I thought I'd never get into it or understand it. It was hard at first. But now, after a few listens, I think it's great and amazing. Even "First Take", which at first seemed like nothing but noise with no formula or reason, has now come together for me. And I think that's the answer for people just discovering Coleman. At first you may not like or understand it. But if you like jazz, just hang in there and give it a chance. It will all come together eventually. The booklet includes photos and an essay on Ornette.

Great intro to the cutting-edge of modern jazz!.......2001-02-13

The success of Ken Burns' JAZZ video series has obviously revived interest in the music, and particularly for these single-disc representations of the careers of a number of all-time jazz greats. I can imagine more than a few potential collectors of the Ken Burns CD series coming upon this disc and getting a little queasy, given the "avant-garde" label tagged on Ornette Coleman's music.

To those potential purchasers, I would recommend this CD if your newfound affinity for jazz extends to the likes of modernists Charles Mingus, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, and John Coltrane (all of whom are also represented in this series). Yes, Ornette's music is perhaps less formally tied to the structural paradigms of the bop / post-bop era of modern jazz. Yet most of the music here follows a familiar theme / solos / theme approach, the musicians are top-rate (Haden, Cherry, Higgins, Blackwell, Lafaro, Tacuma, etc.), the melodies are generally memorable (often joyous and witty), and the blues has an overt presence, albeit taken to somewhat more abstract levels than even his modernist predecessors. Indeed, if you like Charlie Parker's playing, you might feel quite at home with most of Coleman's solos, even though Ornette uses slurred phrases and other vocal sounds to a greater extent than Bird.

...and if FREE JAZZ (FIRST TAKE)--the most "avant-garde" cut on this CD--is a bit of a struggle to get through at first, you're not alone. However, there is a method to the seeming madness that becomes clearer with subsequent hearings. Other than that, this CD primarily focuses on small-group recordings, including a number of Ornette's most-famous compositions (LONELY WOMAN, etc.). The last two tracks demonstrate Coleman's willingness to find dramatic new contexts to his approach: THE GOOD LIFE and THEME FROM A SYMPHONY (variation 2) is the same tune performed first with a symphony orchestra, second with an avant-funk/jazz electric ensemble (two guitars, two basses, two drums). THEME takes the listener to 1975...in a perfect world there would be a disc two to bring us up to the present. Nonetheless, this is as good an intro to Ornette as one will find.

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