Ornette Coleman : The Shape of Jazz to Come

In 1959, Coleman released his boldly titled magnum opus, ‘The Shape of Jazz to Come’, on Atlantic Records. Prioritizing mood over traditional orchestration, it was the highest-profile free jazz album, released before the terms free jazz and avant-garde jazz even existed. Colemans bravery opened the door for others to experiment with the genre in ways they wouldnt have before. Without ‘The Shape of Jazz to Come’, who knows if Coltrane would have had the heart to try spiritual jazz, or if an up-and-coming pianist named Herbie Hancock wouldve been bold enough to blend funk into his atmospheric hybrid. Coleman was the first major artist to leap into unforeseen territory, and he did it at a time when the courage wasnt always rewarded. Despite the hardships, Coleman pressed on with his objective and did what the album declared he would. Jazz has never been the same, and were all better for it.

Track Listing:
LP 1 / Side A