Ornette Coleman

Ornette Coleman
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Name	Ornette Coleman
Birth date	March 9, 1930
Birth place	Fort Worth, Texas
Death date	June 11, 2015
Death place	New York City
Genre	Free jazz, Avant-garde jazz, Experimental music

Ornette Coleman was a renowned American jazz saxophonist, violinist, and composer, known for his innovative and influential style, which blended elements of blues, bebop, and free jazz. He was a key figure in the development of free jazz, alongside other notable musicians such as John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, and Charles Mingus. Coleman's unique approach to music was shaped by his experiences growing up in Texas, where he was exposed to a wide range of musical styles, including blues, gospel music, and country music, as well as his interactions with other influential musicians, such as Don Cherry and Ed Blackwell. His music was also influenced by the works of Arnold Schoenberg, Igor Stravinsky, and Béla Bartók.

● Early Life and Education

Ornette Coleman was born in Fort Worth, Texas, to a family of African American musicians, and began playing the saxophone at a young age, inspired by the likes of Charlie Parker, Lester Young, and Sidney Bechet. He attended I.M. Terrell High School, where he was exposed to a variety of musical styles, including jazz, blues, and classical music, and was influenced by the works of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Benny Goodman. Coleman's early musical education was also shaped by his experiences playing in local jazz and R&B bands, alongside musicians such as Red Garland and Cedar Walton. He later moved to Los Angeles, where he became acquainted with other notable musicians, including Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan, and Art Pepper.

● Career

Ornette Coleman's professional career began in the 1950s, when he started performing with various jazz and R&B groups, including the Paul Bley trio and the Don Cherry quartet. In the early 1960s, he formed his own quartet, featuring Don Cherry, Charlie Haden, and Ed Blackwell, which became a seminal group in the development of free jazz. The quartet's music was characterized by its use of improvisation, dissonance, and polyrhythms, and was influenced by the works of Albert Ayler, Sun Ra, and Cecil Taylor. Coleman's career was also marked by collaborations with other notable musicians, including John Zorn, Laurie Anderson, and Lou Reed, as well as his work with the Jazz Composers' Orchestra, which featured musicians such as Carla Bley and Michael Mantler.

● Style and Influence

Ornette Coleman's unique style was characterized by his use of improvisation, dissonance, and polyrhythms, which blended elements of blues, bebop, and free jazz. His music was influenced by a wide range of sources, including African American music traditions, such as blues and gospel music, as well as classical music and avant-garde music. Coleman's influence can be heard in the music of many other notable musicians, including John Coltrane, Albert Ayler, and Archie Shepp, as well as in the work of later free jazz and experimental music musicians, such as Sonic Youth and The Mars Volta. His music was also praised by critics and musicians alike, including Leonard Bernstein, Pierre Boulez, and Karlheinz Stockhausen.

● Discography

Ornette Coleman's discography includes many influential and highly acclaimed albums, such as The Shape of Jazz to Come, Change of the Century, and Free Jazz, which featured musicians such as Don Cherry, Charlie Haden, and Ed Blackwell. Other notable albums include Ornette!, Crisis!, and Science Fiction, which showcased Coleman's unique approach to composition and improvisation, and featured musicians such as Dewey Redman and Cedar Walton. His music was released on various labels, including Atlantic Records, Blue Note Records, and Impulse! Records, and was also documented in films, such as Shirley Clarke's Ornette: Made in America.

● Awards and Legacy

Ornette Coleman received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, including a Pulitzer Prize for music, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and a National Medal of Arts. He was also recognized for his contributions to jazz and experimental music by organizations such as the National Endowment for the Arts and the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University. Coleman's legacy continues to be felt in the music world, with his influence evident in the work of many contemporary musicians, including Kamasi Washington, Robert Glasper, and Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah. His music remains a testament to the power of innovation and experimentation, and continues to inspire new generations of musicians and fans, including those associated with the Berklee College of Music, the New England Conservatory, and the Manhattan School of Music. Category:Jazz musicians