Ornette Coleman 1930-2015

When I made the switch from vinyl to cd's in the late eighties, one of the first albums I bought was the Metheny-Coleman collaboration "Song X". However I returned my copy after just one listening session. Not that bringing records back to the shop was a habit of mine. It only happened a couple of times.

This story outlines what an impression Coleman could leave on the unexperienced listener. I was shocked and obviously didn't get the harmolodics. Nowadays Ornette Coleman is not a frequent run on my turntable or cd player either but I learned to appreciate his involvement in modern music. He took chances, he was a creator and did not fear or compromise. Like many of the true innovators he dedicated his life to his art.

It was through the Jorn Zorn's Naked City version of Lonely Woman that I learned to appreciate Coleman's music and it's potential beauty. The man still remains a mystery to many of us and people will rediscover his music for generations to come.

Photo by Andy Newcombe.