Ornette Coleman

3 Lps On 2 CD, Digipack Edition

On his first album, “Something Else!” he was accompanied by his pocket-trumpet-playing partner Don Cherry and a traditional piano-bass-drums rhythm section. In the light of his later work it was an immature debut. The feel of his themes recalled the early Parker-Gillespie quintets, unjustly casting him back to the days of early bop. His subsequent albums—”Tomorrow Is the Question” and “The Shape of Jazz to Come”—dropped the piano, and a responsive bass allowed his music to come through vividly, more reassuring and provocative. His voice was his alone, and the quartet’s playing as a unit was cohesive and empathetic. He proved he was not just “another Parker”. His essential contribution to jazz was himself. Many critics and musicians thought he would point the way to a new direction in jazz, while others felt he had been pushed into the limelight before his time.

Ornette Coleman has always been bigger than life and, quite often, far ahead of his peers. But his debut was, for some, too much, too soon.

Featuring: Ornette Coleman (as), Don Cherry (pocket tp), Walter Norris (p), Don Payne, Red Mitchell, Percy Heath, Charlie Haden (b), Billy Higgins, Shelly Manne (d)

Includes a 40-page booklet with recording details, extensive notes and rare photos.

With his harsh, shrill tone and weird white plastic alto saxophone, Ornette Coleman’s sudden arrival on the unsuspecting late 50s jazz scene came as an out-of-the-blue shock.

Notes:

"Coleman has been the subject of the kind of extravagant praise normally reserved for a musician backed by years of big-time experience. Though it is much too soon to determine how important his contribution will really be, the indications are that he has indeed found a style both of writing that is valid, fresh, and exciting."

Leonard Feather, 1960

Tracklisting:

CD 1
01. Alpha (4:15)
02. Jayne (7:22)
03. Chippie (5:41)
04. The Blessing (4:48)
05. The Sphinx (4:15)
06. Invisible (4:17)
07. Angel Voice (4:24)
08. The Disguise (2:51)
09. When Will the Blues Leave? (5:02)
10. Lorraine (5:59)
11. Turnaround (7:58)
12. Endless (5:17)

CD 2
01. Tomorrow Is the Question (3:12)
02. Tears Inside (5:04)
03. Compassion (4:39)
04. Giggin’ (3:22)
05. Rejoicing (4:03)
06. Mind and Time (3:11)
07. Focus on Sanity (6:50)
08. Chronology (Step In) (6:04)
09. Peace (9:02)
10. Congeniality (Nomad) (6:47)
11. Lonely Woman (5:01)
12. Eventually (4:22)
13. Monk and the Nun (5:56) (*) Bonus Track
14. Just for You (3:53) (*) Bonus Track

All compositions by Ornette Coleman.

CD 1, tracks #1-9 from the 12" LP
"Something Else!!!!" (Contemporary S 7551).

CD 1, tracks #10-12 & CD 2, #1-6 from the 12" LP
"Tomorrow Is The Question!" (Contemporary S 7569).

CD 2, tracks #7-12 from the 12" LP
"The Shape of Jazz to Come" (Atlantic 1317).

Bonus Tracks:
CD 2, track #13 taken from the 12"
LP "Twins" (Atlantic SD 1588).
CD 2, track #14 taken from the 12"
LP "The Art of the Improvisers" (Atlantic SD 1572).


Personnel on "Something Else!!!!":
Ornette Coleman (as), Don Cherry (pocket tp), Walter Norris (p), Don Payne (b) and Billy Higgins (d). Recorded in Los Angeles, February 10 (#1-3), February 22 (#4-8), March 24 (#9), 1958.

Personnel on "Tomorrow is the Question!": Ornette Coleman (as), Don Cherry (pocket tp), Red Mitchell (b), Percy Heath (b on CD 2, #1-6) and Shelly Manne (d). Recorded in Los Angeles, January 16 (#10), February 23 (#11-12), March 9 & 10 (CD 2, #1-6), 1959.

Sessions produced by Lester Koenig.
Sound engineer Roy DuNann at Contemporary's studio.

Personnel on "The Shape of Jazz" + Bonus: Ornette Coleman (as), Don Cherry (pocket tp), Charlie Haden (b) and Billy Higgins (d). Recorded in Los Angeles, on May 22, 1959.

Session produced by Nesuhi Ertegun.
Sound engineer Dayton 'Bones' Howe at Radio Recorders Studio.