i just checked out this cd from the library, hadn't listened to it in a long time... back in the day, when i worked in a record store, this was the album i'd frequently put on at closing time, to drive the remaining customers out of the store (it usually worked)... i guess what i'm saying is that it's not everyone's taste-personally, i loved it, and still do...wielding his alto saxophone like a happy blow torch, Ornette Coleman was/is an original, and probably a genius, who went his own path in the jazz world; like Sun Ra, he was in his own orbit, and he's still out there... Coleman's music doesn't have a lot to do with harmony or chord changes, instead it's built around recurring melodic fragments or motifs... Song X was originally released in 1985; this is the remixed and remastered version, with added tracks... it was actually guitarist Pat Metheny's debut album for the Geffen Music label, and who better to bring on board than the OC-Pat's playing is brilliant on it as well, atypically hard-edged for him; rounding out the lineup are uberbassist Charlie Haden, Ornette's partner in crime from the beginning, and drummers Jack DeJohnette and (son)Denardo Coleman; the tunes were all written by Ornette... listen to it sometime if you're in the mood for something weird and wonderful; this one will stand the test of time.
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Yosemite under Orion's gaze
Friday, November 28, 2008
In Praise of the Mighty Ornette
i just checked out this cd from the library, hadn't listened to it in a long time... back in the day, when i worked in a record store, this was the album i'd frequently put on at closing time, to drive the remaining customers out of the store (it usually worked)... i guess what i'm saying is that it's not everyone's taste-personally, i loved it, and still do...wielding his alto saxophone like a happy blow torch, Ornette Coleman was/is an original, and probably a genius, who went his own path in the jazz world; like Sun Ra, he was in his own orbit, and he's still out there... Coleman's music doesn't have a lot to do with harmony or chord changes, instead it's built around recurring melodic fragments or motifs... Song X was originally released in 1985; this is the remixed and remastered version, with added tracks... it was actually guitarist Pat Metheny's debut album for the Geffen Music label, and who better to bring on board than the OC-Pat's playing is brilliant on it as well, atypically hard-edged for him; rounding out the lineup are uberbassist Charlie Haden, Ornette's partner in crime from the beginning, and drummers Jack DeJohnette and (son)Denardo Coleman; the tunes were all written by Ornette... listen to it sometime if you're in the mood for something weird and wonderful; this one will stand the test of time.
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17 comments:
Music to drive people screaming out of the room...hmm - interesting topic. How about a duet of Yoko Ono and Alice Coltrane?
Then play the guy who wrote "You're having my baby, what a wonderful way of saying how much you love me."
Finish up with an aperitif of Pat Boone videos where he's wearing the leather vest with his shirt off. Your company will scram in no time.
Yoko and Alice Coltrane, tonight at Carnegie Hall. I think you're on to something. With Pat Boone as the opening act. This could be huge.
The Pat Boone reference is a nod to his "In a Metal Mood" album from the 90's, where he does heavymetal hits ("Smoke on the Water", etc) sung to big band arrangements. It's one of my favorite albums of all time. That and the Mike Westbrook Band's "Off Abbey Road", wherein they recreate the Beatles classic in mock operatic style, except they are absolutely serious. This IS my favorite album of all time.
Don't forget the great Sebastian Cabot and William Shatner Beatle's albums. They will go down in history, well, somewhere...
As a longtime deadhead, we were kind of an incubation chamber for visiting musicians. I can tell you Ornette, was the worst of the guest horn players (along with Clarence.)
Martine Fierro, Branford, David Murray could all groove, Ornette was a drunk and lusty ram bellowing for his ewe.
I can dig it, although i remember hearing Jerry playing on one of Ornette's albums, and it worked. Can't remember the name of it, help me out. But then Jerry had such flawless instincts, he could adapt to any musical situation and still sound like, well, Jerry. The sign of a great musician: from the first note, you know it's him.
Obscure albums such as Bassist Orlan Spain in Habana and Dr. Cliff Cummings, a pioneer of the Hammond Organ. His New York sessions come to mind. I once had some old reel to reel tapes of Cheech Montgomery and Orlan Spain that i bought from a merchant in Soho, but somehow they were lost when I moved from New Jersey to San Diego in the 60's. Great Jazz from the foundation of it's origins. Yoko broke up the Beatles.
anonymous must be a real music wizz kidd to know about orlon spain, dr. cheech montgomery! i remember listening to those cats on dad's reel to reel tape deck when we lived in the pocono's. he would smoke his pipe and my mom would serve merlot to the adults and later they would kick us kids out of the room and watch the steve allen show!
I BET ANONYMOUS IS INTO JIM NABORS TOO!
Hey know-it-all Brenda, Steve Allen was an accomplished jazz musician and recorded many albums. For your info; Jim Nabors also recorded a album with some jazz songs on it.
If you are so smart Ms. Brenda, what type of guitar did Cheech Montgomery help develope?
DONT GET ME PISSED MR ANONYMOUS! CHEECH HELPED DESIGN THE NEW GIBSON ARCH TOP THAT EAST COAST JAZZ WIZZ JOHNNY A. NOW USES AND ENDORSES. BY THE WAY, ANYONE WHO HAS NOT HEARD JOHNNY A.'S VERSION OF "WICHITA LINEMAN" HAS NEEDS TOO! SO THERE YOU ANONYMOUS. YOUR NAME FITS YOUR INTELLIGENCE.
Slow down Brenda or whom ever you are. Just wanted to share some news about some obscure deserving jazz musicians that the general public is not aware of.
By the way Orlan Spains kid play basketball for SDSU.
As does Jim (kool-aid) Jones grandson. I think that Spain got into a little trouble last year. Don't know who either of you are, Brenda and Mr. A, but enjoyed your repartee.
Correction, Kyle Spain who is a star basketball player at SDSU is the grandson of Orlon Spain.
Hey Brenda I even spelled Orlon correct this time.
ps. Get a life! would-be-jazz singer Brenda from Pacific Beach. hahaha the gigs up!
I dug Spain's stuff, but always thought it was career suicide for him to release the little noted album "Drawings of Spain" so soon after Miles Davis "Sketches of Spain". I know he had the right because of his name and all but many thought that he was just trying to capitalize. The idea of incorporating the bassoon as a lead instrument in a beebop band was pretty revolutionary, I must admit.
sum dey sumwons gonna rite a hole storie bout orlon spain. hee b a gud unkil 2 mee annie grate jaz moosishun. u shud rite a ful ardikal bout him cuz he aint neber gotz no kredit 4 beeonion sush a gud base playa.
posed bye hiz nepew
dewaine
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