Ornette Coleman – Ornette! – Speakers Corner 180g Vinyl LP

Just a little more than a month after his ground-breaking release “Free Jazz”, Coleman recorded the present album, in which he perhaps distanced himself somewhat from the conceptual idea, but still guided his quartet to ever more richness of detail and creativity. “Ornette!” was the first recording with bass-player Scott LaFaro and Coleman, and the difference in approach between LaFaro and Charlie Haden is noticeable from the very first note of “W.R.U.”. His playing is more direct and agile, and one can hear how he drives Coleman and Don Cherry actively onwards and more aggressively than Haden’s warm, languid phrasing.

The tracks, with titles that are taken from the works of Sigmund Freud, are all gems and serve as a wonderful starting point for the musicians’ improvisations. By now, Coleman felt himself comfortable in lengthy pieces, and neither he nor his fellow musicians had trouble in filling out time, never once lacking for new ideas. Ed Blackwell deserves a special mention – he shows himself here at his very best. “Ornette!” is a superb release and an absolute must for all fans of Coleman and creative, improvised music in general.

This Speakers Corner LP was remastered using pure analogue components only, from the master tapes through to the cutting head.

Recording: January 1961 at Atlantic Studios, New York City, by Tom Dowd
Production: Nesuhi Ertegun

Track Listing

Side 1
1. W.R.U. (16:25)
2. T. & T. (4:35)

Side 2
1. C. & D. (13:10)
2. R.P.D.D. (9:39)