Episode 58:: (Why Not) Listen to Ornette Coleman! (?)

On March 9, saxophonist and "Free Jazz" pioneer Ornette Coleman celebrated his 80th birthday, and in New York the radio station WKCR celebrated as well, with 24 hours of music from his large, diverse, and yes, mostly avant-garde, discography. Ornette is an especially difficult figure to cast into any particular Jazz mold, though this hasn't caused any delay for those who pigeon-hole him as a "radical" or even a "visionary" and thenceforth never actually listen to his music. The kindest excuse is something like, "oh sure, Ornette's brilliant... it's just not my thing."

And I see where they're coming from. Jumping feet-first into the landmark 36-minute improvised insanity that is the 1960 "Free Jazz" album, one is not likely to emerge with much of an understanding, much less an appreciation, of what the hell just happened.

But Ornette has had a long career, and throughout he has continued to push boundaries in ways that maintain the elusive quality of being both extremely intelligent, and also passionate. Rocket Science with Orgasm. And that certainly deserves more attention, not to mention gives all of us something in his work to relate to.

So let's listen to some Ornette Coleman. Why not? I'll keep things on the accessible side, and perhaps after an hour of progressive attenuation, you'll be ready to sit down for a big helping of Eric Dolphy solos, modal progressions, and tempo-less music. Like a fat sheep on Nouroz, it's a feast once you learn how to eat it.

Audio

Playlist

1. Ornette Coleman - When Will the Blues Leave - Something Else! The Music of Ornette Coleman
2. Ornette Coleman - Tomorrow is the Question - Tomorrow is the Question
3. Ornette Coleman - Compassion - Tomorrow is the Question
4. Ornette Coleman - the Fifth of Beethoven - The Art of the Improvisers
5. Ornette Coleman Trio - Dawn - Live at the Golden Circle
6. Ornette Coleman - Street Woman - Science Fiction
7. Ornette Coleman - New York - Ornette at 12
8. Ornette Coleman / Pat Metheny - Police People - Song X

WSRP:: One of the Few places that Won't Expect you to Pay Money to hear Free Jazz.

Episode 57:: Mosaic Records

The amazing story of Mosaic Records - a special combination of jazz scholarship and re-issue house - cannot be told (by me) in just 1 hour, so instead we go light on the narrative and let some of the many unique gems that Mosaic has discovered speak (mostly) for themselves. Further, I'll allow that this program isn't a "best of" Mosaic, as I intentionally dug not for their most high-profile releases, but rather for some of the odds-and-ends that would never be available to listeners in the 21st century without the efforts of Michael Cuscuna and (the late) Charlie Lourie and their staff. You can find the complete story here, or my little audio tribute below.

Audio

Playlist

1. Serge Chaloff - King Edward the Flatted Fifth - Complete Serge Chaloff Sessions
2. Albert Ammons & Meade Lux Lewis - Nagasaki - The Complete Blue Note Recordings of Albert Ammons and Meade Lux Lewis
3. The Port of Harlem Seven - Pounding Heart Blues - The Complete Recordings of the Port of Harlem Jazzmen
4. James P. Johnson - Walkin' the Dog - The Complete Edmond Hall/ James P. Johnson/ Sidney DeParis/ Vic Dickenson Blue Note Sessions
5. Stuff Smith - Whatcha Gonna Do... - The Complete Verve Stuff Smith Sessions
6. Stuff Smith w/ Shirley Horne - Foggy Day - The Complete Verve Stuff Smith Sessions
7. Chet Baker - Carson City Stage - The Complete Pacific Jazz Live Recordings of the Chet Baker Quartet with Russ Freeman
8. Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra - Morning Reverend - The Complete Solid State Recordings of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra
9. Larry Young - Ritha - Complete Blue Note Recordings of Larry Young
10. Andrew Hill - New Monastery - The Complete Blue Note Andrew Hill (1963-1966)

::WSRP:: In 50 years, webradioblog archivists will consider finding this audio a monumental discovery. Just you wait. . . . . . . Keep Waiting.