An Evening with Ornette Coleman
Ornette Coleman · 1967
78 min · 8 tracks · jazz
A daring exploration of avant-garde jazz, merging intricate structures with Ornette Coleman's signature free-form improvisation.
Top tracks — play these first
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Forms and Sound for Wind Quintet (in Ten Movements) — This sprawling composition exemplifies Coleman's innovative melding of structured forms with improvisation, challenging conventional notions of melody and rhythm.
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Sadness Start here — In just over three minutes, this track captures a profound emotional depth through minimalism, reflecting Coleman's ability to convey complex feelings succinctly.
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Clergyman’s Dream — This piece stands out for its unique harmonic progression and lyrical improvisation, showcasing Coleman's distinctive voice within the jazz idiom.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalThe album showcases intricate structures and free improvisation, making it a notable work in avant-garde jazz.
What we noticed
- The album features a ten-movement piece that explores various themes and motifs, with each movement presenting distinct musical ideas.
- Improvisation is central, with musicians frequently departing from the written score to create spontaneous interactions.
- Tracks vary significantly in length, with some movements being brief while others extend into more complex explorations of sound.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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8/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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9/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- gradual build to emotional climax
- captivating improvisation and exploration
- introspective moments of quiet reflection
- dynamic contrasts between tracks
Maybe skip if you
- prefer immediate gratification
- seek predictable song structures
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Critical Peak — This album showcases Ornette's ambitious exploration of avant-garde jazz structures.
- Career context
- By 1967, Ornette Coleman had already established himself as a pivotal figure in avant-garde jazz, following the release of groundbreaking albums like 'The Shape of Jazz to Come' and 'Free Jazz'. 'An Evening with Ornette Coleman' represents a continuation of his innovative approach, showcasing his ability to blend complex compositions with spontaneous expression. This album further solidified his status during a period when jazz was undergoing significant transformation.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Albert Ayler· John Coltrane· Cecil Taylor
Tracklist
- 1 Forms and Sound for Wind Quintet (in Ten Movements) 25:03
- 2 Sadness Start here 3:40
- 3 Clergyman’s Dream 12:22
- 4 Falling Stars 9:02
- 5 Silence 9:17
- 6 Happy Fool 7:13
- 7 Ballad 5:20
- 8 Dough Nuts 6:15
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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