Is The Empty Foxhole a good place to start with Ornette Coleman?

Yes, The Empty Foxhole is recommended as a starting point for new Ornette Coleman listeners. Exploratory and avant-garde, the album intertwines complex improvisations with Ornette Coleman's signature free jazz ethos. By 1966, Ornette Coleman was an established figure in avant-garde jazz, having released his groundbreaking album 'The Shape of Jazz to Come' in 1959. 'The Empty Foxhole' represents a continued evolution of his sound, featuring innovative compositions that reflect his unique approach to melody and harmony during this creative phase.

Who is The Empty Foxhole for?

The Empty Foxhole works well if you're into steady exploration of melodic improvisation, immersive journey through soundscapes and engaging in reflective listening sessions.

How many songs are on The Empty Foxhole?

The Empty Foxhole has 6 tracks, running approximately 38 minutes.

Released 60 years ago

The Empty Foxhole

Ornette Coleman · 1966

38 min · 6 tracks · jazz

Exploratory and avant-garde, the album intertwines complex improvisations with Ornette Coleman's signature free jazz ethos.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Good Old Days Start here — The opening track sets the tone with its buoyant energy and intricate interactions between instruments, exemplifying the playful yet profound nature of Coleman's compositions.
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The Empty Foxhole — The title track encapsulates the essence of the album with its haunting melodies and dynamic shifts, reflecting on themes of absence and introspection.
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Freeway Express — This expansive piece showcases the collective improvisation that defines the album, blending urgency with lyrical expression, demonstrating Coleman's mastery of rhythm and form.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

73 /100

Alpine

Higher than 96% of albums we've rated

The album showcases innovative improvisation and structure, solidifying its place in free jazz.

What we noticed

Each track features extended improvisation, often with multiple instruments weaving in and out of the foreground.
The album employs unconventional song structures, frequently eschewing traditional verse-chorus forms.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 8/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 9/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 6/10

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

steady exploration of melodic improvisation
immersive journey through soundscapes
engaging in reflective listening sessions
dynamic interplay between tracks

Maybe skip if you

prefer instant gratification tracks
seek traditional song structures

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Experimental — Represents a departure in structure and improvisation within free jazz.
Career context: By 1966, Ornette Coleman was an established figure in avant-garde jazz, having released his groundbreaking album 'The Shape of Jazz to Come' in 1959. 'The Empty Foxhole' represents a continued evolution of his sound, featuring innovative compositions that reflect his unique approach to melody and harmony during this creative phase.
Stylistic neighbors: Albert Ayler· John Coltrane· Cecil Taylor