Ornette Coleman: This is Our Music

Posted by: John C on 24 February 2002

Found a really nice original Atlantic Lp of this extraordinary album. Humpty Dumpty is the funkiest, most groovin track! Charlie Haden lays it down. Quite brilliant. The addition of Ed Blackwell just takes the whole quartet to another level. His drums on Poise are beautiful.

Also Chappaqua Suite. Wonderful and you know what, the David Izenzon, Charles Moffett trio rivals the quartet IMO. made for an obscure art house movie by Conrad Rooks, though never used, and judging by the stills I may have seen it in the distant past

And ..and ..and Town Hall 1962 on a quite luscious Fontana pressing. Superb. Always gets bad press I assume because of the string quartet track. Didn't sound too bad to me. The best recorded example of Ornette's tone I've ever heard. I wonder if he was playing the plastic sax?

I love Ornette Coleman's music! A 20 century genius.

John

[This message was edited by John C on SUNDAY 24 February 2002 at 23:48.]

Posted on: 24 February 2002 by ken c

Found a really nice original Atlantic Lp of this extraordinary album.

where did you find the vinyl(i assume) from?

i have the atlantic cd. oh man, great album!! those guys were possessed or something. that line up!! -- made for each other would you not say ??

you've made my day! good night...

enjoy

Posted on: 25 February 2002 by Former member

Might as well stick my oar in and say that this album is, IMO, the best place to start with Ornette. For all you virgins...

Joel

Born to groove

Posted on: 25 February 2002 by Thomas K

quote:
For all you virgins...

That would be me, Joel. I'll give it a go.

BTW, Coleman contributed a haunting solo on the opening track of Joe Henry's latest album, "Scar". The track is entitled "Richard Pryor Addresses A Tearful Nation" (that alone should make you curious), and the album is one of the best discoveries I made last year.

Thomas

Posted on: 25 February 2002 by Former member

"I did'nt like it at first,,but I figured it would be better to have a new horn anyway.Now I won't play any other.They're made in England,and I have to send for them.They're only good for a year the way I play them...The notes from a plastic horn are purer.In addition,the keyboard is made flat,like a flute keyboard,whereas a regular keyboard is round.On a flat keyboard I dig in more."As told to Nat Hentoff in 1961 and quoted in Ornette Coleman:The Harmolidic Life by John Litweiler.According to Mr. Litweiler,Ornette bought his first plastic horn in Los Angeles in 1954.

BTW,fantastic album shot.

Happy listening

Dave

Posted on: 25 February 2002 by Former member

chappaqua suite is probably my favourite ornette album. i bought loads on vinyl back in the 70's when i got into modern jazz, free jazz,who's crazy, on tenor etc etc not bought a new one for years-certainly not on cd

Posted on: 25 February 2002 by ken c

i think i got into ornette via "soapsuds" an album i have talked about before on this forum.

enjoy

ken

Posted on: 26 February 2002 by John C

I must get the Litwieler book.

Anyone into Ornette should also consider Don Cherry's Blue Notes, Complete Communion, Symphony for Improvisers and Where is Brooklyn.Great music.

Now who else likes Archie Shepp?

John.A

Posted on: 26 February 2002 by Former member

Ken/Soapsuds

Human Being from Soapsuds is one of my all time favourite pieces of music.After Charlie Haden's bass solo Ornette restates the theme and produces the most amazing 'honk',surely one of the finest moments in recorded music.The whole track exemplifies Ornette's statement that 'the best statements Negroes have made,of what their soul is,have been made on tenor saxophone.'Soapsuds is surely Ornette's soul laid bare.

Happy listening

Dave

Posted on: 26 February 2002 by Former member

I will keep on trying.

Occasionally I dig out my Beauty is a Rare Thing box and play some tunes. So far, his wails don't do much for me.

I'm planning to get his live Blue Notes and giving those a try.

Hockman

Posted on: 26 February 2002 by Former member

try Pat Metheny's Song X with Ornette Coleman.

The most accessible Ornette I have found so far are the pieces from the movie soundtract Finding Forrester.

Even these aren't exactly easy sledding.

John

Posted on: 27 February 2002 by richard goldsmith

That looks like a UK Atlantic Pressing by the cover - am I correct? (trainspotter me)

Posted on: 27 February 2002 by Former member

john c i have cherry's symphony for improvisors and where is brooklyn -great albums i also have a rare double album on a swedish label(caprice)called organic music;i'm pretty sure neneh cherry as a young child is pictured on the sleeve! i think don was living in a hippy commune at the time(early 70's) i only have one shepp though, mama too tight

Posted on: 28 February 2002 by John C

You do ofcourse realise I have never taken a single photo in my life? The power of internet I'm afraid.
Richard Goldsmith, my copy is American and has a red "stereo" in top R corner.

Archie Shepp, if you don't have Four for Trane or The Way Ahead, both on Impulse, you need a trip down to the record store.

John.

Posted on: 14 March 2002 by Peter Stockwell

that is with this ? ...

Peter

Posted on: 14 March 2002 by John C

Definitely a good place to start or Joel's suggestion of This is our Music .

I assume you mean the new RVG CD releases. After extensive and pointless AB testing I have concluded that my Liberty era LP reissues are far better.They are tricky to find though.

John

Posted on: 14 March 2002 by Peter Stockwell

quote:
Originally posted by John C:
Definitely a good place to start or Joel's suggestion of This is our Music .
I assume you mean the new RVG CD releases. After extensive and pointless AB testing I have concluded that my Liberty era LP reissues are far better.They are tricky to find though.
John

Dunno, if they (vol I & II) are RVG editions, but they are to be released next week and I can get them for about 8€50 from ..

Amazon France

which is probably a lot cheaper than the LPs ?

Peter

Posted on: 17 March 2002 by Former member

John C:

I picked up vol 1 of the RVG last week and just had a quick listen of several tracks.

This is by far one of the more accessible and enjoyable Ornettes, more so than the path-breaking Atlantics. This may well be the first Ornette that I really "get". I am looking forward to vol 2.

The sound BTW is stunning. If your Liberty LPs sound better, they must be stupendous!

I also found a Toshiba LP version of Dolphy's Out to Lunch in fine condition. I already own the regular CD version, but could not warm to it. But, somehow, the LP has a lot more soul...I think I can really get into it.

Hockman

Posted on: 23 March 2002 by stephenjohn

New to Ornette Coleman. A friend lent this to me early in the week.
Cacophony at first. I thought it was mad. On the 3rd/4th hearing it made me laugh out loud. After the 6th I was hearing it in my head. Brilliant. After the 7th playing I bought it from Amazon.
Steve