The Shape of Jazz to Come Reviews

I wouldn't go far as to say this is free jazz, as most people have labeled it as. It is avant-garde though. The title of the album says it all. Just read it out loud to yourself; The Shape of Jazz to Come. What was Ornette Coleman saying to us? He was telling us that the focus of jazz needs to change direction. He wasn't interested anymore in the sqaure box that a lot of fans where use to. He was more into placing lines at certain corners to make the box three dimensional. That's what he does on this album. He places odd notes and high tones around a very structured rhythm pattern and bass. Take a look at what was going on in jazz in 1959. You had the most successful jazz albums coming out then and they were all cool or modal, something audiences could enjoy and not be too scared of. This album was the turning point in what jazz was going to become in the new decade for a lot of artist, and Coleman knew it!

I don't know if it's just this reissue or not but the bass volume on this is too low, in my opinion. Charlie Haden is perfect on this album and I wish I could hear him just a little louder. The drums are pretty soft on this release as well so this album is all about the horns, which is a damn good thing when your dealing with Coleman and Cherry.

Credits:
Bass - Charlie Haden
Cornet - Don Cherry
Drums - Billy Higgins
Saxophone [Alto] - Ornette Coleman

Notes:
Recorded on May 22, 1959 at Radio Rceorders, Los Angeles, California, USA.

TRT: 38:14