ORNETTE COLEMAN — The Shape of Jazz to Come (aka Le Jazz De Demain) (review)

ORNETTE COLEMAN — The Shape of Jazz to Come (aka Le Jazz De Demain) album cover Album · 1959 · Post Bop Buy this album from MMA partners
4.5/5 ·
siLLy puPPy
The first thing I thought after listening to this album for the very first time was – why is this considered so shocking? After hearing my share of extreme metal, progressive rock, avant-garde and indie rock and even avant jazz such as John Zorn, this actually seemed pretty tame. Then it hit me. This came out in 1959 – the “Leave It To Beaver” years. A long time before all that other stuff. I wasn't even close to being a twinkle in my parents' eyes and had to put myself in the context of the time.

Somehow jazz had morphed from the frantic fantastic tapestry of Dixieland Jazz of the 20s and the complexity had been tamed and shined into perfect marketable packages. The big bands of the 40s and bop of the 50s were enjoyable listens for their controlled uniformity but after years of sameness, it must have been getting a little cliché. Then 1959 hit and several notable releases by Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, Dave Brubeck and Ornette Coleman changed the music landscape forever. Of the previously mentioned Coleman was the one who released the first avant-garde jazz release. This was very daring and profound and shook up the world of jazz and influenced the freeness that would eventually explode in the 60s.

Although I didn't find this shocking in the least, I did find it a great listen. It is still rooted in the traditional bop of the 50s but gave permission to break free from the expected phrasing that accompanied it. Although I haven't explored much of Ornette's canon, I am very eager to do so after hearing this landmark release.

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Poetry of Place (from the exhibit by painter Karen Allen) Jazz Related Improv/Composition
CHRIS DINGMAN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Hiwar World Fusion
ALEPH QUINTET
Buy this album from MMA partners
Stefan Keune, Steve Noble, Dominic Lash : Black Box Jazz Related Improv/Composition
STEFAN KEUNE
Buy this album from MMA partners
Satoko Fujii Tokyo Trio : Dream A Dream Avant-Garde Jazz
SATOKO FUJII
Buy this album from MMA partners
Jazz Suite Outcome Of Choice Avant-Garde Jazz
PAUL DUNMALL
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Wojciech Jachna Squad - Ad Astra (Promo Teaser)
WOJCIECH JACHNA
snobb· 2 days ago
Nitty Gritty
RUSS SPIEGEL
js· 2 days ago
Never in a 100.000.000 Dreams
SUPERSISTER
js· 3 days ago
Love is a Fire that Burns Unseen
PETER MADSEN
js· 3 days ago
Nostalgi
RIGMOR GUSTAFSSON
js· 3 days ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed