Ornette Coleman gets 24-hour birthday salute on WKCR-FM on Monday

WKCR-FM joins in the celebration of Ornette Coleman's birthday with a special 24-hour broadcast on Monday. Right on!  

Here's the scoop from New York's WKCR-FM...

WKCR is pleased to announce our annual 24-hour broadcast honouring what would have been the 96th birthday of Ornette Coleman. This broadcast will preempt all regularly scheduled programming on Monday, March 9.

Randolph Denard Ornette Coleman, born in Fort Worth, Texas in 1930, was an alto saxophonist, trumpeter, violinist, and composer who would became one of the giants in jazz music as a pioneer of what critics often regard as “free jazz.” What initially earned him labels such as “disruptive” or “a fraud” would write him into history as a genius and an innovator.

Coleman’s 1959 Atlantic release “The Shape of Jazz to Come” as well as his 1960 release “Free Jazz: A Collective Improvisation” is often credited with profoundly steering the future course of avant-garde jazz, making him a key figure in the history of the entire jazz idiom. However, his influence was not strictly limited to jazz music. His last performance in 2014 shared a bill with the likes of Patti Smith, Laurie Anderson, Nels Cline, and Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Despite his significance in the history of free jazz, Coleman sought to evolve beyond any musical categorization. In the 70s he took to playing with electrified instruments on albums such as “Prime Time,” and in the 80s albums such as “Virgin Beauty” and “Of Human Feelings” made heavy use of rock and funk rhythms.

To commemorate Ornette Coleman’s birthday and his importance on a world of artists that came after him, WKCR’s special broadcast will present an in depth look at his long and remarkable career. Listeners can tune in to the WKCR birthday broadcast of Ornette Coleman on 89.9FM or stream it live on the WKCR website. Follow WKCR on Instagram (@wkcr) and Twitter (@WKCRFM) for updates about this special broadcast and future events. Online listening is available 24/7 at wkcr.org via our web stream. 

Check out some interviews with Ornette Coleman below. 

Remembering Prince Lasha on his birthday

Raising a glass to Fort Worth saxophone great Prince Lasha with a Novi Sad gig with Woody Shaw and a few stellar recordings.

One For The Weekend: Ornette Coleman & Dewey Redman

Check out the laidback but funky instro version of "Friends and Neighbors" off Live At Prince Street being reissued by Ace/BGP. 

Here's the scoop from Ace Records HQ...

One of the most forward-thinking and radical musicians of his or any era, saxophone great Ornette Coleman revolutionized jazz with his early albums for Atlantic Records. In the late 60s he was signed to Impulse by Bob Thiele. When Bob left Impulse, Coleman donated a track to his Flying Dutchman album “Head Start”. Then, finding himself temporarily without a deal, he allowed Flying Dutchman to put out his latest album, a fascinating recording cut live at a loft space Coleman owned in downtown New York. Musicians on the recording include his long-time collaborators Ed Blackwell on drums and Charlie Haden on bass alongside fiery tenor player Dewey Redman. The music is a satisfying set that particularly shines on the title track and ‘Forgotten Song’. Out of print for nearly 40 years, “Friends And Neighbors” is one of the most overlooked albums in Coleman’s extensive discography. The first vinyl reissue of Ornette Live At Prince Street in nearly 20 years, Beat Goes Public's version (due September 1st) utilizes a fresh 24/96 transfer from the original production master.

Check out the instrumental version of "Friends and Neighbors" below. Pre-order a copy of the vinyl reissue via Amazon.ca right here. 
 

R.I.P. Charnett Moffet, 1967-2022

Sadly, jazz bassist Charnett Moffett passed away recently after suffering a heart attack. He was just 54. He'll be greatly missed. 

Not The Music featuring Joe McPhee @ The Music Gallery, Sunday

Here are a couple of interviews with saxophone great Joe McPhee followed by his classic "Nation Time" from 1970.