Charlie Haden
August 6, 1937 – July 11, 2014
Charlie Haden was an American jazz bassist who was most notably part of the Free Jazz movement of the ’50s and ’60s. It was his work in Ornette Coleman‘s quartet during that time that endeared him to fans and critics alike. The Coleman albums on which he played been called “game changers”, but it was 1959’s The Shape Of Jazz To Come that is considered a landmark of the genre. During the late ’60s and early ’70s, Haden worked with the great Keith Jarrett, playing on several albums that received critical acclaim as well. In 1969, Haden formed the Liberation Music Orchestra whose output was more politically based, with Carla Bley contributing heavily. Haden’s most commercially successful period began in the late ’80s with the formation of his Quartet West. The configuration released albums well into the 2000s, The list of artists with whom Haden recorded over the years was not limited to jazz and includes Elvis Costello, Ginger Baker, Beck, Yoko Ono, Ringo Starr, and Robert Downey Jr. Haden’s children have enjoyed careers in music as well – his son Joshua Haden is a member of the indie rock band, Spain, while his triplet daughters, Petra Haden, Tanya Haden, and Rachel Haden make up the acclaimed alt-country band, the Haden Triplets. Charlie Haden was 77 when he passed away on July 11, 2014, following a lengthy illness.
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