Died On This Date (June 11, 2015) Ornette Coleman / Jazz Great
themusicsover Randolph Ornette Coleman
March 9, 1930 – June 11, 2015
Ornette Coleman was one of the true greats of jazz. As a saxophonist, he pioneered what would become to be called “free jazz.” In fact, he is often credited with actually inventing it, or at least putting a name to it, after naming his 1960 album, Free Jazz: A Collective Improvisation. Born in Forth Worth, TX., Coleman spent much of his early career traveling around the United States performing along regional jazz circuits. Along the way he began to incorporate country blues and R&B into his sound. In his slower pieces, his high timbre can come across as crying, which appealed to fans of the blues as well. In 1959, while living in New York, Coleman released The Shape of Things To Come, and a year later, Free Jazz. Both releases broke him through in a big way and laid the foundation for the avant-garde movement of the 1960s and beyond. In later years Coleman dabbled in rock, even performing with the Grateful Dead on occasion. In 2007, he became the first musician to win a Pulitzer Prize – for his album, Sound Grammar. He continued to perform and record up until the time of his death. Ornette Coleman was 85 when he died of cardiac arrest on June 11, 2015.
Thanks to Harold Lepidus of the Bob Dylan Examiner for the assist.
What You Should Own
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.
Marion Brown was an influential saxophonist who was closely associated with the avant-garde jazz movement of the ’60s. After settling in New York City during the early ’60s, Brown quickly began running in the same circles as 
Joe Maneri was jazz saxophonist and clarinetist who came to some prominence during the ’90s. He specialized in taking traditional ethnic folk elements and embellishing them with his own avant garde free-form jazz. He has been compared to Ornette Coleman and 