Change of the Century

Last updated
Change of the Century
Change of the Century.jpg
Studio album by
Ornette Coleman
ReleasedMay 1960 (1960-05) [1] [2] [3] [4]
RecordedOctober 8–9, 1959
Genre Free jazz [5]
Length40:55
Label Atlantic
Producer Nesuhi Ertegün
Ornette Coleman chronology
The Shape of Jazz to Come
(1959)		Change of the Century
(1960)		 This Is Our Music
(1961)

Change of the Century is a studio album by jazz saxophonist Ornette Coleman. It was released through Atlantic Records in May 1960. [1] [2] [3] It sold very well from soon after its release. [4] Recording sessions for the album took place on October 8 and 9, 1959, in New York City. [6]

Contents

In the liner notes, Coleman stressed that the album was "a group effort," and wrote: "When our group plays, before we start out to play, we do not have any idea what the end result will be. Each player is free to contribute what he feels in the music at any given moment... our final results depend entirely on the musicianship, emotional make-up and taste of the individual member." [7]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [8]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [9]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [10]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [11]
Tom Hull A− [12]

Writer A. B. Spellman commented: "this is a very disciplined group of musicians. They had complete intuition about where the other one was going to go. The sympathy within the group was absolutely extreme and that's hard to develop." He noted: "This record catches them just as they are sort of rising toward their peak. It has all the excitement and all the newness." [13]

AllMusic's Steve Huey stated that the album showcases "a group that was growing ever more confident in its revolutionary approach and the chemistry in the bandmembers' interplay," and remarked: "Coleman was hitting his stride and finally letting out all the ideas and emotions that had previously been constrained by tradition. That vitality makes it an absolutely essential purchase and... some of the most brilliant work of Coleman's career." [8]

C. Michael Bailey, writing for All About Jazz, called the title track "a wild phantasm of notes that are to 'free jazz' what trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie's 'Bebop' was for that virtuosic genre," and commented: "finally things are really beginning to come apart at the seams... Coleman has fully gained his traction and is now ready." [14]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Ornette Coleman

Side one
No.TitleDateLength
1."Ramblin'"October 96:39
2."Free"October 96:24
3."The Face of the Bass"October 86:59
Side two
No.TitleDateLength
1."Forerunner"October 95:16
2."Bird Food"October 85:31
3."Una Muy Bonita"October 86:02
4."Change of the Century"October 84:41

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ornette Coleman</span> American jazz musician and composer (1930–2015)

Randolph Denard Ornette Coleman was an American jazz saxophonist, trumpeter, violinist, and composer. He is best known as a principal founder of the free jazz genre, a term derived from his 1960 album Free Jazz: A Collective Improvisation. His pioneering works often abandoned the harmony-based composition, tonality, chord changes, and fixed rhythm found in earlier jazz idioms. Instead, Coleman emphasized an experimental approach to improvisation rooted in ensemble playing and blues phrasing. Thom Jurek of AllMusic called him "one of the most beloved and polarizing figures in jazz history," noting that while "now celebrated as a fearless innovator and a genius, he was initially regarded by peers and critics as rebellious, disruptive, and even a fraud."

<i>The Shape of Jazz to Come</i> 1959 studio album by Ornette Coleman

The Shape of Jazz to Come is the third album by the jazz musician Ornette Coleman. Released on Atlantic Records in 1959, it was his debut on the label and his first album featuring the working quartet including himself, trumpeter Don Cherry, bassist Charlie Haden, and drummer Billy Higgins. The recording session for the album took place on May 22, 1959, at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, California. Although Coleman initially wished for the album to be titled Focus on Sanity after the LP's fourth track, Atlantic producer Nesuhi Ertegun suggested the final title, feeling that it would give consumers "an idea about the uniqueness of the LP."

<i>Workin with the Miles Davis Quintet</i> 1960 studio album by Miles Davis

Workin' with the Miles Davis Quintet is an album by the Miles Davis Quintet which was released c. January 1960 through Prestige Records. It was recorded in two sessions on May 11 and October 26, 1956, that produced four albums: this one, Relaxin' with the Miles Davis Quintet, Steamin' with the Miles Davis Quintet and Cookin' with the Miles Davis Quintet.

<i>On the Corner</i> 1972 studio album by Miles Davis

On the Corner is a studio album by the American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer Miles Davis. It was recorded in June and July 1972 and released on October 11 of that year by Columbia Records. The album continued Davis' exploration of jazz fusion, and explicitly drew on the influence of funk musicians Sly Stone and James Brown, the experimental music of Karlheinz Stockhausen, the free jazz of Ornette Coleman, and the work of collaborator Paul Buckmaster.

<i>Monks Music</i> 1957 studio album by Thelonious Monk

Monk's Music is a jazz album by the Thelonious Monk Septet, which for this recording included Coleman Hawkins and John Coltrane. It was released in November 1957 through Riverside Records. The recording was made in New York City on June 26, 1957.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old and New Dreams</span>

Old and New Dreams was an American jazz group that was active from 1976 to 1987. The group was composed of tenor saxophone player Dewey Redman, bassist Charlie Haden, trumpeter Don Cherry and drummer Ed Blackwell. All of the members were former sidemen of free jazz progenitor and alto saxophonist Ornette Coleman, and the group played a mix of Coleman's compositions and originals by the band members.

<i>In All Languages</i> 1987 studio album by Ornette Coleman

In All Languages is a 1987 double album by Ornette Coleman. Coleman and the other members of his 1950s quartet, trumpeter Don Cherry, bassist Charlie Haden, and drummer Billy Higgins, performed on one of the two records, while his electrified ensemble, Prime Time, performed on the other. Many of the songs on In All Languages had two renditions, one by each group.

<i>This Is Our Music</i> (Ornette Coleman album) 1961 studio album by The Ornette Coleman Quartet

This Is Our Music is the fifth studio album by American jazz saxophonist Ornette Coleman, recorded in July and August of 1960 and released on Atlantic Records in March 1961. It was Coleman's first album with drummer Ed Blackwell, and his only album on Atlantic to include a standard, in this case a version of "Embraceable You" by George and Ira Gershwin.

<i>At the Five Spot</i> 1961 live album by Eric Dolphy

Eric Dolphy at the Five Spot is a pair of live albums by the jazz musician and composer Eric Dolphy. They were released in December 1961 and November 1963 through Prestige Records. They were recorded on the night of 16 July 1961 at the end of Dolphy's two-week residency, alongside trumpeter Booker Little, at the Five Spot jazz club in New York. It was the only night to be recorded. The engineer was Rudy Van Gelder.

<i>Coltrane Jazz</i> 1961 studio album by John Coltrane

Coltrane Jazz is a studio album by the jazz musician John Coltrane. It was released in early 1961 on Atlantic Records. Most of the album features Coltrane playing with his former Miles Davis bandmates, pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Jimmy Cobb during two sessions in November and December, 1959. The exception is the track "Village Blues", which was recorded October 21, 1960. "Village Blues" comes from the first recording session featuring Coltrane playing with pianist McCoy Tyner and drummer Elvin Jones, who toured and recorded with Coltrane as part of his celebrated "classic quartet" from 1960 to 1965.

<i>Something Else!!!!</i> 1958 studio album by Ornette Coleman

Something Else!!!! is the debut album by jazz saxophonist Ornette Coleman. It was released by Contemporary Records in September 1958. According to AllMusic, the album "shook up the jazz world", revitalizing the union of blues and jazz and restoring "blues to their 'classic' beginnings in African music". It is unusual in Coleman's output in that it features a conventional bebop quintet instrumentation ; after this album, Coleman would omit the piano, creating a starker and more fluid sound.

<i>Cool Struttin</i> 1958 studio album by Sonny Clark

Cool Struttin' is a studio album by the jazz pianist and composer Sonny Clark. It was released through Blue Note Records in August 1958. The recording was made on January 5, 1958 with a group for the session consisting of horn section Art Farmer and Jackie McLean, and Miles Davis Quintet rhythm section Philly Joe Jones and Paul Chambers.

<i>Twins</i> (Ornette Coleman album) 1971 studio album by Ornette Coleman

Twins is an album credited to jazz composer and saxophonist Ornette Coleman, released by Atlantic Records in 1971. The album was assembled without Coleman's input, comprising outtakes from recording sessions of 1959 to 1961 for The Shape of Jazz to Come, This Is Our Music, Free Jazz: A Collective Improvisation, and Ornette! Sessions for "Monk and the Nun" took place at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, California; for "First Take" at A&R Studios in New York City, and all others at Atlantic Studios also in Manhattan. The track "First Take" was a first attempt at "Free Jazz" from the album of the same name.

<i>Virgin Beauty</i> 1988 studio album by Ornette Coleman

Virgin Beauty is an album by Ornette Coleman and his Prime Time ensemble. It was released by Portrait Records in 1988.

<i>Ornette!</i> 1962 studio album by Ornette Coleman

Ornette! is a studio album by the alto saxophonist and composer Ornette Coleman. It was released in February 1962 through Atlantic Records. The album features Scott LaFaro in place of Charlie Haden, who had left the Quartet but would work again with Coleman in the future.

<i>Pre-Bird</i> 1961 studio album by Charles Mingus

Pre-Bird is an album by jazz bassist and composer Charles Mingus consisting of music that was composed before Mingus first heard Charlie Parker, hence the title Pre-Bird. It was released on Mercury Records in September 1961.

<i>The Art of the Improvisers</i> 1970 studio album by Ornette Coleman

The Art of the Improvisers is an album credited to jazz composer and saxophonist Ornette Coleman, released by Atlantic Records in 1970. The album was assembled without Coleman's input, comprising outtakes from recording sessions of 1959 to 1961 for The Shape of Jazz to Come, Change of the Century, This Is Our Music, Ornette!, and Ornette on Tenor. Recording sessions in 1959 took place at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, California; those in 1960 and 1961 at Atlantic Studios in New York City.

<i>To Whom Who Keeps a Record</i> 1975 studio album by Ornette Coleman

To Whom Who Keeps a Record is an album credited to jazz composer and saxophonist Ornette Coleman, originally released by the Japanese subsidiary Warner Pioneer of Warner Bros. Records in 1975. The album, which was assembled by Atlantic producer İlhan Mimaroğlu without Coleman's input, comprises outtakes from Atlantic Records recording sessions of 1959 and 1960 for Change of the Century and This Is Our Music. Sessions for "Music Always" took place at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, California with Billy Higgins on drums; all others took place at Atlantic Studios in New York City with drummer Ed Blackwell.

<i>Live at the Hilcrest Club 1958</i> 1976 live album by Paul Bley, Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry, Charlie Haden and Billy Higgins

Live at the Hilcrest Club 1958 is a live album by pianist Paul Bley, saxophonist Ornette Coleman, trumpeter Don Cherry, drummer Billy Higgins and bassist Charlie Haden recorded in California in 1958 and released on the Inner City label in 1976. The album was the first live recording of Ornette Coleman, made shortly after he recorded his first album, Something Else!!!! and featuring the group that would soon record the Atlantic albums The Shape of Jazz to Come (1959) and Change of the Century (1960).

<i>Coleman Classics Volume 1</i> 1977 live album by Paul Bley, Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry, Charlie Haden and Billy Higgins

Coleman Classics Volume 1 is a live album by pianist Paul Bley, saxophonist Ornette Coleman, trumpeter Don Cherry, drummer Billy Higgins and bassist Charlie Haden recorded in California in 1958 and released Bley's on the Improvising Artists label in 1977. The album is an early live recording of Ornette Coleman, made shortly after his first album, Something Else!!!! and featuring the group that would soon record the Atlantic albums The Shape of Jazz to Come (1959) and Change of the Century (1960).

References

  1. 1 2 Atlantic Records (25 April 1960). "21 New Stereo LPs". The Billboard. The Billboard Publishing Co. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  2. 1 2 Editorial Staff, Cash Box (30 April 1960). "Atlantic 1c Stereo Sale For May; 21 New Stereo LP's Issued" (PDF). The Cash Box. The Cash Box Publishing Co. Inc., NY. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  3. 1 2 Editorial Staff, Cash Box (14 May 1960). "May Album Releases" (PDF). The Cash Box. The Cash Box Publishing Co. Inc., NY. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  4. 1 2 Atlantic Records (30 May 1960). "New LP Sales Dynamite". The Billboard. The Billboard Publishing Co. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  5. ↑ Cox & Warner 2004, p. 401.
  6. ↑ "Ornette Coleman Discography". jazzdisco. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  7. ↑ Coleman, Ornette (1960). Change of the Century (liner notes). Ornette Coleman. Atlantic Records. SD 1327.
  8. 1 2 AllMusic review
  9. ↑ DeCurtis, Henke & George-Warren 1992, p. 152.
  10. ↑ Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide . USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. pp.  45. ISBN   0-394-72643-X.
  11. ↑ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 274. ISBN   978-0-141-03401-0.
  12. ↑ Hull, Tom (n.d.). "Jazz (1940–50s) (Reference)". tomhull.com. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  13. ↑ Spellman, A. B.; Horwitz, Murray (August 1, 2001). "Ornette Coleman: 'Change of the Century'". NPR. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  14. ↑ Bailey, C. Michael (August 12, 2011). "Ornette Coleman: Change Of The Century". All About Jazz. Retrieved August 7, 2022.

Bibliography

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.