Ornette Coleman Music

This is one of the most powerfull works of Ornette Coleman I have ever heard in my whole life. You can't go wrong with it...

Kirk in a quiet, reflective mood, playing the blues. With some great late night, lounge style, basso vocals courtesy Al Hibbler.

The companion piece - Ornette!, is well Ornette. Always engaging.

Although not as strong as in his earlier work, Hibbler is still fun to listen to in this 1972 album. Kirk accompanies him admirably.
Ornette is another story! This is atonal noise. OK, I'm sure there are some (a minority to be sure) that consider "Ornette" a great album, but in the last analysis, the music is unaccessible and pretentious. This is the kind of music that gives jazz a bad name.

This wouldn't be an early choice for a great Rahsaan record, as he is mostly accompanying Al Hibbler here. Al Hibbler is quite good, however and if you like this style of vocals this is a great album by any standards. Rahsaan may not be out front on this album, but he's right behind. It's just not the creative playing that he is known for.

I can't comment on the Ornette half of this unusal combo deal, but I have the Rahsaan/Hibbler album and it is an eternal favorite. I agree with the other reviewer that this isn't quite the most outgoing presentation for Mr. Kirk but it is gorgeous work that makes for a uniquely special blend of these two artists. I have loved Hibbler's voice ever since hearing this album but I have yet to hear anything else by him that matches this performance. This combination of two artists (Ornette has nothing to do with the Kirk recording with Hibbler) is such a relaxed, honest presentation of some old standards. I honestly can find no previous versions of these classic melodies that would out-do these renderings, and I idolize Billie Holiday, Prez and some of the other masters, but this is really special here. I am surprised it hasn't received more respect except it is a traditional concept that wasn't exactly in the vanguard of its time. This stuff is timeless, and it is definitely a Rahsaan flavor that any RRK fan should have near his/her stereo. Even though it doesn't capture his most dramatic side, it is unmistakeably Rahsaan. And the two artists seem perfectly suited. This is the kind of recording that can make a more "free-jazz" lover open up to the more traditional side of jazz. Along the lines of what Sun Ra displayed on many of his recordings. I'm buying this just to have the CD quality on hand, the Ornette recording can only be icing on the cake!

Hard to recommend purchasing this material in this misguided configuration as long as other options exist. The Hibbler/Kirk album is currently available as an import for only a few dollars more and includes one track dropped here due to time restrictions. The Coleman album (featuring Scott LaFaro on bass) is even more easily obtained and features a bonus track also not heard here.