The Shape Of Jazz To Come

“The Shape Of Jazz To Come” is the third album by Ornette Coleman. Originally 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 22nd 1959 at Radio Recorders in Hollywood. 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.

Coleman’s quartet was unusual in that it did not employ a chordal instrument such as a piano or guitar. Each composition contains a brief thematic statement, then several minutes of free improvisation, followed by a repetition of the main theme. While this resembles the conventional head-solo-head structure of bebop, it abandons the use of chord structures. “The Shape Of Jazz To Come” found Coleman and his quartet elaborating on the sound and themes he had been developing throughout his career.

This Speakers Corner LP was remastered using pure analogue components only, from the master tapes through to the cutting head. Perhaps one of the best pressing of this album, ever!