“The Shape of Jazz to Come” is undoubtedly one of our time’s greatest free jazz records, and indeed the title says much of what it would herald for other musicians in the jazz genre when it came out in 1959. In “The Shape of Jazz to Come”, Coleman and his trumpeting partner-in-crime Don Cherry re-define the basic concepts of what it means to play and love jazz, preferring to shed the previously obligatory piano and the need for any specific harmony around which notes were naturally supposed to flow. This lack of direction gives the whole thing a far more free, lush and avant-garde sound without getting unnecessarily chaotic or pretentious. It’s free jazz, but still far from anything ‘extreme’. The music quite simply goes where Coleman and Cherry want it to go, and they are backed up by a loose, competent bass and percussion section that provide some nice rhythmic touches. Despite the almost melody-less quality of the record, there is an overall pervading sense of continuous theme to all the works despite what some critics might claim. The album certainly shows the positive effects of opening up for more individual freedom of the player in shaping the direction of the piece, and while Coleman’s screamingly improvisational alto sex can sometimes get a bit out of hand, the final product is a pleasingly infectious disc which is pure joy to spin even on the lowliest of stereo systems. Particularly enjoyable is the opening track “Lonely Woman” and softly sensual “Peace”.

A good starting point for those just getting into the genre, “The Shape of Jazz to Come” is also an ideal place for those wishing to explore the full extent of the ‘Coleman canon’.

Year Released: 1959
Label: Atlantic Records
Related Link: Ornette Coleman Tribute
Date Reviewed: 2003-12-25
Author: Andreas