Ornette Coleman - Ken Burns Jazz (2000)

One in a series of single-artist compilations that make up the musical component to Ken Burns's documentary Jazz, the Ornette Coleman collection showcases the work of one of jazz's last great innovators. It's also undoubtedly some of the most adventurous music included in the Ken Burns project. Texas altoist Ornette Coleman and his talented quartet turned the jazz world upside down in 1959, creating a radical new way to hear and play music. Challenging bop's infatuation with complex harmonics and chord changes, Coleman used harmonic sequences to move songs along rather than adhering to a recurring set of changes. This disc features the heart of Coleman's seminal early work, which he recorded for Atlantic: the landmark recording of "First Take" from Free Jazz, which features a double quartet that includes Eric Dolphy, the catchy "Ramblin," and the yearning beauty of "Lonely Woman." There is also a piece from his Skies of America symphony and a track from his funk-fueled electric band of the 1970s.