Ornette Coleman - Skies Of America (1972) [2014 Japan Jazz Collection 1000]

A brilliant large ensemble work from Ornette Coleman – ambitious material recorded with full orchestra, in a haunting sound that's light years from any of his smaller group recordings of the 60s and 70s! There's an incredible feel to the strings used here – played by the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by David Measham – all tied up and dark, with swirling sounds that run up beautifully from the bottom, then take off to the skies promised in the title – opening the door for Ornette to come in and solo freely over the top – in a magical mix that easily makes the record a standout in his long and mighty career!

Harmolodic theory is definitely a part of Coleman's conception here – but in very different ways than his quartet or quintet recordings. Tracks include "The Men Who Live In The White House", "Sunday In America", "Dreams", "Native Americans", "Silver Screen", and "The Artist In America".


Tracks:

01. Skies Of America 2:48
02. Native Americans 1:11
03. The Good Life 1:33
04. Birthdays And Funerals 3:14
05. Dreams 0:53
06. Sounds Of Sculpture 1:19
07. Holiday For Heroes 1:09
08. All Of My Life 3:40
09. Dancers 1:18
10. The Soul Within Woman 0:50
11. The Artist In America 3:56
12. The New Anthem 0:31
13. Place In Space 2:44
14. Foreigner In A Free Land 1:19
15. Silver Screen 1:12
16. Poetry 1:14
17. The Men Who Live In The White House 2:50
18. Love Life 4:34
19. The Military 0:33
20. Jam Session 0:40
21. Sunday In America 4:28

Personnel:

Alto Saxophone [Uncredited], Composed By, Liner Notes, Orchestrated By – Ornette Coleman
Bass [Uncredited] – Charlie Haden
Conductor – David Measham
Drums [Uncredited] – Ed Blackwell
Orchestra – The London Symphony Orchestra
Tenor Saxophone, Oboe [Uncredited] – Dewey Redman