Something Else!!!!: The Music Of Ornette Coleman

Ornette Coleman's debut album, 'Something Else!!!!: The Music Of Ornette Coleman', is a groundbreaking masterpiece that shook the jazz world upon its release in 1958. This seminal work revitalised the union of blues and jazz, restoring the blues to their 'classic' beginnings in African music. Featuring a talented ensemble, including Don Cherry on pocket trumpet, Walter Norris on piano, Don Payne on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums, Coleman's innovative approach to jazz is evident throughout the album.

With its unique blend of quirky, swinging, energetic, and lyrical elements, 'Something Else!!!!' is a pre-free jazz masterpiece rooted in a hard bop blues base. The album's nine tracks, including 'Invisible', 'The Blessing', and 'When Will The Blues Leave?', showcase Coleman's forward-looking vision and fragile beauty, hinting at the revolutionary direction he would later take to transform the jazz world.

Originally recorded at Contemporary's studios in Los Angeles in February and March 1958, 'Something Else!!!!' has been re-released on various formats, including a 1988 CD release on Fantasy Records. This album marks a significant milestone in Ornette Coleman's career, showcasing his unique improvisational language and approach, which would go on to influence generations of jazz musicians. As a testament to its enduring legacy, 'Something Else!!!!: The Music Of Ornette Coleman' remains an essential listening experience for fans of free jazz, jazz, avant-garde, hard bop, and bebop.