Change of the Century cover

Change of the Century

Released

Recorded in October 1959 and released in May 1960, alto saxophonist Ornette Coleman’s second Atlantic release is one of his most immediately accessible albums. The opening “Ramblin’” is an uptempo country blues seemingly designed to bounce listeners out of their seats, and every other track save the aptly titled “Free” has a head-spinning but instantly memorable melody, essayed and then abandoned by Coleman and trumpeter Don Cherry, and rides a hard-swinging rhythm courtesy of bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Billy Higgins.

Phil Freeman

Recommended by

Suggestions
The Owner of the River Bank cover

The Owner of the River Bank

Cecil Taylor, Italian Instabile Orchestra
The Odyssey of Funk & Popular Music cover

The Odyssey of Funk & Popular Music

Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy
The Velvet Underground & Nico cover

The Velvet Underground & Nico

Nico, The Velvet Underground
Racing a Butterfly cover

Racing a Butterfly

Anne Mette Iversen Quartet +1
We Free Kings cover

We Free Kings

Rahsaan Roland Kirk