Long recognized as a transformational figure, Ornette Coleman remains one of the most mysterious figures in American music. After starting out as a R&B saxophonist in the 1940s, Coleman chaired the “free” jazz revolution on such albums as The Shape of Jazz to Come, Free Jazz and Ornette!

A mere decade after the revolution replaced the danceable beat of swing, Coleman took the daring step of completely abandoning conventional harmonies. The result was an atonal (无调的) mixture of sound that expected contemporary advances in Western art music while looking back to the earliest forms of New Orleans-style collective improvisation (即兴演奏).

Coleman’s style sharply divided generations of jazz musicians and enthusiasts. For famous commenter Albert Murray, “This music was called free jazz but what is freer than jazz? You can’t enjoy chaos.” Instead, 2007 Special Citation winner John Coltrane was an early fan, often sitting in with Coleman before specially working in the field after Ascension.

Throughout the 1970s, Coleman’s influence slowly sank into the underground rock scene, while contemporaries like Archie Shepp employed the new form as a symbol for political expression and social justice.

Even though a series of awards would eventually end in the 2007 Pulitzer, Coleman never had a wonderful moment similar to Coltrane’s My Favorite Things or Miles Davis’s Bitches Brew. He was in a league of his own to the end.

Chronology, Variants on a Theme of Thelonious Monk. Skies of America, Times Square, Turnaround, the five tracks offer an introduction to Coleman’s vast output while representing interesting differences with such forces as eclectic bassist Charlie Haden, fellow Prize winner Gunther Schuller and New York’s famous 1970s music scene.

In this context, we can see Coleman for who he really was: a generously cooperative (合作的) force who helped to lead the course of American music for six decades.

【小题1】Which is Coleman’s production during “free” jazz revolution?

A．Times Square.

B．Skies of America.

C．My Favorite Things.

D．The Shape of Jazz to Come.

【小题2】What’s John Coltrane’s attitude towards Coleman’s style?

A．Doubtful.

B．Supportive.

C．Unconcerned.

D．Objective.

【小题3】Who won the same Prize as Coleman?

A．Gunther Schuller.

B．Charlie Haden.

C．Miles Davis.

D．John Coltrane.

【小题4】What can we know about Coleman?

A．He is a famous R&B saxophonist.	B．He changed the danceable beat of swing.
C．He has a similar music style to Coltrane’s.	D．He had a long-term influence on American music.