Ornette Coleman was an innovative and pioneering jazz saxophonist, trumpeter, violinist and bandleader who was one of the prime movers in the "free jazz" movement, a term which was crystallised in his 1961 album "Free Jazz". Born in 1930, he began his career playing R &B before graduating to bebop, but soon found that even the challenging harmonies and chord progressions of that mould-breaking era were too rigid and restrictive for his rapidly evolving musical outlook.

This great value 41-track 2-CD set comprises selected tracks from the first five albums of his era, "Something Else!!!" and "Tomorrow Is the Question", recorded for the Contemporary label during 1958 and 1959, and "The Shape of Jazz to Come", "Change of the Century" and "This Is Our Music", recorded for Atlantic during 1959 and 1960. It concludes with complete the 37-minute ensemble improvisation which comprises the entire content of the 1961album "Free Jazz", also for Atlantic, recorded with his "Double Quartet", which comprises Don Cherry, Eric Dolphy and Freddie Hubbard. It is a fascinating musical insight into the musical progress of one of the controversial personalities in modern jazz towards a style of music which, along with the avant garde movement, has pre-occupied critics and commentators over the years.

REVIEWS

With this latest offering, The Road To Free Jazz, Acrobat Music have  offered up the genuine article… This is an unmissable collection from one of the music's genuine innovators. - Nick Lea (Jazz Views)

"A welcome re-visit." - Nigel Jarrett (Jazz Journal)

“Everything on this set is indispensable Ornette, and packaged with an enlightening essay by Paul Watts, this makes for a highly attractive introduction…”  - Simon Spillett (Jazz Rag)

The compilers give an insightful overview of the freshness and largely joyous invigoration of Coleman’s brilliant composing and interplay with superb collaborators. Newcomers would do well to sit down to this well-presented  palatable offering. - Kevin Le Gendre (Jazzwise)