Description
Ornette Coleman – Genesis Of Genius The Contemporary Albums – Deluxe 2 Compact Disc Box Set
Genesis of Genius: The Contemporary Albums is a compilation that brings together some of the earliest recorded work of the groundbreaking jazz saxophonist Ornette Coleman. The collection focuses on material originally released on the Contemporary Records label in the late 1950s, capturing Coleman at the very beginning of the creative path that would soon reshape the direction of modern jazz. These recordings document the period just before his revolutionary work on Atlantic Records, when his ideas about improvisation and musical structure were already beginning to challenge the conventions of the jazz world.
At the center of these recordings is Coleman’s distinctive approach to the alto saxophone and his developing philosophy about improvisation. While many jazz musicians of the era relied heavily on complex chord progressions as the framework for solos, Coleman began exploring a freer style in which melody, emotion, and spontaneous interaction between musicians took precedence over strict harmonic rules. This approach would later become closely associated with the development of free jazz, but the Contemporary recordings show the early stages of that concept taking shape.
The musicians featured on these sessions include trumpeter Don Cherry, bassist Charlie Haden, and drummer Billy Higgins, collaborators who would become central to Coleman’s most influential work. Their playing emphasizes listening and reaction rather than rigid adherence to traditional arrangements. The result is music that feels conversational and fluid, with each instrument contributing to a constantly evolving musical dialogue.
Even within the context of late-1950s jazz, these recordings already carried a sense of boldness and experimentation. Coleman’s phrasing could sound unusual to listeners accustomed to bebop’s intricate harmonic patterns, yet his playing remained deeply rooted in blues feeling and melodic expression. This combination of emotional directness and structural freedom helped establish him as one of the most important innovators in modern jazz.
As a compilation, Genesis of Genius: The Contemporary Albums serves as an important historical snapshot of Ornette Coleman’s early artistic development. It documents the moment just before his music gained wider recognition and controversy, when his unconventional ideas were beginning to take form but had not yet fully disrupted the jazz establishment. For listeners interested in the origins of Coleman’s revolutionary style, the recordings gathered here provide a fascinating look at the foundations of a musical vision that would go on to influence generations of improvisers and reshape the boundaries of jazz.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Something Else!!!!: The Music Of Ornette Coleman
Invisible
The Blessing
Jayne
Chippie
The Disguise
Angel Voice
Alpha
When Will The Blues Leave?
The Sphinx
Tomorrow Is The Question!: The New Music Of Ornette Coleman
Tomorrow Is The Question!
Tears Inside
Mind And Time
Compassion
Giggin’
Rejoicing
Lorraine
Turnaround
Endless
