June 4, 2010 Playlist

Another Jazz Fusion Special
   
"Dancing In Your Head" by Ornette Coleman (1977)
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Ornette Coleman  "Dancing In Your Head"  1977 (USA)
Ornette Coleman is one of those radical outsider artists who defy categorization.  He invented his own system of music called Harmolodics, and is widely acknowledged as the inventor of "free" jazz (in fact that subgenre is named after his classic album from 1958, Free Jazz.)  Though always categorized primarily as a "jazz" musician, Ornette got his start playing R&B,  and has been known to get into funk rhythms.  For awhile in the 1980's he led a fusion group called Prime Time, whose genesis can be found in this unusual record from 1977.  It contains two lengthy berzerker carribean funk jams based on a melodic phrase from a symphony he wrote in 1972 (hence the title "Theme From A Symphony"), as well as a mystical piece recorded with the Master Musicians of Joujouka in Morocco.
Here's Ornette playing a very early version of the main tune from this album, "Theme From A Symphony" in 1974, and here's another lineup playing "Free Jazz" in 1978 (the opening riff to this jam sounds a lot like Stravinsky's "Rite Of Spring", which we heard a jazz fusion version of last week.)  Another amazing and unusual "fusion" record is Sonny & Linda Sharrock's Paradise -- here's some rare early footage of Sonny Sharrock playing guitar with Herbie Mann.
   
Artist Song Album Year Country
Weather Report
(with Josef Zawinul, Wayne Shorter & Miroslav Vitous)		 Medley:  Vertical Invader
   / T. H.
   / Dr. Honoris Causa (live)		 I Sing The Body Electric 1972 USA/Austria
/Czech.
Deodato - Airto Parana (live) Deodato - Airto In Concert 1974 Brazil
Gabor Szabo Mizrab
   / Comin' Back (live)		 The Sorcerer 1967 Hungary
 
 
Ornette Coleman Theme From A Symphony - Variation Two Dancing In Your Head
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		 1977 USA
Sonny & Linda Sharrock Miss Doris Paradise 1975 USA
   
 
Return To Forever
(with Chick Corea & Stanley Clarke)		 The Endless Night Musicmagic 1977 USA
Sun Ra I'll Wait For You Strange Celestial Road 1985 USA
   
 
John McLaughlin
(with Jack Bruce & Tony Williams)		 Are You The One? Are You The One? Electric Guitarist 1978 UK
Larry Coryell (with Albert Stinson & Bernard Purdie) The Jam With Albert Coryell 1969 USA
Santana Stone Flower Caravanserei 1972 Mexico/USA
Force Of Nature Leo Force Of Nature 1974 USA
 
 
Stardrive "featuring Robert Mason" Jupiterjump Stardrive 1974 USA
Billy Cobham
(with George Duke & John Abercrombie)		 Spanish Moss - "A Sound Portrait"
  a. Spanish Moss
  b. Savannah The Serene
  c. Storm
  d. Flash Flood 		Crosswinds 1974 USA
 
  
Josef Zawinul (with Wayne Shorter, Miroslav Vitous, Hubert Laws, Jack DeJohnette & Herbie Hancock) Double Image Zawinul 1971 Austria
Freddie Hubbard (with Airto, Hubert Laws, George Benson & Ron Carter) People Make The World Go 'Round Polar AC 1975 USA
Flora Purim (with Airto, George Duke, Stanley Clarke & Joe Henderson) Summer Night Butterfly Dreams 1973 Brazil
 
  
Herbie Mann The Night Before (Beatles) Today 1966 USA
             
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