Ornette Coleman, "Who's Crazy?" (2-CD set)

[Bol]

I just found a 1994 Japanese release of this 1966 Ornette Coleman recording. I didn't even know that this recording existed before seeing it at a used CD store in Ann Arbor over the weekend. I've listened to it only once, but the impression is very favorable. The band is the same trio that played on the 2 Blue Note live recordings of 1965 -- trio with Izenson & Moffett.

For some reason, I can't warm up to Ornette Coleman recordings after "Empty Foxhole". But I really like his stuff before then. So I am very happy to find this recording, which was recorded only months before "Empty Foxhole".

[7/4]

Lucky you, I've only seen it as a boot.

[Late]

Drool.

[Rooster_Ties]

Had one (a legit one, from Japan, on CD) for about 6 or 7 years, and I traded it to Spontoonious within the last year.

It's a good set, but for some reason I never connected with it nearly as much as I wanted to. I normally really like Ornette's trumpet-playing, but for some reason I didn't care for it nearly as much on this one. Two or three tracks with violin too, which didn't work for me that much either.

It's not so much that I didn't like it, but rather that Spontoonious wanted it more than I did, and he had some good trade bait. Didn't figure I'd miss it all that much, and haven't.

Edited February 16, 2005 by Rooster_Ties

[Late]

(Trying to suck up drool.)

[7/4]

I have it, but not on CD...I really need to get a turntable.

[kh1958]

I have that on LP also. As I recall, there was one track that reallly blew me away--The Misused Blues (I think)--which is Ornette sounding like the deepest blues saxophonist I've ever heard.

[Brandon Burke]

I have only heard this music in the context of the film David, Moffett, and Ornette but like it very much indeed.

[Chuck Nessa]

Great stuff. Hated having to sell the lps but I did make a tape first and have had to be content with that.

[brownie]

The double LP is pretty rare nowadays. We have to thank the late Henri Renaud for releasing it when he was producing records for CBS France!

I kept my copy.

Edited to amend:

read the thread too quickly. Thought we were talikng about Ornette's 'Chapaqua Suite'. Need to get my head examined :rsly:

Edited February 17, 2005 by brownie

[David Ayers]

There was also a double-LP release on Affinity in UK and a further release as two separate LPs in France (Jazz Atmosphere - ?). I wasn't aware of any CBS release...

[Brandon Burke]

Thinking about this again, I remember David, Moffett, and Ornette including at least one piece in its entirety; a tune that sounds remarkably similar to "Sadness". In fact, I'd be willing to bet that it is "Sadness". Same bowed Izenzon line throughout and Ornette's head sounds the same as well.

I definitely like this version better than the Town Hall or London Concert takes. I'm sure that segment of my VHS copy is dangerously close to being worn out. B-)

[EDIT: Okay. It apparently is "Sadness". Dig this quote from Martin Williams, "There is a memorable performance of Ornette's 'Sadness' (complete and uninterrupted from David Izenzon's bowed introduction to the end!) during which Fontaine quickly cuts away from images of the musicians responding to the movie screen to concentrate his cameras directly on the players' serious, passionate involvement with their improvisations. It is one of the best filmed jazz performances I have ever seen."]

Edited February 17, 2005 by Brandon Burke

[Bol]

By the way, is the Town Hall Concert worth getting? I notice that it has recently been reissued by ESP. Also, has the London Concert ever been issued on CD?

[Chuck Nessa]

Town Hall is terrific and Croydon (aka London and An Evening With Ornette Coleman) was on cd in Japan.

Edited February 17, 2005 by Chuck Nessa

[porcy62]

Town Hall is terrific and Croydon (aka London and An Evening With Ornette Coleman) was on cd in Japan.

I am with mr. Nessa, (this time). TOWN HALL

[Brandon Burke]

By the way, is the Town Hall Concert worth getting? I notice that it has recently been reissued by ESP. Also, has the London Concert ever been issued on CD?

For whatever reason, original ESP pressings (emphasis on the plural there) of Town Hall seldom go for very much money. I imagine you could probabaly score one for close to the same price as the CD.

[Bol]

Unfortunately, I do not have a turntable, and will have to get a CD of the Town Hall.

I just checked out Coleman's webpage and discovered that there were many live recordings between 1962 and 1968 -- not just Town Hall, Croydon, and Stockholm, but also Chappaqua, Paris, Tivoli, Rome, and Milano. Wow! It'd be great to have these collected together into a box set. Does anyone here know Coleman personally?

The last 2 are quartet recordings with 2 bassists -- Izenzon & Haden -- and Blackwell on drums. Those recordings would be very nice to get. Last year, I went to see Coleman live at the Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor, and the band he brought was a quartet with 2 bassists. It had a very interesting, and a bit ominous sound. I was hoping that there would be a recording of that group, but no luck so far.

Edited February 17, 2005 by Bol

[Brandon Burke]

The last 2 are quartet recordings with 2 bassists -- Izenzon & Haden -- and Blackwell on drums. Those recordings would be very nice to get. Last year, I went to see Coleman live at the Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor, and the band he brought was a quartet with 2 bassists. It had a very interesting, and a bit ominous sound. I was hoping that there would be a recording of that group, but no luck so far.

The Milano show was released as The Unprecedented Music of Ornette Coleman. I reviewed that for AMG. It's really great.

[Late]

... there were many live recordings between 1962 and 1968 -- not just Town Hall, Croydon, and Stockholm, but also Chappaqua, Paris, Tivoli, Rome, and Milano. Wow! It'd be great to have these collected together into a box set.

... that really would be great. Unfortunately, it probably won't happen in Coleman's lifetime — that is, if he has any say in the matter. But ... maybe Dean Blackwell at Revenant will pull through for us in the end.

His 1965 trio concert at the Paris Jazz Festival is very nice. Ornette opened for Sonny Rollins. Imagine that show ~

[Late]

By the way, The Bards have this DVD back in stock ...