Playtime Records / Reissue
Ornette! is the seventh album by jazz pioneer Ornette Coleman, recorded on January 31, 1961, and the second under his quartet name. By this time, Coleman was already a major figure in jazz, having released groundbreaking works like The Shape of Jazz to Come and Free Jazz.
The album balances two key aspects of his early style—structured melodic innovation and free improvisation—leaning more toward intricate melodies while retaining his signature spontaneity. It serves as a bridge between his meticulously composed and freely improvised approaches, further solidifying his revolutionary impact on jazz.