Origami - Ornette

Ornette Coleman is one of jazz’s most innovative and contentious figures. He remained somewhat of a maverick throughout his career with various criticisms including of his plastic saxophone, unusual tuning, discarding of musical convention and his theory of harmolodics.

But for me, Ornette’s music has always been driven by melody and joy. He is responsible for changing the direction of jazz and music in general. But his music is about more than just the dots. As Ornette says, “I don't try to please when I play. I try to cure.”

Joining Origami for this concert is my 13 year old son, Noah Simmons. He joins for the opener, features on The Empty Foxhole and Good Old Days and then remains for the rest of the set. This concert was recorded live by ABC Jazz at the Melbourne Recital Centre presenting a selection of Ornette’s compositions from throughout his career of almost 60 years, plus a couple of my originals, inspired in part by Ornette’s explorations.

Adam Simmons