From The Village Voice, a list of one writers top ten. Ironically, altohugh I’ve heard hundreds of free jazz albums, I only have heard 5 on this list. In other words, the writer goes off the beaten path, which is rarely a bad thing to do.
Free jazz is challenging, violent, political, spiritual, joyous, peaceful, and a million other things. It’s about shattering forms in order to find a new world of sound somewhere further outside. And once this new world is found, it’s time to go looking for a newer one.
When, as a college student, I first purchased Ornette Coleman‘s landmark album Free Jazz: A Collective Improvisation, the record store clerk mumbled to me, “I didn’t make it all the way through this album the first time I put it on.” Ignoring his advice, I went home and listened to it all the way through. Many times. I loved it. I went looking for more. These are 10 of the albums I found. It should go without saying that this list is meant, not as a dead-end, but as a pathway that leads to the listening of many, many more fantastic free jazz albums.
Feel free to list your top 10 in the comments below.
