Tracks from a career of more than forty years, several rare or unissued. The pianist/composer/arranger/producer in collaborations with Captain Beefheart, The Monkees, Frankie Laine and The Tubes, amongst others.
With Scott La Faro (bass), Ed Blackwell (drums), Don Cherry (trumpet), Charlie Haden (bass), Billy Higgins (drums); also Eric Dolphy (bass clarinet) and Freddie Hubbard (trumpet).
This is a jubilant, uplifting romp.
Recorded in 1970 at his large loft space in downtown New York, with Ornette playing trumpet and violin as well as saxophone, alongside Dewey Redman, Ed Blackwell, and Charlie Haden (and friends and neighbours sometimes singing along).
Five lovely tunes — pure OC blues — featuring terrific alto-playing, and Blackwell in a funkily rambunctious party mood.
Original copies of the 1987 double-LP: OC on one record with Don Cherry, Charlie Haden and Billy Higgins; on the other with Prime Time… Bern Nix, Denardo, Jamaaladeen Tacuma and co.