Warsaw – 1993

Ornette Coleman Quartet

A version of the altoist’s quartet that never recorded

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By the time of this 1993 concert, the innovative altoist Ornette Coleman was usually performing with his electric Prime Time group.

However for a tour of Europe, Coleman had a reunion with his original trumpeter Don Cherry and performed in an acoustic quartet with the virtuoso bassist Charnett Moffett and drummer Denardo Coleman.

During the half-hour set, the quartet races through concise versions of nine of Coleman’s themes: “Tone Dialing,” “Family Reunion,” “OAC,” “What Is The Name Of That Song,” “ Badal,” “Kathelin Gray,” “Latin Genetics,” “If I Knew As Much About You (as You Know About Me),” and “Song X.”

While reminiscent of the late 1950s/early ‘60s Ornette Coleman Quartet, the newer pieces (some of which are primarily melody statements) and the dazzling bass playing give this unit (which otherwise never recorded) its own distinct personality.

-Scott Yanow

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