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Ornette Coleman

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Musician

The Resume

    (March 19, 1930-June 11, 2015)
    Recorded over 40 albums including 'Something Else!: The Music of Ornette Coleman,' 'The Art of the Improvisers,' 'The Shape of Jazz to Come,' 'Change of the Century,' 'This Is Our Music,' 'Free Jazz,' 'Ornette!,' 'Ornette on Tenor,' 'An Evening With Ornette Coleman,' 'Who's Crazy,' 'Crisis,' 'Science Fiction,' 'Body Meta,' 'Tone Dialing' and 'Hidden Man'

Why he might be annoying:

    He moved to Los Angeles in the early '50s, where he worked as an elevator operator while studying music books.
    Many Los Angeles jazz musicians regarded his 'free jazz' playing as out-of-tune, and he sometimes had difficulty finding like-minded musicians with whom to perform.
    At the height of his popularity in 1962, he retired from music, returning 3 years later.
    He recorded the soundtrack for David Cronenberg's 'Naked Lunch.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He is known as 'the prophet of freedom,' which refers to him starting the free jazz movement of the 60's.
    He started playing alto sax at 14 and tenor two years later.
    He was also an experienced violin and trumpet player.
    When he first started touring in 1950, he lost his tenor in a beating administered by unreceptive roadhouse patrons.
    His album 'The Shape of Jazz to Come' greatly inspired the avant-garde jazz sound of the 60's and decades to come.
    He was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame (1989).
    His successful career spanned 5 decades.
    His son, Denardo Coleman, became a respected free jazz drummer.

Credit: Jughead


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 23 Votes: 52.17% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 8 Votes: 37.50% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 11 Votes: 27.27% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 15 Votes: 46.67% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 21 Votes: 52.38% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 32 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 28 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 55 Votes: 58.18% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 85 Votes: 47.06% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 127 Votes: 49.61% Annoying