Celebrating Ornette Coleman at Painted Bride Art Center

Ars Nova Workshop, the Painted Bride Art Center, and the Warriors of the Wonderful Sound are pleased to present this very special double-header in celebration of the 55th anniversary of Ornette Coleman’s arrival in New York City and his historic debut at The Five Spot.

Honoring Ornette will feature two unique ensembles, both deeply connected to Ornette’s remarkable past, present and future. The Denardo Coleman Group is led by the great saxophonist’s son who, in 1966 at the age of ten, recorded on Ornette’s The Empty Foxhole (Blue Note) with Charlie Haden. Denardo has gone on to record and produce many of Ornette’s recordings as well as collaborating extensively with the poet Jayne Cortez. The Coleman Group also includes bassists Tony Falanga and Al MacDowell, both members of Ornette’s current quartet. MacDowell, who has performed frequently with Ornette since 1976 and was a member of the Prime Time band and, is a seasoned veteran of Ornette’s “harmolodic” approach....

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Ars Nova Workshop, the Painted Bride Art Center, and the Warriors of the Wonderful Sound are pleased to present this very special double-header in celebration of the 55th anniversary of Ornette Coleman’s arrival in New York City and his historic debut at The Five Spot.

Honoring Ornette will feature two unique ensembles, both deeply connected to Ornette’s remarkable past, present and future. The Denardo Coleman Group is led by the great saxophonist’s son who, in 1966 at the age of ten, recorded on Ornette’s The Empty Foxhole (Blue Note) with Charlie Haden. Denardo has gone on to record and produce many of Ornette’s recordings as well as collaborating extensively with the poet Jayne Cortez. The Coleman Group also includes bassists Tony Falanga and Al MacDowell, both members of Ornette’s current quartet. MacDowell, who has performed frequently with Ornette since 1976 and was a member of the Prime Time band and, is a seasoned veteran of Ornette’s “harmolodic” approach.

In the mid 1970s, Jamaaladeen Tacuma’s creatively free and funky approach caught the eye and ear of Ornette. He became part of Coleman’s electric band, Prime Time, and performed on historic recordings of Dancing in Your Head, Body Meta, and Of Human Feelings. Over the years, Tacuma has collaborated with a diverse and talented roster of artists, including guitarists Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana, Marc Ribot, and James Blood Ulmer. He has also performed and recorded with saxophonists Pharoah Sanders, Grover Washington, Jr., Odean Pope, and James Carter. Tacuma’s most recent release, For the Love of Ornette (November 2010) revisits his collaboration with Ornette, who performs on the recording.

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