Despite being released 65 years ago The Shape of Jazz to Come remains a cornerstone of the avant-garde jazz movement that upended the genre at the conclusion of the decade. At the time it was radical departure from conventional jazz structures, heralding a new era in the genre with its innovative approach, primarily its removal of piano and guitar which historically was a key staple in many jazz ensembles. The reason why those instruments are staples is simple– they are chordal instruments, meaning they provide a rich layer of context for the human ear that helps you understand what key and progression you’re listening to. Without those instruments you’re sort of floating in the ether. Coleman’s use of “free jazz” principles—the collective improvisation, the unconventional forms, the lack of a center with the removal of those aforementioned chordal instruments—defied the norms of the time and ushered in a rawer, more spontaneous nature that played to his ability to improvise with the best of them. It’s an album worthy of its bold title.
Standout Songs: “Lonely Woman”, “Peace”, “Congeniality”
