At the Golden Circle, Vol. 1
Recorded in Sweden in 1965, these celebrated recordings marked Ornette Coleman's return to activity following a three-year self-imposed exile from performing in public. In contrast to the compact, earthy swing that characterized his groundbreaking quartet recordings for Atlantic (collected on the vauntedBeauty Is a Rare Thingbox), here Coleman projects his speechlike melodicism in paragraphs rather than poems, stretching out as if a creative dam had burst. David Izenzon's agility in the bass's high register and liquid beat anchor Coleman's flights of fancy, while Charles Moffett's inventive yet unobtrusive cymbal work adds drama to the overall group dynamic. Few musicians embody the discipline of spontaneity with the unbridled joy Coleman brings to each of these eight cuts, and onAt the Golden Circle, Volume Twoas well. An inspiring disc.--Jed Distler