Ornette Coleman & Prime Time

The Profile

Ornette Coleman (1930–2015) was an American saxophonist and composer, a pioneer of free jazz and the harmolodic approach. Prime Time was his electric ensemble exploring harmolodic, funk-tinged music.

Ornette Coleman won the Pulitzer Prize for Music (2007) for Sound Grammar. He is widely credited with pioneering free jazz and developing the harmolodic theory; Prime Time was his electric band formed in the 1970s to perform that music.

A highly positive review celebrates Tone Dialing as an exuberant mix of free jazz, funk, and polyrhythms. The record is described as joyful, danceable, and penetrating, recommending listeners abandon prejudices. Ornette's saxophone and the electric ensemble are highlighted throughout.