Ornette Coleman's The Shape Of Jazz To Come Recording Session, Photos by William Claxton

Ornette's third album, first by the "original quartet", was recorded and released in 1959

Charlie Haden, Radio Recorders, Los Angeles, 22 May 1959. Photo: William Claxton. From the Estate of Charlie Haden.

Radio Recorders was located at 7000 Santa Monica Blvd., in Hollywood. On May 22, 1959, the Ornette Coleman Quartet, consisting of saxophonist Ornette Coleman, trumpeter Don Cherry, bassist Charlie Haden, and drummer Billy Higgins, entered the studio for the first time to record tracks under contract to Atlantic Records. Atlantic vice-president of jazz Nesuhi Ertegun was the producer.

This was the first official recording by the four, who had been gigging around L.A. for close to a year. William Claxton was hired to do the photography. Ertegun titled the resulting record The Shape Of Jazz To Come. Shortly after the November 1959 release, the Quartet moved to NYC and began their to-be legendary residency at jazz venue the Five Spot, located at 5 Cooper Square in the Bowery.

This group of photographs were found in a box in Ruth’s laundry room, shortly after her death. They were amongst the first I brought home. “Down Beat Magazine” is printed on the reverse of several. The front of the oversized envelope in which they came, handwritten by my father in large letters, reads “Copies photos of 1st Ornette session from Down Beat”. Radio Recorders ceased operations in 1977. The building currently houses audio and video production facilities.

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Clockwise, Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry, Billy Higgins, Charlie Haden, Radio Recorders, Los Angeles, 22 May 1959. Photo: William Claxton. From the Estate of Charlie Haden.

Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry, Radio Recorders, Los Angeles, 22 May 1959. Photo: William Claxton. From the Estate of Charlie Haden.

Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry, Radio Recorders, Los Angeles, 22 May 1959. Photo: William Claxton. From the Estate of Charlie Haden.

Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry, Radio Recorders, Los Angeles, 22 May 1959. Photo: William Claxton. From the Estate of Charlie Haden.

Billy Higgins, Radio Recorders, Los Angeles, 22 May 1959. Photo: William Claxton. From the Estate of Charlie Haden.

Contact sheet, Ornette Coleman Quartet, Radio Recorders, Los Angeles, 22 May 1959. Photos: William Claxton. From the Estate of Charlie Haden.

Obverse photo sheet. From the Estate of Charlie Haden.

Ornette Coleman, The Shape Of Jazz To Come (1959, Atlantic). Front cover. From the Estate of Charlie Haden.

All words & images © 2024 Josh Haden, except where noted. All rights reserved.