Oh yea! It hasn’t been that long ago that we first heard about the Marcellus brothers out of New Orleans, Wynton and Branford. Now, do you understand what I mean about never possessing a complete jazz collection?

As you can see, building a jazz collection can be extremely exciting. In this final article on the “Building A CD Jazz Collection” series, we’re going to have some fun adding to our collection jazz musicians who are considered unconventional. Leading the pack is a musician I first heard in the early 1950’s. Twice I happened to see and hear him play on 42nd Street in New York City. He went by the name of “Moondog” (Louis Hardin), a blind musician who played on the streets of New York City. Sometimes wearing a Viking helmet and flowing robes, Moondog was truly a sight to hear and see. Fortunately, I own one of his albums on which he plays and recites poetry.

Maybe some of you remember the band leader “Sun Ra”. His Christian name was Herman “Sonny” Blount and, at one time he was an arranger for Fletcher Henderson’s Band. Ra was so eccentric that he tried to convince the public (including the jazz world) that his role in life was that of a “Cosmic Communicator” from the planet Saturn, and along with his Solar Arkestra he had come to help mankind out of the darkness. Ra performed his music (Space Jazz) on his own Saturn label and some on other labels.

In the mid – 1950’s, there happened to come along young and inventive jazz musicians ready to play music entirely different from the bebop that Charlie Parker, et al were playing. Some referred to it as “free form”, “new wave”, “avant garde”, or “the new thing”. You can say it was the biggest revolution in jazz since the birth of bebop. At first, it was something I just couldn’t listen to. Much of it sounded as though it was out of tune. However, as time went on and I heard more and more of it…in fact, I purchased and presently own several albums by Eric Dolphy, master of the woodwinds, and one who was at the forefront of this “new thing”.

Breaking it down to the very basics, the new movement allowed musicians to play chord changes anyway they wished; away from preset chord patterns and standard tunes. While improvising during a solo, John Coltrane would take a single chord and play the notes in every order and sequence possible before moving on to another chord. By playing in this manner, there would be shifts in the harmonic base, and to a neophyte in jazz, the music would sound like a potpourri of incorrect notes.

Other jazz musicians playing in this new genre were bassist Charlie Mingus, alto (plastic) saxophonist Ornette Coleman, pocket trumpet player Don Cherry, bassist Charlie Haden, pianist Cecil Taylor, drummer Billy Higgins, saxophonist Pharaoh Sanders, trombonist Grachan Moncur III, and the great tenor sax player Archie Shepp. From this list of “New Wave” musicians, I have no doubt that after reading the three articles included in the “Building A CD Jazz Collection” series, you’ll be able to get underway to building an interesting and exciting CD jazz collection.

"Stay tuned, there's more to come." Remember to “Keep Jazz Alive” by “Supporting Live Jazz!” Jazz fans – do you have any feedback? I would like to hear from YOU! You may email me at: JazzJamm@aolcom