Concert Review: When the Typewriters Talk....

Lincoln Center Festival does Naked Lunch.

by Paul J. Pelkonen

Liquid courage: Peter Weller drinks up in Naked Lunch.
Image Copyright 1991 201th Century Fox.

Ornette Coleman carved his own path as a composer. As he burst upon the scene, he epitomized the atonal explorations of free jazz and then developing his own musical system of “harmolodics” to express himself with saxophone and pen. On Tuesday night, the Lincoln Center Festival kicked off its week-long Coleman tribute with a screening of Naked Lunch, the surreal, disturbing and very funny David Cronenberg film for which Coleman supplied part of the soundtrack.

Summer Festival Preview: Lincoln Center Festival

No symphonies. No concertos. No opera. No problem?

by Paul J. Pelkonen

The legendary saxophonist Ornette Coleman's spirit lives on at this year's Lincoln Center Festival.

The Lincoln Center Festival continues to push the cutting edge, leaving symphony, concerto (and yes, opera) behind for a bold poutpurri of world music, electronica and one of the most innovative voices in American jazz: Ornette Coleman.

In Memory of Ornette Coleman

The alto saxophonist and jazz pioneer was 85 years old. 
by Paul J. Pelkonen

Ornette Coleman. Image © Sony Entertainment

The composer, saxophonist and legendary jazz pioneer Ornette Coleman has died. In tribute, Superconductor offers a complete streamed performance of his seminal album Free Jazz, a collective improvisation for double quartet. It says more than any words could.