ORNETTE COLEMAN — Virgin Beauty (review)

ORNETTE COLEMAN — Virgin Beauty album cover Album · 1988 · Eclectic Fusion Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
js
After making a comeback to the world of recording in 1987 with 'In All Languages', Ornette and Prime Time return a year later with this substantially different recording, 'Virgin Beauty'. Fortunately on 'Beauty' Ornette and his producer/son Denardo quit trying to sound so 'modern' and dispose of the huge gated snare sound and the sampled 'hits' that made 'Languages' a bit clumsy. The result is a return to a more natural and relaxed sound that fits Ornette's playing much better than all that forced trendiness.

The contrapuntal effect of all the intersecting improvised melodic lines are in full effect here. Ornette's Prime Time ensemble is truly incredible as guitarists Ben Nix, Charlie Ellerbe and part-time guest Jerry Garcia constantly intertwine with Jaco influenced bassists Albert MacDowell and Chris Walker creating a constantly evolving twisted mix of melodies. One player will break through the mix only to disappear as another player comes to the fore-front. The beats on here are more simple and direct than earlier Prime Time albums and sometimes even reveal Ornette's rural roots with an almost country two beat feel. Other songs have a slight hip-hop shuffle swing that really fit's the swing based phrasing used by most of the players creating an almost goofy chaotic loping feel to the songs. Overall this is a very warm relaxed album with an occasional sly sense of humor and plenty of virtuostic instrumental ensemble interactions.
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