Ornette Coleman's 1978 Prime Time line-up

[jxbuster]

Does anyone here know anything about Ornette Coleman's 1978 Prime Time line-up? It's the group that featured James "Blood" Ulmer, Bern Nix, Fred Williams, Ronald Shannon Jackson, and Denardo Coleman.

I got my hands on a German radio broadcast from July 1978. The band is remarkable but quite different from the other Prime Time I've heard. The songs are much longer - they average 20 minutes each! They also feel simultaneously more stretched out and choppy.

One track, a terrific version of "Macho Woman," is up now at www.destination-out.com

Does anyone know how long this band stayed together? Was this concert an anomoly or was their all their music similar to this? And when did Prime Time's music start becoming more concise and less woolly - more like what you hear on the Caravan of Dreams album?

Thanks for any insights.

[kh1958]

Of Human Feelings was recorded in 1979 and has almost the same personnel as Opening the Caravan of Dreams (from 1983). Dancing in Your Head and Body Meta are from 1976.

[ribot_for_president]

The band is remarkable but quite different from the other Prime Time I've heard. The songs are much longer - they average 20 minutes each! They also feel simultaneously more stretched out and choppy.

I'd venture that's bc it wasn't the normal lineup. As noted on destination out:

Ulmer substituted for Ellerbee, who had a disco gig, and Williams substituted for Tacuma, who had decided, at that time, that playing music was at odds with his religious beliefs. The music played on their European tour is quite different from what we are used to from Prime Time. The songs really stretch out, and Ulmer brings his feel to the group.

[shrugs]

Here's one to look for:

Ornette Coleman Prime Time
June 8, 1981
10th International New Jazz Festival, Moers


Ornette Coleman (as)
Bern Nix (g)
Charles Ellerbee (g)
Albert McDowell (el-b)
Jamaaladeen Tacuma (el-b)
Denardo Coleman (d)

1. Impro One - 23:00
2. Nightwork - 8:45
3. Asia - 9:30
4. Song X - 12:15