March 1997

Ornette Coleman and Charlie Haden
Soapsuds Soapsuds
Verve

By Duck Baker

The most significant dividing line in Ornette's chronology might be Charlie Haden's leaving the group in the mid-'70s. This set of duos from a few years later highlights the telepathy that was crucial to the success of so many classic earlier recordings.

Ornette calls to mind Lightning Hopkins' definition of his own music, "Black blues, white blues, Mexican blues-Texas blues!" in a fine, relaxed set whose very effortlessness might make it seem less than it is, which is of course top-notch.