Science Fiction
Studio album by
Ornette Coleman
ReleasedFebruary 1972[1]
RecordedSeptember 9, 10 & October 13, 1971
GenreAvant-garde jazz, free jazz
Length37:03
LabelColumbia
Ornette Coleman chronology
Broken Shadows
(1971) 		Science Fiction
(1972) 		Skies of America
(1972)

Science Fiction is an album by the American jazz saxophonist and composer Ornette Coleman, recorded in 1971 and released on the Columbia label.[2]

In 2000, the album was re-released with Broken Shadows (1971) and several unreleased tracks as a 2-CD set titled The Complete Science Fiction Sessions.[3]

Recording

The album features Coleman's early 70s quartet, consisting of Charlie Haden (double bass), Ed Blackwell (drums), and Dewey Redman (tenor saxophone).[4] It also features performances by former Coleman sidemen Billy Higgins (drums), Don Cherry (trumpet), and Bobby Bradford (trumpet), as well as vocals by Indian singer Asha Puthli.[4]

Reception

The Allmusic review by Steve Huey awarded the album 5 stars and stated "Science Fiction was his creative rebirth, a stunningly inventive and appropriately alien-sounding blast of manic energy... Science Fiction is a meeting ground between Coleman's past and future; it combines the fire and edge of his Atlantic years with strong hints of the electrified, globally conscious experiments that were soon to come. And, it's overflowing with brilliance".[5] The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide called it "fascinating" and "multifaceted."[4]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[5]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide[4]

Track listing

All compositions by Ornette Coleman

  1. "What Reason Could I Give?" – 3:06
  2. "Civilization Day" – 6:04
  3. "Street Woman" – 4:50
  4. "Science Fiction" – 5:03
  5. "Rock the Clock" – 3:16
  6. "All My Life" – 3:56
  7. "Law Years" – 5:22
  8. "The Jungle Is a Skyscraper" – 5:26

Personnel

References

  1. ^ "Billboard". February 26, 1972.
  2. ^ Ornette Coleman discography accessed November 30, 2010
  3. ^ Jurek, Thom. "Complete Science Fiction Sessions". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. pp. 45. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
  5. ^ a b Huey, S. Allmusic Review accessed November 30, 2010
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