Directed by independent pioneer Shirley Clarke (THE CONNECTION), this films jazzlike structurecombining old and new footage, intercut dramatic sequences, and electronically processed video interludes is as complex and exciting as Coleman himself. ORNETTE deftly honors this great musician without necessarily understanding him. The film follows Ornette through different stages of his career, as he performs "Skies of America" in Fort Worth, in Morocco in 1973, in Berkeley in 1969, and on Italian television in 1980. This rich and poetic portrait includes commentary from the likes of William Burroughs and Buckminster Fuller. (-Jim Dempsey) Screened in 2002 as part of the recurring series Music Movies.
