By Don Heckman
Obituaries are never fun to write. Especially when the subject is something more than a public figure.
Ornette Coleman was a lot more than that for me. He was a musical inspiration, a creative challenge, a true pathfinder.
And a good friend.
But his obituary had to be written for the L.A. Times. And it was. With Ornette’s music flowing through my mind as I wrote. And as it will continue to flow through my mind for years to come. Either when I’m writing, or when I pull my alto saxophone out of its case to actually experience Ornette’s music in its expressive essence.
Here’s the direct link to the Ornette obit I wrote for the Times.
Ornette Coleman L.A. Times Obituary.
The International Review of Music 