John Litweiler examines the period following the bop era when jazz musicians freed themselves from harmonic, rhythmic, and chordal structures. He focuses on the leaders of this movement, generally referred to as “Free jazz,” a title taken from saxophonist Ornette Coleman’s 1960 recording. He begins his book with the precursors of the movement before devoting chapters to Coleman, Eric Dolphy, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Sun Ra, Albert Ayler, and Cecil Taylor. He also touches on other modern styles, regional centers of Free jazz in the U.S. and in Europe, and young artists in the ‘80s. He also includes a selected discography.

John Litweiler is a director of the Jazz Institute of Chicago and has been a Downbeat staff reviewer since 1968. He is the author of Ornette Coleman: A Harmolodic Life.