New York Is Now! (album)

New York Is Now! is an album by the American jazz saxophonist and composer Ornette Coleman released on the Blue Note label in 1968.

The album sees Coleman accompanied by John Coltrane's former rhythm section, drummer Elvin Jones and bassist Jimmy Garrison, and by tenor sax player Dewey Redman. Vocals are provided by Mel Fuhrman. It was recorded at A&R Studios, New York City in two sessions, on April 29 (tracks 1, 2, 4 & 6), and May 7 (tracks 3 & 5), 1968.

Reception
The Allmusic review by Thom Jurek awarded the album 3 stars and stated "New York Is Now is one of the true curiosity pieces in Ornette's catalog". Jurek sees the album finding Coleman "in some sense, at odds with himself" and the rhythm section, which he finds "a lot more modally than harmonically propelled". In particular, he identifies drummer Elvin Jones as sounding restricted by the album's slow tempos. Jurek is also unfavourable about Coleman's violin playing. On the whole, he characterises New York Is Now as "pleasant and amusing if not amazing".

Piero Scaruffi finds the album representative of a transition to a new phase in Coleman's music. Along with Love Call, he finds New York Is Now to be "like a melodic divertissment [sic], entertaining traditionalists with the 14-minute The Garden of Souls".

Release history
The album was originally released as an LP by Blue Note Records in 1968. A compact disc version was first issued on January 27, 1990.

Track listing

 * All compositions by Ornette Coleman.


 * 1) "The Garden of Souls" – 13:57
 * 2) "Toy Dance" – 7:25
 * 3) "Broadway Blues" – 8:40
 * 4) "Broadway Blues" (alternate version) – 7:33 (bonus track on CD reissue)
 * 5) "Round Trip" – 6:17
 * 6) "We Now Interrupt for a Commercial" – 3:19

Performance

 * Ornette Coleman – alto saxophone (tracks 1-5), violin (track 6), trumpet
 * Mel Fuhrman – vocals
 * Jimmy Garrison – bass
 * Elvin Jones – drums
 * Dewey Redman – tenor saxophone

Production

 * Michael Cuscuna – liner notes, reissue producer
 * Dave Sanders – engineer
 * Francis Wolff – producer