13. Ornette Coleman
Ornette Coleman shattered conventions with his groundbreaking approach to free jazz. His fearless saxophone improvisations and unorthodox harmonies, exemplified in albums like “The Shape of Jazz to Come”, liberated jazz from traditional structures. Coleman’s radical ideas challenged listeners and inspired a wave of avant-garde experimentation. His bold spirit opened new pathways for creative expression in jazz and beyond. Read a retrospective on his impact in The New York Times.
