The Shape of Jazz to Come [Listen]
1959 Atlantic
Here's where Coleman scrambles the rules of jazz into vibrant, revolutionary code. Driven by the idea that melodies need not be attached to fixed chords, Coleman creates beautiful, dejected themes ("Lonely Woman") and daredevil courses ("Congeniality") that shift shapes and colors constantly. A road map to the future. Still.

At the Golden Circle, Stockholm Vol. 2 [Listen]
1965 Blue Note
Several years after the uproar surrounding his groundbreaking double quartet (Free Jazz), Coleman electrifies a Stockholm club with just bass and drums behind him. It's Coleman unplugged, tearing through frantic, thrilling and surprisingly hard-swinging solos.

Science Fiction [Listen]
1971 Columbia
This supercharged set marks the moment when Coleman and his accomplices hit the sweet spot as an ensemble. The musicians, including veterans of previous bands, hang with Coleman through cosmic vocal refrains, lane-changing melodic lunges and post-bop chase scenes. Comfortable with music that morphs suddenly, everybody plays with near-telepathic unity.

In All Languages
1987 Caravan of Dreams
Early recordings from Coleman's electric band Prime Time (like Dancing in Your Head) are so jerky they take the fun out of funk. Undaunted, Coleman continued exploring, and his persistence paid off on this magic set, which showcases "acoustic" and "electric" bands playing the same tunes.

Sound Grammar
2006 Sound Grammar
This album, which broke a decade-long silence and brought Coleman a Pulitzer, smashes established patterns and develops a new syntax from the pieces. The disc revolves around two bassists: One plucks while the other uses a bow, and their deep sound coaxes questioning blues melodies from Coleman.