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Jazz Legend Ornette Coleman Files Lawsuit Over 'New Vocabulary' Recordings

After taking time off from releasing music for nearly 20 years, legend Ornette Coleman was surprised to see his name on a new LP entitled New Vocabulary. Now, the saxophonist has filed a federal lawsuit against Antibalas' Jordan McLean and Amir Ziv for putting out the disc "without his consent."

According to the suit, Coleman states that he was introduced to trumpeter McLean, who worked on the Broadway musical Fela!. During that time, Coleman invited McLean and Ziv to talk jazz and exchange ideas. However, those sessions were recorded and years later were released after the jazz great had denied their request to put them out.

In an article at Rolling Stone, Coleman's lawyers stated in a complaint:

"Without plaintiff's knowledge or consent, defendants McLean and Ziv made audio recordings of one or more live musical performances by plaintiff. Without plaintiff's consent, defendants have reproduced, communicated to the public, publicly distributed, sold, transmitted and trafficked in copies...of the infringing recordings under the title New Vocabulary."

It continues: "As a direct consequence of defendant's wrongful conduct, plaintiff has suffered and is suffering irreparable harm and has sustained substantial injury, loss and damage."

Also among Coleman's list of gripes, he alleges that pianist Adam Holzman, who was also present, was not credited on the recording.

Coleman's last LP was his Pulitzer-winning live album, Sound Grammer, back in 2006.

For now, get down on some Coleman below.

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