New York Contemporary Five


The New York Contemporary Five was an avant-garde jazz ensemble active in the first half of the 1960s.
It has been described as "a group which, despite its... short lease on life, has considerable historical significance", laying "the cornerstone of what might be called the mainstream of free jazz".
The ensemble was formed around 1962 by Don Cherry, Archie Shepp, John Tchicai, Don Moore, and J.C. Moses. They released two albums in 1963 for Fontana and Sonet, and finally a split album with Bill Dixon early in 1964 on Savoy Records. The last record featured Ted Curson, Ronnie Boykins, and Sunny Murray in place of Cherry, Moore, and Moses respectively. The group disbanded later in 1964.

Discography