The 1970 album “Liberation Music Orchestra” was bassist Charlie Haden’s first as a leader. Haden was from Iowa and began his musical journey playing with his family’s band that performed country and folk music. He performed on the stage at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville as a youth.

By the late 1950s Haden was a member of the ground-breaking Ornette Coleman quartet that was in many ways the leader in introducing the “free jazz” concept to the public. In May 1959 Haden recorded “The Shape of Jazz to Come” with Ornette Coleman. His folk-influenced style complemented Coleman's style. Later that year, the Ornette Coleman Quartet moved to New York City and secured a six-week residency at the Five Spot Cafe.

In 1960, drug problems caused Haden to leave Coleman's quartet. Haden resumed his career in 1964, working with saxophonists John Handy and Archie Shepp, as well as with Bobby Timmons, Tony Scott and with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra before returning to Coleman’s group in 1967.

The idea for the album “Liberation Music Orchestra” came about after Haden had heard songs from the Spanish Civil War. Three of those were included on the album that was recorded over three consecutive days beginning on April 27, 1969. Other tracks on the album include Coleman’s War Orphans, three pieces by Carla Bley and two of Haden's own compositions. Musicians that participated in the sessions included Gato Barbieri, Dewey Redman, Don Cherry, Michael Mantler, Roswell Rudd, Howard Johnson and Paul Motian. The album received mixed reviews upon its release in January of 1970.

Here is a track from the record:

"CIRCUS '68 - '69"