That is one thing people overlook when dissing Coleman:Who was the drummer who was *the* go-to drummer for soul-jazz/dancey cuts like "Watermelon man" (Herbie) and "the Sidewinder" 8Lee Morgan)? It was Billy Higgins and where did he become famous? With Ornette!!!

Basically, as much as some of the critics and many musicians shitted on Coleman and Cherry, the rhythm-section with Higgins and Haden got nothing but props and both those guys became in demand session-musicians after they left Coleman's band.

Higgins only play on the first two Atlantic-records though and after that, it was Ed Blackwell who was a bit more radical and not as groovy (still swinging and keeping a beat but with more fills and collective improv). Great drummer too of course but Coleman definitely started to sound a tad bit more "difficult" and fractured after Higgins left...