Legendary saxophonist Ornette Coleman, his 2009 Meltdown performance still ringing in the city’s ears, returned to conclude this year’s London Jazz Festival.

Blues, Caribbean and classical influences collided in a set whose selections began with simple themes and developed by experimenting with them. Lonely Woman, for instance, united the quartet behind its haunting melody before Coleman’s wailing saxophone began sideways leaps of harmonic invention. Exploration of timbre was equally prominent: Coleman switched rapidly between saxophone, trumpet and violin; MacDowell, his electric bass modulated up an octave, was McLaughlinesque as his swarming lines pursued the saxophonist’s; and Falanga, quoting Bach, bowed his acoustic bass in imitation of a cello. Harmonic and timbral experiments complete, selections closed with the band reuniting upon the opening theme.

This format freed the musicians to pursue semi-independent musical ideas with overwhelming success. Occasionally Coleman’s son, Denardo, seemed to force his rock drumming patterns. Ultimately, however, this detracted little from the evening’s beautiful experiments at the threshold between ensemble and individual.

– Matt Ellis