Charlie Haden's Jazz and Politics.

Jazz bassist Charlie Haden. He's released his fifth album with his Quartet West, "Now is the Hour," (Verve). Haden formed the quartet to play the music of the 1940s and early 50s. He's worked with jazz musicians Art Pepper, Paul Bley, Ornette Coleman. And he's recorded with many artists including Abbey Lincoln, Bill Frisell, Joshua Redman, Rick Lee Jones, and others. Last year Haden released a much regarded album of spirituals with pianist Hank Jones, "Steal Away--Spirituals, Hymns and Folk Songs."

Haden was part of saxophonist Ornette Coleman's legendary free jazz ensemble. Haden has also worked with John Coltrane and Keith Jarrett. Later, he formed the Liberation Music Orchestra with composer Carla Bley, and then the group Old And New Dreams. His latest ensemble is Quartet West. They have a new album "Haunted Heart," which is inspired by movies and music from the 1940s.

Charlie Haden is one of the foremost bass players in contemporary jazz. In the 1950s Haden was a part of the first Ornette Coleman Quartet, which was the center of a jazz revolution. He has been involved with both avant-garde and mainstream jazz ever since. In the 1960s he formed the Liberation Music Orchestra, whose pointed political references were controversial. Haden re-formed the Orchestra in 1983 and their latest album is "The Ballad of the Fallen." Haden also plays with the band Old and New Dreams, made-up of Coleman alumni.