Ornette on Tenor is an album by Ornette Coleman released in 1962 on Atlantic Records. It was recorded on March 22, 1961, at A&R Studios in New York City, produced by Nesuhi Ertegun. It is notable because Coleman plays exclusively the tenor saxophone, instead of his usual alto.
The album features Don Cherry (trumpet), Jimmy Garrison (bass), and Ed Blackwell (drums). All compositions are original by Coleman and show an evolution toward a freer, more abstract language, while maintaining recognizable melodic structures.
Critical reception was mixed, but the album is considered an important document of Coleman's transition into mature free jazz. The cover, designed by Marvin Israel, features a photograph of Coleman with his tenor saxophone. The album was reissued on CD with bonus tracks in 1993.