Sound Museum: Hidden Man is one of two albums recorded simultaneously by Ornette Coleman in 1996, the other being Sound Museum: Three Women. Both were released on the same day and contain the same compositions, but with different takes and mixes, offering a dual vision of the harmolodic concept.
The album features an acoustic quartet with Coleman on alto saxophone, Geri Allen on piano, Charnett Moffett on bass, and Denardo Coleman on drums. The music is more lyrical and accessible than some of his earlier work, focusing on melodic interaction and collective improvisation.
Hidden Man was acclaimed by critics as a return to Coleman's classic form, combining his harmolodic language with a direct melodic sensibility. The title suggests the idea of a sound museum where certain facets of the music remain hidden, in contrast to the companion album Three Women.