Ornette Coleman, an alto saxophonist whose highly expressive approach to jazz both jolted listeners and deeply influenced jazz, rock and funk musicians in the 1960s and beyond, died Thursday morning in Manhattan. He was 85.

From his first album, “Something Else!!!” in 1958, Coleman eschewed earlier, more commercially acceptable jazz styles, opting instead for a more intuitive and explosive approach to improvisation. The result was a free form that focused more intently on fleet flurries of notes rather than tone, harmony...