Avant-jazz is a style of music that combines elements of traditional jazz with avant-garde and experimental music. It is characterized by its use of improvisation, extended techniques, and unconventional instrumentation. The term was first coined in the late 1960s by jazz critic and composer John Litweiler to describe the work of musicians such as Ornette Coleman, Cecil Taylor, and Sun Ra. Avant-jazz has since become an important part of the jazz canon, influencing many modern jazz artists.