Albert Ayler Don Cherry

In 1968, Don Cherry had already established himself as one of the leading voices of the avant-garde. Having pioneered free jazz as a member of Ornette Coleman’s classic quartet, and with a high profile collaboration with John Coltrane under his belt, the globetrotting jazz trumpeter settled in Sweden with his partner Moki and her daughter Neneh. There, he assembled a group of Swedish musicians and led a series of weekly workshops at the ABF, or Workers’ Educational Association, from February to April of 1968, with lessons on extended forms of improvisation including breathing, drones, Turkish rhythms, overtones, silence, natural voices, and Indian scales. That summer, saxophonist and recording engineer Göran Freese—who later recorded Don’s classic Organic Music Society and Eternal Now LPs—invited Don, members of his two working bands, and a Turkish drummer to his summer house in Kummelnäs, just outside of Stockholm, for a series of rehearsals and jam sessions that put the prior months’ workshops into practice. Long relegated to the status of a mysterious footnote in Don’s sessionography, tapes from this session, as well as one professionally mixed tape intended for release, were recently found in the vaults of the Swedish Jazz Archive, and the lost Summer House Sessions are finally available over fifty years after they were recorded.

Albert Ayler Quartet - Copenhagen Live 1964 (2017) {hatOLOGY 665}
FLAC (tracks) - 16bit/44.1kHz - Official Digital Download (qobuz.com) -> 276 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 105 Mb
Full Artwork (jpg+pdf) | 5% repair rar
© 1964, 2017 HAT HUT Records | hatOLOGY 665
Jazz / Avant-Garde Jazz / Saxophone

The legendary free jazz saxophonist Albert Ayler was at the height of his powers in 1964, the year of his landmark recording Spiritual Unity, so anything from this period is a big deal and this live album captures him in action with the people who accompanied him on that that classic LP, Gary Peacock on bass and Sunny Murray on drums. Even more interesting is the addition of Don Cherry on cornet, just after he finished serving in Ornette Coleman's pioneering quartet, going from strength to strength and shoring up the front line of this extraordinary band.

Albert Ayler - New York Eye And Ear Control (1964) {ESP-Disk Japan}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 213 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 103 Mb
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© 1964 ESP-Disk / Venus Japan | TKCZ-79111
Jazz / Avant-Garde Jazz / Saxophone

This is a very interesting set, music that was freely improvised and used as the soundtrack for the 34-minute short film New York Eye and Ear Control. Tenor saxophonist Albert Ayler leads the all-star sextet (which also includes trumpeter Don Cherry, altoist John Tchicai, trombonist Roswell Rudd, bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Sunny Murray) on two lengthy jams. The music is fiery but with enough colorful moments to hold one's interest throughout.

Albert Ayler Quartet - European Radio Studio Recordings 1964 (2016) {hatOLOGY 678}
FLAC (tracks) - 16bit/44.1kHz - Official Digital Download (qobuz.com) -> 371 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 143 Mb
Full Artwork (jpg+pdf) | 5% repair rar
© 1964, 2016 HAT HUT Records | hatOLOGY 678
Jazz / Avant-Garde Jazz / Saxophone

Albert Ayler (1936-1970) was a jazz genius, whose story has the status of tragic myth – myth which, as often happens,is informed by truth. He pioneered free jazz on tenor saxophone, creating generations of disciples, beginning with John Coltrane. In his ecstatic soundworld, he forged connections between the furthest reaches of 60s avantgardism, and themusic's beginnings in New Orleans, re-igniting its creative impulses. But free jazz was never a commercially viableform: when Ayler died he had won some critical recognition, but none from the jazz public. 1964 was Ayler's annusmirabilis.

Albert Ayler - The Copenhagen Tapes (1964) {Ayler Records ‎aylCD-033 rel 2002}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 474 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 163 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 17 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1964, 2002 Ayler Records ‎| aylCD-033
Jazz / Avant-Garde Jazz / Saxophone

When you give birth to a free jazz record label by the name of Ayler Records, you must be dreaming of putting out an album of long-forgotten sessions by the great saxophonist Albert Ayler. It took a while (then again, not that long), but producer Jan Ström managed to get hold of two important sessions recorded in Copenhagen. The suitably titled Copenhagen Tapes contain 45 minutes of a performance at Club Montmartre, September 3, 1964, and another 20 minutes recorded in the studio of the Danish radio a week later.

Albert Ayler - Holy Ghost, Rare & Unissued Recordings 1962 to 1970 (2004) {10CD Set, Revenant Records RVN 213}
XLD rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 2.45 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 1.39 Gb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 301 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1962-70, 2004 Revenant Records | RVN 213
Jazz / Avant-Garde Jazz / Saxophone

An amazing package – one that's almost as essential to Albert Ayler's catalog as his classic albums on ESP from the 60s! The 9CD set is filled with rare material from Ayler – early recordings from Scandinavia, a smattering of American sides from the mid 60s, later work in France from the end of his life, and even a performance at John Coltrane's funeral! Other players include brother Don Ayler, trumpeter Don Cherry, pianist Cecil Tayler, and Burton Greene – and the package is filled with amazing sounds that really show Ayler's inventive approach to jazz. The box itself is beautiful – sculpted like some hand-carved treasure chest – and filled with 9CDS, plus a 208 page full-color hardcover book that features essays by Amiri Baraka and Val Wilmer, photos and memorabilia, and a chronology of Ayler's performances. Amazing stuff – and a true tribute to this legend!