Ayler Cherrie

Albert Ayler - Music Is The Healing Force Of The Universe (1969) {Impulse! 065 383-2 rel 2003}
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© 1969, 2003 Impulse! / Verve | 065 383-2
Jazz / Avant-Garde Jazz / Saxophone

One of the last records made by avant sax legend Albert Ayler – a really mind-expanding album that's unlike anything else he ever did! By the time of the record, Ayler had made a full round trip between the New York and European jazz scenes – leaving important influences wherever he went, and trying desperately to pick up new ones the further he moved on. Here, he's working in a style that's a bit like that of Archie Shepp at the time – still steeped in free jazz and new thing ideals, but infused with a free-thinking approach to the music that allows for bold new styles and sounds.

Albert Ayler - Holy Ghost, Rare & Unissued Recordings 1962 to 1970 (2004) {10CD Set, Revenant Records RVN 213}
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© 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!

Albert Ayler - Spirits (1964) {Freedom Japan 32JDF-172 rel 1988}
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© 1964, 1988 Debut / Freedom Japan | 32JDF-172
Jazz / Avant-Garde Jazz / Tenor Saxophone

This is an underrated Ayler record, not on the same shelf as Spiritual Unity or Vibrations but a startling formative effort. It is considered to be the first time that Ayler recorded with appropriate musicians, not late blooming beboppers. The two long cuts are atmospheric (especially the one with two basses) and worth sticking with. Norman Howard is at least as good as Don Ayler and shines on one of the short tracks. Ayler himself is almost laid back (!) but still magisterial, and Murray, though underrecorded, already sounds like no other drummer ever. This date foreshadows the later, greater quartet with Cherry.

During 1967-69 avant-garde innovator Albert Ayler recorded a series of albums for Impulse that started on a high level and gradually declined in quality. This LP, Ayler's first Impulse set, was probably his best for that label. There are two selections apiece from a pair of live appearances with Ayler having a rare outing on alto on the emotional "For John Coltrane" and the more violent "Change Has Come" while backed by cellist Joel Friedman, both Alan Silva and Bill Folwell on basses and drummer Beaver Harris. The other set (with trumpeter Donald Ayler, violinist Michel Sampson, Folwell and Henry Grimes on basses and Harris) has a strong contrast between the simple childlike melodies and the intense solos.

Albert Ayler - Prophecy (1964) {Esp-Disk' Japan TKCZ-79121 rel 1993}
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© 1964, 1993 Esp-Disk' / Venus Records Japan | ESP-3030 / TKCZ-79121
Jazz / Avant-Garde Jazz / Free Jazz / Tenor Saxophone

The first of Albert Ayler's ESP recordings (but one of the last to be released) is this live session with bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Sunny Murray. The tenor is heard on the earliest versions of his most famous theme, "Ghosts" (two renditions are included), along with such melodies as "Spirits," "Wizard," and "Prophecy." Ayler alternated the simple march-like themes with wild and very free improvisations which owe little if anything to the bop tradition, or even his contemporaries in the avant-garde. Ayler always had his own individual message, and his ESP sessions find him in consistently explorative form.

Albert Ayler - Witches & Devils (1964) {Black Lion CD877636-2 rel 2000}
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© 1964, 2000 Debut / Black Lion | CD 877636-2
Jazz / Avant-Garde Jazz / Saxophone

Classic early material by Albert Ayler, recorded in New York in 1964, but originally issued only in Europe! The session features Ayler with the obscure trumpeter Norman Howard, plus Henry Grimes on bass and Sonny Murray on drums – and has all the crackle and imagination of Ayler's ESP recordings. In fact, the album stands as a key record that's as essential as Spiritual Unity or Spirits Rejoice – and has a very similar feel to both of those sets.