Albert Ayler

Live on the Riviera

When Ayler's band went through Customs in July 1970 on their way to play at a festival in France, keyboardist Call Cobbs got held back and arrived a day late. Minus the keyboards, the band played anyway. The music-making of the resulting ensemble is freer and more adventurous than on the quintet's following Maeght Foundation concerts. This unique document, Ayler's penultimate recording, thus brings him back to something close to the trio setting in which he first found fame on 1964's epochal Spiritual Unity (though, on Live on the Riviera, with Mary Maria adding occasional vocals and, once, another sax). Exactly four months later, Ayler's body would be found in the East River.

ESP-Disk's 50th Anniversary Remaster brings the seminal free-jazz saxophonist's last unfettered blast of expression back into print after several years out of the catalog.

Personnel

Albert Ayler: tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, musette, vocal
Allen Blairman: drums
Steve Tintweiss: double bass
Mary Maria [Mary Parks]: vocal, soprano saxophone


Track Listing

1.Music Is the Healing Force of the Universe7:472.Birth of Mirth10:383.Masonic Inborn7:184.Oh! Love of Life9:315.Island Harvest5:016.Heart Love5:247:Ghosts10:53

Tracks 1, 4-5 by Mary Parks, Pak Music (ASCAP)                                                                       Tracks 2-3, 6-7 by Albert Ayler, Syndicore Music (BMI)

Credits

Recorded July 25, 1970 at the Maeght Foundation in St. Paul de Vence

 


Press Quotes

7.6 rating "The bouncy 'The Birth of Mirth' shows that Ayler was writing great themes all the way to end." – Mark Richardson, Pitchfork.com

"...in Ayler's playing there is pain and sadness as well as joy and playfulness. His tenor plunges the depths of human emotions. And that's not being overdramatic—there are plenty of superb recordings that capture this. Live on the Riviera is merely the latest to do so."            - James Taylor

"Ayler himself is in excellent form throughout, best on the playful "Birth of Mirth" and his theme song, "Ghosts." Bassist Steve Tintweiss and drummer Allen Blairman work well with Ayler, making one regret that this group did not last longer and record a full set as a trio."                   - Scott Yanow

Musicians: Albert Ayler / Allen Blairman / Steve Tintweiss / Mary Maria [Mary Parks]

PURCHASE OPTIONS
Digital download Choice of WAVs or MP3s
Compact Disk In digipak with liner notes 50th anniversary remaster
  • Product Code: ESP4001
  • Availability: In Stock
  • CD $12.99
  • WAV Download $8.99
  • MP3 Download $8.99

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