Albert Ayler

The Albert Ayler Story


Albert Ayler, one of the most controversial and polarizing musicians in the history of jazz, was accused of not being able to play his instrument, so radically did he reboot the whole idea of jazz saxophone and jazz improvisation. This set chronologically examines his career with music and artist interviews explaining what took place during historically important recording sessions and concerts. The many musical recordings here include, among other sources, at least one track from each of Ayler's ESP-Disk' albums.

Press Quotes:"Ayler has probably, next to Coltrane and Cecil Taylor, held the most sway on the direction of improvisation from a "thematic" or "phrase-based" approach to that of a purely sonic one." - Clifford Allen, All About Jazz

"A Salvation Army band on LSD." – Dan Morgenstern, Down Beat

"Tonally, Albert's horn was the closest a saxophone ever came to resembling the soaring feedback of psychedelic guitarists Jimi Hendrix or John Cippolina of Quicksilver Messenger Service and brings to mind pure electronic sound waves as produced by the Theremin." – John Kruth, Signal to Noise

Track Listing:1. Albert Ayler: Early Childhood/The Army 1960, Part 12. "Tenderly" - U.S. Army 76th Adjutant General's Band3. Albert Ayler: The Army 1960, Part 2/Sweden 1962, Part 14. "Summertime" - Herbert Katz Quintet5. Albert Ayler: Sweden, Part 26. Sunny Murray: Europe 1962/Cecil Taylor, Part 17. "Four": Albert Ayler solo section - Cecil Taylor Quintet8. Sunny Murray: Cecil Taylor, Part 29. Albert Ayler: Playing with the Candy Greene Band 196210. Bernard Stollman: The Cellar Café 6-14-6411. "Spirits" - Albert Ayler Trio12. Bernard Stollman: Meeting Albert Ayler/Spiritual Unity13. "Ghosts (First Variation)" - Albert Ayler Trio14. Bernard Stollman: Spiritual Unity, Part 215. Albert Ayler: After the Spiritual Unity recording16. Milford Graves: The New Black Music17. Milford Graves: Bernard Stollman and ESP-Disk’18. Bernard Stollman: Michael Snow/Film: Walking Woman19. "I.T.T." - Albert Ayler Sextet20. Sunny Murray: Explains the film Walking Woman21. Don Cherry: Meeting Albert Ayler22. Albert Ayler: Ollie Vestegard/Denmark 9-30-6423. "Vibrations" - Albert Ayler Quartet24. Albert Ayler: John Coltrane and Eric Dolphy25. "Ghosts" - Albert Ayler Quartet26. Don Cherry: Seeing Albert Ayler in 196427. Bernard Stollman: Meeting Don Cherry and Albert Ayler28. Albert Ayler: Sympathy for Sunny Murray29. Milford Graves: Hanging out with Albert30. Albert Ayler: Adding His Brother Donald to the Group31. Bernard Stollman: The Town Hall Concert/Bells, Part 132. "Bells" (excerpt) - Albert Ayler Quintet33. Bernard Stollman: Bells, Part 234. Milford Graves: The Town Hall Concert35. Bernard Stollman: Spirits Rejoice, Part 136. "Spirits Rejoice" - Albert Ayler Septet37. Bernard Stollman: Spirits Rejoice, Part 2/Play a Short Tune38. "Holy Family" - Albert Ayler Septet39. Bernard Stollman: Spirits Rejoice, Part 340. Bernard Stollman: Albert Ayler Introduces Patty Waters41. Bernard Stollman: Albert Ayler Live at Slug’s Saloon42. "Truth Is Marching In" - Albert Ayler Quintet43. Burton Greene: Albert Ayler Playing with Burton Greene44. untitled - Burton Greene Collective45. Burton Greene: Albert Ayler Playing with Burton Greene 246. Milford Graves: Albert’s Sound47. Albert Ayler: Playing in Clubs48. Sunny Murray: Musicians and Magic49. Albert Ayler: Music and the Creator50. Albert Ayler: Performing with John Coltrane/Drummers51. "Zion Hill" - Albert Ayler Quintet plus Frank Wright52. Andrew Cyrille: Being Possessed by the Music53. Albert Ayler: Michel Sampson and Bill Folwell54. Burton Greene: Ayler Live at Newport/George Wein55. "Our Prayer" - Albert Ayler Quintet56. Albert Ayler: The Passing of John Coltrane57. "Love Cry/Truth Is Marching In/Our Prayer" - Albert Ayler58. Albert Ayler: Signing with Impulse Records59. Bernard Stollman: The Fondation Maeght Concert, Part 160. "Music Is the Healing Force of the Universe" - Albert Ayler61. Bernard Stollman: The Fondation Maeght Concert, Part 262. Albert Ayler: The Fondation Maeght Concert63. Bernard Stollman: The Fondation Maeght Concert, Part 364. Sunny Murray: Condolences for Albert Ayler65. Milford Graves: What He Misses About Albert Ayler66. Don Cherry: Condolences for Albert Ayler67. "Vibrations" AKA [tune Q]2- Albert Ayler Quartet68. "End Theme: Spirits" - Albert Ayler Quartet



Musicians: Albert Ayler

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Digital download Choice of WAVS or MP3s Includes art and booklet with track list and liner notes
  • Product Code: ESP4072
  • Availability: In Stock
  • WAV Download $26.99
  • MP3 Download $15.99

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