Albert Ayler - Goin' Home (1964) (eac-log-cover)

Albert Ayler - Goin' Home (1964)

aka: Swing Low Sweet Spiritual

jazz | 1cd | eac-flac-cue-log-cover | 280MB

Black Lion | BLCD 760197

Allmusic:
This LP contains one of Albert Ayler's most unusual projects. The free jazz tenor/innovator (who doubles here on his less-assured soprano) performs six traditional melodies including "Going Home," two versions of "Old Man River," "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen," and even "When the Saints Go Marching In." Ayler works well with his backup group (pianist Call Cobbs, bassist Henry Grimes, and drummer Sunny Murray) and creates very emotional music (really hanging onto the themes), all of which has been reissued (with additional tracks) on CD by Black Lion.

Tracks
-01. "Goin' Home" - 4:26
-02. "Ol' Man River (Take 2)" - 5:25
-03. "Down By The Riverside (Take 6)" - 4:39
-04. "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (Take 3)" - 4:30
-05. "Deep River" - 4:15
-06. "When The Saints Go Marchin' In" - 4:12
-07. "Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen" - 4:44
-08. "Ol' Man River (Take 1)" - 3:58
-09. "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (Take 1)" - 4:49
-10. "Down By The Riverside (Take 5)" - 4:28

Personnel
*Bass - Henry Grimes
*Drums - Arthur Murray
*Piano - Call Cobbs Jr.
*Saxophone - Albert Ayler

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Albert Ayler - New Grass (1968) (eac-log-cover)

Albert Ayler - New Grass (1968)

jazz | 1cd | eac-flac-cue-log-cover | 225MB

Impulse!

Allmusic:
Possibly the most notorious Albert Ayler release and universally misunderstood (i.e., hated) by fans and critics alike. When New Grass was released in 1968 it received a hostile outcry of "sell-out." Listening to New Grass in hindsight; it must be taken into account that even though commercial elements are apparent -- a soul horn section, backup singers, boogaloo drumming from Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, and electric rock bass -- Ayler's vocals and tenor playing could hardly gain commercial radio exposure at any time. It's likely Impulse prodded Ayler to move into a more pronounced blues-oriented sound and he went willingly. Ayler wasn't a stranger to R&B or gutbucket blues; he had started his career playing saxophone with Chicago bluesman Little Walter in the '50s. Ayler's screeching tone remains intact on New Grass, but it's mixed with definite R&B riffs like the obvious honkin' nod to "Slippin and Sliddin" on "New Generation." Ayler's attempt to explain himself on the opening track with "Message from Albert Ayler," reveals his impending dread over controversy concerning the material. It is a problem many artists face at some point in their careers when trying to move in a different direction, no matter what the reason; they may end up losing a majority of their audience by taking a foreign approach. Interested listeners now have another chance to hear New Grass, as it was issued for the first time in America on CD in 2005 by Universal/Impulse.

Tracks:
-1. Message From Albert - New Grass 3:53
-2. New Generation 5:06
-3. Sun Watcher 7:29
-4. New Ghosts 4:10
-5. Heart Love 5:32
-6. Everybody's Movin' 3:43
-7. Free At Last 3:08

Personnel:
* Bass - Buddy Lucas
* Bass [Electric] - Bill Folwell
* Drums - Bernard Purdie
* Piano, Harpsichord [Electric], Organ - Call Cobbs
* Saxophone [Tenor], Flute - Seldon Powell
* Saxophone [Tenor], Vocals - Albert Ayler
* Trombone - Garnett Brown
* Trumpet - Burt Collins , Joe Newman
* Vocals - Soul Singers, The

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Albert Ayler - In Greenwich Village (1967) (eac-log-cover)

Albert Ayler  - In Greenwich Village (1967)

jazz | 1cd | eac-flac-cue-log-cover | 270MB

Impulse! | rar +5% recovery

AMG:
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. However this LP (which was augmented later on by the two-LP set The Village Concerts) will be difficult to find.

Tracks:
1. "For John Coltrane" - 13:38
2. "Change Has Come" - 6:24
3. "Truth Is Marching In" - 12:43
4. "Our Prayer" - 4:43

Personnel:
* Albert Ayler - alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
* Donald Ayler - trumpet
* Bill Folwell - bass
* Joel Friedman - cello
* Henry Grimes - bass
* Beaver Harris - drums
* Michel Sampson - violin
* Alan Silva - bass

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Ayler/Cherry/Tchicai/Rudd/Peacock/Murray - New York Eye & Ear Control (1964) (eac-log-cover)

Ayler/Cherry/Tchicai/Rudd/Peacock/Murray - New York Eye & Ear Control (1964)

jazz, soundtrack | 1cd | eac-flac-cue-log-cover |250 MB

ESP | rar +5% recovery

AMG:
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.

Tracks:
1. "Don's Dawn" – 0:57
2. "AY" – 20:17
3. "ITT" – 22:05

Personnel:
* Albert Ayler - tenor saxophone
* Don Cherry - trumpet
* John Tchicai - alto saxophone
* Roswell Rudd - trombone
* Gary Peacock - bass
* Sonny Murray - drums

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Albert Ayler - Love Cry (1967) (eac-log-cover)

Albert Ayler - Love Cry (1967)

jazz | 1cd | eac-flac-cue-log-cover | 350MB

Impulse!-GRP | rar +5% recovery

AMG:
From the time he was signed to Impulse in 1966, it was assumed that Albert Ayler's releases on that label would be motivated by an attempt at commercialism. While the music was toned down from his earlier ESP recordings, by no means did Ayler ever make commercial records. Much in the same way John Coltrane's later-period Impulse releases weren't commercial, Ayler simply took advantage of a larger record company's distribution, trying to expose the music to more people. Ayler's uncompromising musical freedom mixed with his catchy combination of nursery rhythms and brass band marches remained prominent on Love Cry. The interplay between the Ayler brothers also remained fiery as younger sibling Donald is heard playing trumpet for the last time on a recording with his brother. Donald was fired from the band (at the suggestion of Impulse) and, unfortunately, was committed to a mental institution for a short stay after these sessions were made. The rhythm section of Alan Silva on bass and Milford Graves on drums continually instigates and propels this music into furious militaristic march territory. Unhappily, the four tracks in which Call Cobbs is featured on harpsichord tend to drag the music down; it's unfortunate his gospel-inspired piano or organ playing couldn't have been utilized instead. The CD reissue contains alternate takes of "Zion Hill" and "Universal Indians."

Tracks:
01. Love Cry
02. Ghosts
03. Omega
04. Dancing Flowers
05. Bells
06. Love Flower
07. Love Cry II (Previously Unissued)
08. Zion Hill (Alternate Take)
09. Universal Indians (Alternate Take)
10. Zion Hill
11. Universal Indians (Previously Unissued Full Length Version)

Personnel:
Alan Silva - bass
Albert Ayler - vocals, alto & tenor saxophones
Donald Ayler - trumpet
Milford Graves - drums
Call Cobbs - harpsichord

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Albert Ayler - Slug's Saloon 2cd (1966) (eac-flac-cover)

Albert Ayler - Slug's Saloon 2cd (1966)

jazz | 2cd | eac-flac-cue-log-cover | 490MB

ESP |  rar +5% recovery

AMG:
Fruit Tree comes up with the second complete reissue in two years of Albert Ayler's seminal Slug's Saloon performance from May 1, 1966 which was originally released by Italy's BASE label. Two separate volumes have been released many times over the years, but this set faithfully reassembles the Slug's Saloon concert that featured Ayler on tenor, brother Donald on trumpet, drummer Ronald Shannon Jackson, violinist Michel Sampson, and bassist Lewis Worrell. These recordings helped to establish Ayler's reputation as an original voice on the tenor in the vanguard of the music. There are five tracks here, and the long, freewheeling versions of favorites like "Truth Is Marching In," "Ghosts," and "Bells" are among the finest on tape, offering fine evidence of Ayler's union of folk music, gospel, R&B, and marches as they collided with his iconoclastic sense of harmony and melody. Sound quality is a bit dodgy at times, but it draws nothing from the performance. While Ayler fans no doubt possess this music in some form, the uninitiated would be indeed gratified as well as educated by investigating them. Energetically and dynamically, there is simply nothing like them.

Tracks:
cd1
1. Truth is marching in 10:10
2. Our Prayer 12:19
3. Bells 18:00
cd2
1. Ghosts 23:08
2. Initiation 16:32

Personnel:
Albert Ayler: tenor saxophone
Donald Ayler: trumpet
Michel Samson: violin
Lewis Worrell: string bass
Ron Jackson: percussion

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