Grasping at Albert Ayler
Albert Ayler – Spiritual Rebirth
From Live in Greenwich Village – The Complete Impulse Recordings: Impulse! IMP 22732 [Buy]
I don’t understand Albert Ayler. Listening to his music is like walking across Antarctica – no reference points to aid navigation. But every listen reveals more layers, more depth. The initial incomprehension disappears into the clarity of individual voices. Logic, structure and beauty begin to emerge.
Maybe I understand more than I think. Or maybe there is nothing to understand.
Angels was recorded at the Village Vanguard on December 18, 1966. Albert Ayler on alto sax, and probably Call Cobbs Jr on piano.
Spiritual Rebirth was recorded at the Village Theatre on February 26, 1967, and features the complete Ayler unit of that period – Albert Ayler (ts), Don Ayler (tp), Michael Samson (vl), Joel Freedman (cello), Bill Folwell and Alan Silva (b) and Beaver Harris (d).
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The beauty of music as any other art is that YOU DON’T have to understand it to enjoy it. And I actually would like to hear some logic behinde the “understanding” factor. Let’s say you could not enjoy anything without understanding it (whatever that means). Could it than be that I could go to a course to learn how to enjoy this and that. I don’t always understand women.. but hey .. you get my drift…! Sorry man just ramblin.
But my point is …. We only have to enjoy! And I know you know that.
Thanx for great music as always and see you around in this virtual utopia.
Peace!
Yes! Thanks for posting this.
I’ve always thought that Ayler’s music is much more emotional and from the heart than cerebral, which is maybe why some people have a hard time understanding it, or at least figuring out how to put their appreciation of the music into words.
Ayler might just be my favorite of the old school free/avant-garde jazzers.
Thanks for the thoughtful comments. I guess what I was trying to say is that Albert Ayler’s music is so basic, so primal, so obviously un-cerebral, that as a listener I sometimes get the feeling that I’m missing something deeper.
But yes, response at an emotional level to Ayler’s work is probably the most authentic way to listen.
(I think I manageed to overanalyse the situation and should go back to just listening for a change – Frank Zappa’s famous phrase that talking about music is like dancing about architecture…)
Hahaha!
Zappa spoke the truth! Have you read “The Real Frank Zappa Book” ?
That book is higly recomendable!
Peace!
Amazing post. Thank you for all your music postings. They are always interesting and often amazing.
Listening to Albert Ayler reminded me of an old Abdullah Ibrahim album I used to have. It was him and Carlos Ward playing at Sweet Basil in the Village. Have you ever heard it? Transcendentally spiritual.
Thanks kc. No, I can’t say that I know the Abdullah Ibrahim recordings you mention – I’d be interested to find out more