Thank you for sharing this wonderful overview of Mr. Ayler's life and work. From watching the excellent film "My Name Is Albert Ayler" (a must for serious fans), I had the impression that he was a deeply spiritual and criminally misunderstood figure. Artists such as Ayler, Ornette Coleman, and Cecil Taylor created work that was uncompromising- demanding that it be appreciated on its own terms.
I don't listen to free jazz any more. I'm not interested. In the mid sixties I was enthralled with it. Of course, I was also taking psychedelics, which helped me grasp the full expanse of things like Ornette's double quartet. When I was a teen I had the energy to participate in free jazz. Now, in my seventies, it's "Lonnies's Lament" or "Wise One", the quieter side of Coltrane and the other visionaries who got into our lives around 1962. "Lonely Woman". etc. You know what I'm talking about.
Thanks for the great essay! Admittedly I am mostly unable to grasp free jazz, but I do love reading about it! That I can't grasp it makes perfect sense to me as sadly I have never been able to access my own creativity fully and I am spiritually stunted. So that's that. I listened to the first 8 minutes of Ayler's piece. I must be evolving because it reminded me of a joyful New Orleans funeral procession. Yay me.
When the ESP record label arrived, I purchased Spiritual Unity, which, If I recall, was printed on a transparent LP disc. I loved all of it! Ayler's nursery rhyme melodies reaching into sonic spheres of weird free jazz. My LP collection is long gone, left in Detroit. I had the whole batch of ESP records, as wooly and wild as jazz is ever likely to get. I played a gig at Wayne State with pianist Burton Greene. I was not yet a good drummer but the event had its moments.
I'd say that jazz is as vast as our spiritual sensibilities, not to judge folks who lean a certain way. Sometimes it's a struggle to understand things that are "out there" and we click off. Funny, after diving into some Ravel I've come to appreciate the neatness and elegance of Brahms and Schumann. I think Coltrane and Miles helped us find the bridge.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful overview of Mr. Ayler's life and work. From watching the excellent film "My Name Is Albert Ayler" (a must for serious fans), I had the impression that he was a deeply spiritual and criminally misunderstood figure. Artists such as Ayler, Ornette Coleman, and Cecil Taylor created work that was uncompromising- demanding that it be appreciated on its own terms.
I don't listen to free jazz any more. I'm not interested. In the mid sixties I was enthralled with it. Of course, I was also taking psychedelics, which helped me grasp the full expanse of things like Ornette's double quartet. When I was a teen I had the energy to participate in free jazz. Now, in my seventies, it's "Lonnies's Lament" or "Wise One", the quieter side of Coltrane and the other visionaries who got into our lives around 1962. "Lonely Woman". etc. You know what I'm talking about.
Thanks for the great essay! Admittedly I am mostly unable to grasp free jazz, but I do love reading about it! That I can't grasp it makes perfect sense to me as sadly I have never been able to access my own creativity fully and I am spiritually stunted. So that's that. I listened to the first 8 minutes of Ayler's piece. I must be evolving because it reminded me of a joyful New Orleans funeral procession. Yay me.
When the ESP record label arrived, I purchased Spiritual Unity, which, If I recall, was printed on a transparent LP disc. I loved all of it! Ayler's nursery rhyme melodies reaching into sonic spheres of weird free jazz. My LP collection is long gone, left in Detroit. I had the whole batch of ESP records, as wooly and wild as jazz is ever likely to get. I played a gig at Wayne State with pianist Burton Greene. I was not yet a good drummer but the event had its moments.
oh yes, btw, the LP disc was one-sided. Yet another transgression against the orthodox means of purveying LPs.
I've always been drawn to his music myself - totally "anti-establishment," brazenly vocal and fearless. Thanks for this!
I'd say that jazz is as vast as our spiritual sensibilities, not to judge folks who lean a certain way. Sometimes it's a struggle to understand things that are "out there" and we click off. Funny, after diving into some Ravel I've come to appreciate the neatness and elegance of Brahms and Schumann. I think Coltrane and Miles helped us find the bridge.
Great article, brother.