Albert Ayler Trio / Spiritual Unity (Tape)

Description

2017 reissue – Limited edition / Chrome with Dolby

ESP-Disk’ Cassette Collection – Officially licensed from ESP-DISK’ 2017

Recorded in New York City, July 10th, 1964

*The release includes a bonus track “Vibrations” (for the cassette edition only)

1965-USA

Format: Cassette Tape

#Ref: PAESP-001

Release date: 2017

Release notes

Spiritual Unity, recorded on July 10, 1964, is the album that made Albert Ayler and ESP-Disk’ famous (or, in some people’s eyes/ears, infamous). Mr. Ayler had already recorded in Europe and, in February ’64, in New York, but this was the first album where neither he nor his collaborators held back. It was also ESP’s first jazz recording.

Spiritual Unity presented a new improvisation paradigm: looser structure, less regard for standard pitch, and no obligation to present a regular beat. Ayler’s sound was unprecedented, much rawer than any other jazz of the time. Sometimes it was expressed in squalls of untempered sound, sometimes in outbursts of poignant spontaneous melody. Meanwhile, under and around the leader’s unfettered self-expressions, bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Sunny Murray reinvented the roles of their instruments.

Personnel: Albert Ayler, tenor saxophone / Gary Peacock, bass / Sunny Murray, percussion.

Tracklisting

Side A) 1. “Ghosts: First Variation” 2. “The Wizard” 3. “Spirits”

Side B) 1. “Ghosts: Second Variation” 2. “Vibrations” (bonus track, with Don Cherry)