Description
In the mid-60s, Albert Ayler found himself at the center of major transformations within jazz. On his albums for ESP-Disk, his delivery was radically aggressive and his tone blisteringaiming for something beyond the New Thing. His music would be further energized when (at the behest of John Coltrane) Bob Thiele signed him to Impulse! As Ayler told The Plain Dealer at the time, Its not about notes anymore. Its a sounda feeling. The approach were taking will discontinue the use of the word jazz.
In Greenwich Village, Aylers first LP on Impulse!, perfectly captures the Cleveland-born saxophonists radiant intensity. Sourced from a pair of live engagementsFebruary 67 at the Village Theatre on New Yorks Lower East Side and December 66 at the Village Vanguardthese recordings show an improved clarity in production and performance.
Both sets feature two basses (including Alan Silva and Henry Grimes) which allowed the ensemble to go in different harmonic directions while maintaining an organic unity. Of particular interest are For John Coltrane, a tribute to Aylers mentor who would pass later that year, and Truth Is Marching In where trumpeter Donald Ayler joins his brother to celebrate and ultimately deconstruct several jazz traditions to stunning effect.
Vibrant in sound and vision, Albert Aylers In Greenwich Village is a landmark statement in free jazz and a career high-point for this truly original artist. Superior Viaduct is honored to present this classic album on vinyl for the first time domestically in 30 years.
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