Cecil Taylor - Unit Structures (1966)

Apologies for the diminishing amount of posts in the past few months. Summer was distracting, to say the least, but now 'Caine and I will be more on top of things. I'm going to stop writing (320) at the top of every post, I think it's getting a little redundant. Everything is in 320 unless marked otherwise.

I'd like to end the hiatus with a Cecil Taylor Blue Note release. I had the pleasure of seeing the free jazz legend at Seattle's Earshot in 2008. He came out in long rainbow socks, holding a large bundle of loose leaf paper. I had heard that Cecil would open up performances with his poetry, but it looked like he had enough paper to last the whole night. I swear one of his poems was him just screaming vowels and different volumes. Art, man. His solo piano playing was wild, atonal, and all over the place. But through his violent smashing chords was a master's control of the instrument and a very real sense of musicality. Check out this section from All The Notes below to maybe...better understand the man and his theories. "Sound has color. I have 6 different colors...which most human beings cannot perceive. But animals can perceive..." Real talk. Only Cecil tells it like it is. (By the way, bassist Henry Grimes has been featured on Shhh before on a few Albert Ayler releases.)

Tracklist:

1. Steps
2. Enter, Evening (Soft Line Structure)
3. Enter, Evening (Alt. Take)
4. Unit Structure/As Of A Now/Section
5. Tales (8 Whisps)

Personnel:

Eddie Gale Stevens, Jr., trumpet
Jimmy Lyons, alto sax
Ken McIntyre, alto sax, oboe, and bass clarinet
Cecil Taylor, piano and bells
Henry Grimes, bass
Alan Silva, bass
Andrew Cyrille, drums

Produced by Alfred Lion
All compositions written by Cecil Taylor
Produced for release by Michael Cuscuna
Recorded at the Van Gelder Studios in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on May 19, 1966
Recording Engineer: Rudy Van Gelder
Digital Transfers by: Ron McMaster

Blue Note Records
CDP 7 84237 2

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Albert Ayler - Spirits (1964) (320)

"'Trane was the Father...Pharoah was the son...I am the Holy Ghost."

Part 3 of 3. Now we finally hear from the Holy Ghost, and how appropriate with this "Spirits" recording. I don't have too much information on this one, and to be honest this one doesn't grip me as much as the other two have. I prefer the second half of Spirits: contrast the burning drums and demented horn playing on "Holy, Holy" with the last piece, "Saints", which to me is just plain spooky.

Tracklist:

1. Spirits
2. Witches And Devils
3. Holy, Holy
4. Saints

Personnel:

Albert Ayler, tenor saxophone
Norman Howard, trumpet
Henry Grimes (1,2,4) & Earle Henderson (1,3), basses
Sonny Murray, drums

All selections composed by Albert Ayler and recorded in New York City, Feb. 24, 1964

Notes by: Ole Vestergaard Jensen
Producers: Jürgen Frigaard & Robert Altshuler
Recording: Phil Iehle, Atlantic Recording Corp.
Cover design: Nina Aae

Breathless 52006

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Albert Ayler - Live In Greenwich Village: The Complete Impulse Recordings (1965) (320)

In my opinion, this is the most solid example of what free jazz can and should be. Albert Ayler stretches the sound capabilities of the tenor saxophone, making just about every noise imaginable. Through his shrill wailing you can hear a wide influence of musical traditions, from demented marches to despairing funeral dirges and everything in between. The Brothers Ayler work together in creating a primitive interpretation of the melodies, and compliment each other well when they harmonize. When you think it sounds like a child practicing, Albert will throw in an incredible line that demonstrates his musical sophistication. Albert and Don are matched by an equally out-there string section, who battle their instruments with the same tenacity as the Aylers. And the drumming...I need to find more albums with Beaver Harris on them. Just when you think you know what jazz is, Albert Ayler defies every conception of the term. His vast influence on John Coltrane can be heard on Trane's Impulse! recordings (to be posted soon...)

Albert Ayler, tenor saxophone
Don Ayler, trumpet
Michel Sampson, violin
Bill Folwell & Henry Grimes, basses
Beaver Harris, drums

Recorded at The Village Vanguard,
New York City on December 18, 1966.

Original sessions produced by Bob Thiele
Recording engineers: Rudy Van Gelder (Disc one, #1), George Klabin (all others)

Label: Impulse!
IMPD2-273, IMP 22732

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