A pair of classic Albert Ayler albums from 1964 – back to back on a single CD! First up is Spirits – only the second album ever recorded by Albert Ayler, but a tremendous statement of music that clearly marks the tenorist as one of the most important jazz talents of the 60s! The set was recorded in New York, and only ever got initial exposure overseas – but has grown to become one of the best-remember Ayler albums over the years – thanks in part to a rock-solid lineup of equal visionaries in the group, a lineup that include Sunny Murray on drums, Norman Howard on trumpet, and both Henry Grimes and Earl Henderson on bass – playing together on the title track, which gives the whole thing a really tremendous power. Ayler's clearly the spotlight, though – shining his light with brilliance both in his phrasing of the tenor, and his sense of timing and inherent rhythm – which opens the door to whole new pathways in jazz. Titles include "Spirits", "Prophecy", "Holy Holy", and "Witches & Devils". Next is Ghosts – a seminal early moment from the legendary Albert Ayler – an important session recorded overseas in Copenhagen – where enthusiasm for Ayler's music caught fire more strongly than in the US! The group's got an edge that's maybe even sharper than some of Ayler's ESP material, but no less powerful – with Don Cherry on cornet, Gary Peacock on bass, and Sunny Murray on drums – working through tremendous readings of six Ayler classics that include "Ghosts", "Children", "Holy Spirit", "Vibrations" and "Mothers". A wonderful precursor to the ESP years – and equally great! CD

A seminal early moment from the legendary Albert Ayler – an important session recorded overseas in Copenhagen – where enthusiasm for Ayler's music caught fire more strongly than in the US! The group's got an edge that's maybe even sharper than some of Ayler's ESP material, but no less powerful – with Don Cherry on cornet, Gary Peacock on bass, and Sunny Murray on drums – working through tremendous readings of six Ayler classics that include "Ghosts", "Children", "Holy Spirit", "Vibrations" and "Mothers". A wonderful precursor to the ESP years – and equally great! LP, Vinyl record album

One of Chico's earliest albums for Pacific Jazz – a set of tightly arranged tracks with a cool chamber feel to them – featuring a lineup that includes Buddy Collette on reeds, Fred Katz on cello, Jim Hall on guitar, and Carson Smith on bass. Collette, Katz, and Hall are at the height of their powers here – a bit restricted, perhaps, but in the way that Hamilton was using to craft some of the more creative sounds of the 50s LA jazz scene – perfectly shaped and formed throughout! Just about every band member contributed a song and an arrangement to the album – and titles include "The Ghost", "Chrissie", "Jonalah", "Sleepy Slept Here", "Drums West", "The Squimp", and "Sleep". LP, Vinyl record album

The first-ever full and proper reissue of this lost Albert Ayler concert from 1966 – recorded over two days in his hometown of Cleveland, but with an array of key compatriots from the New York scene! The performance is like finding a new ESP album that you didn't know existed – but one that's much longer than the others, too – really revelatory performances from Ayler on tenor, with Donald Ayler on trumpet, Michel Samson on violin, Mutawef Shaheed on bass, and a young Ronald Shannon Jackson on drums – plus added tenor from the great Frank Wright on most of the tracks on the set – adding this majestic fullness to the sound, really furthering that anthemic power that Ayler's music can have when it's this wonderful! Most of the material was recorded on April 17 (and includes Wright), and a few more tracks were recorded on the 16th – over two hours of barely-heard music, with titles that include "Our Prayer/Spirits Rejoice", "Spirits", "Zion Hill", "Untitled/The Truth Is Marching In", "DC", "Ghosts", "Spiritual Bells", and "Prophet/Ghosts/Spiritual Bells". CD

A seminal early moment from the legendary Albert Ayler – an important session recorded overseas in Copenhagen – where enthusiasm for Ayler's music caught fire more strongly than in the US! The group's got an edge that's maybe even sharper than some of Ayler's ESP material, but no less powerful – with Don Cherry on cornet, Gary Peacock on bass, and Sunny Murray on drums – working through tremendous readings of six Ayler classics that include "Ghosts", "Children", "Holy Spirit", "Vibrations" and "Mothers". A wonderful precursor to the ESP years – and equally great! CD

A landmark recording – Albert Ayler's first album for the ESP label, and a record that hit the jazz world like a bullet! Spiritual Unity sets the stage for a format that would become huge in the European avant scene of the 70s, 80s, 90s, and even today – the sax-driven power-trio, tenor against bass and drums, working freely with less rhythmic constraints than before, searching for new sounds and new modes of expression, working through changes in a style first proposed by Sonny Rollins, but taken to new intensity by the New York underground of the 60s. That sound is summed up here perfectly by Ayler, Gary Peacock, and Sunny Murray – working together with an edgey brilliance, on classic tracks that include "Ghosts: First Variation", "Ghosts: Second Variation", "The Wizard", and "Spirits". LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful entry in this surprisingly long-running series – a mad mix of music that happens every December, when reedman Mars Williams combines themes from Albert Ayler tunes with other snippets of festive holiday songs! But lest you think this is a standard Christmas record, think again – as the music is very freely improvised, and is much more like an album of free jazz than something you'd be likely to play around the fire with your family – unless your family happens to all be fans of improvised music! Given that Ayler was always hoping his music had the power to reach other audiences, we're thinking he'd be pleased with the project – at least as much as we are. In addition to Mars' own work on saxes, suona, and toy instruments – the group also features Josh Berman on cornet, Jim Baker on piano and viola, Peter Maunu on violin, Steve Hunt on drums, Kent Kessler on bass, and Brian Sandstrom on bass, guitar, and trumpet – on tunes that include "The Divine Peacemaker Plays Dreidel In Frightful Weather", "The Angels Sing With The Old & New Ghosts In The Manger", and "Did You Hear They Found Light In Darkness". (Holiday Music, Jazz) CD

A landmark recording – Albert Ayler's first album for the ESP label, and a record that hit the jazz world like a bullet! Spiritual Unity sets the stage for a format that would become huge in the European avant scene of the 70s, 80s, 90s, and even today – the sax-driven power-trio, tenor against bass and drums, working freely with less rhythmic constraints than before, searching for new sounds and new modes of expression, working through changes in a style first proposed by Sonny Rollins, but taken to new intensity by the New York underground of the 60s. That sound is summed up here perfectly by Ayler, Gary Peacock, and Sunny Murray – working together with an edgey brilliance, on classic tracks that include "Ghosts: First Variation", "Ghosts: Second Variation", "The Wizard", and "Spirits". CD