Albert Ayler, "New Grass"

It's difficult for me to recall the context in which it was made, but although it is certainly a stretch from Ayler's earlier records, it doesn't sound remotely commercial to me. If it's a sellout, it's a startlingly inept one.

"The next giant Revenant Records project is a box set focusing on the late free jazz pioneer Albert Ayler. "This is definitely as big as the (Charley) Patton box for us," Blackwood says. Titled "Holy Ghost" — and penciled in for a fall 2004 release — the projected eight-CD collection is slated to include extensive liner notes, never-before-seen photographs of Ayler and his bands, and hours of never-before-released material, including Ayler's legendary performance at John Coltrane's funeral."

!!!!!

The real killer is that's not the rarest stuff in the set. Geek-separatist jazzbo's have circulated (very, very quietly circualted) that tape for years. (I haven't heard it, I' not really in that league) but Blackwood tells me there's stuff in the set that's quite literally UNHEARD, tapes that were recorded and then largely forgotten about.

The Coltrane funeral performance was with Ornette, wasn't it?

Also, re: New Grass, it's pretty average. Nothing special, just basic R&B moves. It's kind of worth it for the very bizarre first couple minutes, though. The record starts off with a lengthy bout of unaccompanied skronk, making one think it's just a new Ayler record, in the vein of his previous work. Then there's this strange monologue from Ayler, addressing the listener, talking about "change" and so on, coming across almost as an apologia for what is to follow.

If your a big Ayler freak it's totally worth having, but I wouldn't expend too much energy seeking it out if your only mildly curious or whatever.

Also completely unaffordable!

Of course that Revenant set sounds mouth-watering, but I'm also slightly put off by the whole fetish object collector-scum aura that hangs over these things - not to mention the goddamm price!

"Trane was the father. Pharoah was the son. I was the holy ghost."

The Ayler box is slated for an October release, and it appears to have expanded in size from the eight CDs mentioned above to nine.

Amateurist wrote: If it's a sellout, it's a startlingly inept one.

True. I can't imagine hardcore Ayler fans digging the JB-esque backing band (yes, w/female chorus), nor can I imagine soul-funk fans getting beyond the skronk and the weirdness.

I'm a neophyte as regards pretty much all aspects of this album, but I absolutely love it. I just got it at the weekend (cheap) and as just as Ernest P. said last 2 years ago, I can't turn it off - it's so much fun. It makes me want to get up and dance (& occasionally actually do so). I love it.

I bought this out of John Menzies in Hamilton way back in 1978 for 99p. The woman at the counter looked at me as though I had some terrible, unspeakable disease.

Wish I could get as enthusiastic about it but I'm afraid that it's an idea which looks better than it actually sounds.

They had it in John Menzies? Those were the days. And you try telling young people that...

i loved the one track i heard on last.fm (silly vocals/lyrics and all).

There was a whole load of Impulse cutouts that Menzies were obviously keen to get rid of. I also picked up Pharaoh's Black Unity, Gil Evans/Cecil Taylor's Into The Hot and Ornette Coleman's Crisis!

Jings!

Down in the basement in Listen Records in Renfield Street circa '79 they had ALL the Sun Ras on Impulse (not all of which have resurfaced on CD, and certainly not in their original sleeves) going for 49p each! I now refer to that day's findings as my "pension plan."

New Grass actually has its moments, but the disappointment is more in how relatively dull it is than anything cringe-inducing. It's definitely worth it if you can find it used.

What's kind of infuriating, though, is how much space on the box set is given over to lengthy New Grass outtakes, all of which are cringe-inducing, and none of which should have seen the light of day. And in all of the reviews I've read of the set, not a single one has mentioned these tracks.

Gosh, I always thought the first track on this was one of the purest expressions of joy ever created. What's not to like?

Sara Sara OTM, it's really not as wacky sounding as one might hope when reading free sax + r n'b band, most of it sounds pretty pedestrian.

"What's not to like?" = KILL THEM

My favorite Ayler record.

Just try and make me sit down while it's on.

IMHO the best "weird" Ayler material is the stuff recorded with Henry Vestine of Canned Heat on godzilla guitars.

Oh yeah, the session where Archie Shepp walked into the studio, went up to Vestine and told him, "I liked your playing until I saw what you looked like."

Having Albert Ayler and Henry Vestine on the same track sounds like it would be great, but it isn't really

OTM, sadly.

But you know Vestine only got the gig because Bobby Gillespie was in detention at school for drawing comedy sideburns in his Janet and John workbook.

Bob: "Aye, some fuckin' guy ca'd Henry Simmit, or sumthin', goat tae play oan Al's record instead 'o me"

It's a disgrace. Especially when you consider he could have got Ken Sykora for a fiver.

Still at least Albert had a tootle on the bagpipes, bless him... don't know what Jack McLaughlin would have said about his playing mind you

"Ah'm no hivin' him oan ma Thingummyjig!" an outraged McLaughlin spluttered. "He's no paid his dues!"

"How do you expect the Finlay McTeuchter Dancers to do a reel to that racket!"

"Aye son, ye huv tae put a wee bit mair puff intae the bag thair."

Coming soon: the long lost Ayler/Company Policy tapes.

you know, i think new grass is a lot of fun. big lurks is right, its a very joyous record, especially New Ghosts and New Generation. and its not so much 'weird' as just odd - the collision of R&B and Ayler's shrieking horn doesn't quite work - but i *like how it doesn't work, if that makes sense?

The trouble is it doesn't work at not working, even.

then that's what i like.

Dave Marsh once praised it to the skies (in an Addicted to Noise piece, i think); that alone ought to be a deal-breaker for many i imagine.

That actually makes me want to revisit it.

Dave Marsh is a tottering tensile twat and I wouldn't trust him to give me back the correct change in Fulham Broadway Londis.

Maybe Girls Aloud should cover the whole album.

hahaha...kick out the jams, Marcello!

I don't know what that "KILL THEM ALL" means, but "Dave Marsh is a tottering tensile twat" rules.

It's like there's this great R&B song going on, and the saxophonist gets so pumped that he just loses it with excitement and taps into some deep structural post-language joy magnificence or something.

this looks like a job for...TTT-Man!!!

xpost - Depends when Marsh praised it - in 1970, he liked (or pretended to like) a lot of stuff he'd later change his mind about, after he was no longer sharing a house with Lester Bangs and living on a diet of speed and Vernor's ginger ale.

nah, this article was from the late '90s (i think). can't seem to find the old ATN site, tho...