Search - Albert Ayler :: Bells/Prophecy

Free Spirits

Mr. F. E. Perry | UK | 08/17/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is well worth buying just for the 5 tracks which constitute 'Prophecy'. This trio (Albert Ayler-tenor sax, Gary Peacock-bass, & Sunny Murray-drums) played music which breathes as one single unity. Like birds flying as one in the sky - they move as one. In a word it is 'Natural' music - originating from within the innermost spiritual levels of these pioneering musicians. Ayler's style comes from his innermost soul - which he bares unstintingly like one who wears his heart on his sleeve. Here was a man who'd found his own 'sound' and direction and his creativity simply flowed through him. His style even influenced the latter period of John Coltrane & early Pharoah Sanders. Albert was about feelings in his music and also acting as a kind of trance-medium. His playing style therefore is close to that of 'speaking in tongues'. Something beyond his mere mortal self is invoked and floods his music. Playing the sax with a wide vibrato, his sound ranges from the raucous to the harmonic overtones sweetly speaking of other-worldiness. There is a wonderful freedom in this music. Itis the perfect compliment to their CD release 'Spiritual Unity' which, by contrast, is a studio album. Yet that CD's nonetheless 'spiritual' for all of that. The recording and the balance is good on this 'live' album. Albert seems irrepressible! Starting with his march-like tunes he soon enters the 'stream of consciousness' that is his very human sax playing. Whilst his playing is free it is never uncontrolled. Honks and shrill harmonics blend into a uniquely intuitive voice and all add up to an intense inner journey into regions seldom explored by others. Sunny Murray's rhythmless playing is remarkably light, placing quite some emphasis upon his cymbal work and snare drum. Gary Peacock is beautiful - as ever. Seemingly racing all over his bass, his deftly light touch is similarly uninhibited and yet thoughtful, pensive and liberated. This music was considered outrageous in its time and it is no less easy to listen to now 36 years later! But it is a record of a remarkable period in social history and many of us would do well to include something of those very special liberating energies into our modern life via these unique and wonderfully free musical improvisations. Very highly recommended. A true classic of the genre."

Good Early Live Performance

Mr. F. E. Perry | 07/25/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you love Ayler (and I do!), you should own Bells/Prophecy. Bells is essentially a 19 minute free jam with his extended band that was featured on Witches and Devils. Prophecy is a live performance of the Spiritual Unity album, with one additional track. It features the Ayler Trio (Ayler, Peacock and Murray)and is a bit looser than Spiritual Unity, but just as powerful.Anyone who's a fan of Ayler should really seek out the aforementioned Spiritual Unity, along with Vibrations and New York Eye and Ear Control, the latter two which are sadly out of print. These are essential documents of the vision, raw emotion and intensity that was Albert Ayler."

Good Avant-Garde Ayler

Christopher Forbes | Brooklyn,, NY | 01/08/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Albert Ayler was a remarkable musician, even if he was somewhat limited in scope. Much of his most creative period was captured by ESP during the mid sixties in New York, where he almost single handedly created the style of energy jazz that dominated the free jazz scene for almost a decade. Though Ayler only worked in this style for a few years, abandoning it for his larger group work of the late 60's and then finally for an avant-soul music during the last year of his life, these albums have prooved to be some of the most influential recordings to come out of the 60's avant garde. Bells/Prophecy is an excellent album in this style. However, to me, it is less essential than other Ayler albums of the period. One of the biggest problems with the Ayler style was that it was basically limited. Ayler improvised in two manners on these albums, the big toned, gospel influenced ballad manner and the frenetic, overblown free jazz freak out manner. As amazing as these two styles were, they began to show their limitations around the time that this recording was made, so much so that many Ayler recordings of this period tend to sound the same. Add to that the fact that Ayler was using mostly the same personnel on these albums and they begin to sound interchangable. You can hear Ayler straining against the framework at times. In fact, soon after this album was recorded, Ayler started working with his late 60's band, in which he took his radical changes in style and placed them in a context of an almost primitive New Orleans pre-jazz band. So yes, this would be a good album to own if you are interested in Ayler, but I would recommend one of the other ESP albums first as an introduction to this music...perhaps New Work Eye and Ear Control or Vibrations, both of which are stunning albums."