Search - Albert Ayler :: Love Cry

Ayler records many old favorites.

Michael Stack | North Chelmsford, MA USA | 09/15/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Love Cry" is an album that is often spoken poorly of as the beginning of the end for Albert Ayler, the point where he started selling out, take your pick. Such accusations are a bit baseless-- the album, recored in two sessions in 1967, is in many ways a reflection of part of Ayler's live shows. The band, consisting of Ayler on tenor and occasionally alto sax, Don Ayler on trumpet (on roughly half the pieces), Call Cobbs on harpsichord (on about half the tracks), and a rhythm section of Alan Silva on bass and Milford Graves on drums, does basic performances of several favorite AYler themes and a few new pieces-- the themes are performed relatively straight with improvisation being predominantly playing in and around the theme from the horns (with a couple exceptions), while the rhythm section freely associates with the leader.



Admittedly, there's very little of that fierce improv that Ayler made his reputation on, but that makes the music no less valid (nor no more commercial), and in fact, while Ayler subtlely twists and turns about his melodies, with either his brother or Cobbs providing counterpoint or framing, the rhythm section is fiercely inventive. Alan Silva, for his part, is probably the best match on bass for Ayler since the early days of Gary Peacock-- not content to play simple counter or rhythm fixture to Ayler, Silva finds ways to engage in constant dialog. Likewise Graves proves a far more engaging fit for Ayler than Beaver Harris, who had played with him for the better part of the previous year-- Graves puts forth techniques and styles totally unique, finding homes and holes throughout the themes and always remaining engaging in the dialog.



Studio renditions of "Ghosts", "Omega" and "Bells" are welcome additions to the Ayler studio catalog, which is thin compared to his live performances. And with Ayler taking his mouth off the horn on "Love Cry" to let out a bizarre vocal that matches his horn playing, the new material has its share of intrigue to it. The point? This is a really great album, one of the best in Ayler's catalog, and worthy of serious consideration. It does not sound like the earlier material, but it is quite good in its own right. Highly recommended."

Majestic love cry

Jessamine | Free, USA | 01/22/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The album is melodic, rhythmic, chaotic, loose, shocking, emotional, and inspiring. The sound is strange, particularly the tracks where Cal Cobbs plays harpsicord. The harpsichord lends an antique and disjointed sort of feel, like the music is somehow dated and old, yet everything else, particularly Albert's sax and his brother Don's trumpet, screams that this is something new at least during the second half of the album. The album begins with the title track, which harkens to reveille, and it is followed by a series of loose marchs that speed up and slow down at whim, and provide a springboard for very short improvisations. The first six tracks were all recorded at a session in August of 1967, and they all have a very similar feel. I find myself joyfully humming along during the these tracks.



However, the second half of the album is where the real magic happens. These tracks (which include several alternate takes not on the original LP) were all recorded in February of 1968, and feature more extended improvisation and emotion, and Albert's sax is his ragged best - screaming, crying, and and splashing sounds like paint on a canvas. Donald's trumpet is repetitive and hypnotic.



Alan Silva on bass and Milford Graves on drums propel these schizophrenic and swirling marches along, and during the second half of the album provide the Ayler brothers with a template for unbridled improvisation. This is a unique and beautiful album, under-appreciated by many, including some Ayler fans. However, I find it impossible not to get swept up in the these marching medleys and melodies - grinning, screaming and crying all the way."