Albert Ayler: The Impulse! Years

#albertayler#impulserecords#jazz#jazzrecords#freejazz

[@michaelvalentini4869]

Alex, a much needed video, Ayler's Impulse years are overshadowed by his ESP output and his live recordings on lesser known labels. Albert's Impulse albums are as groundbreaking as his earlier work, he extended ''The New Thing'' like no one else of his generation. I love ''New Grass'', Call Cobbs and Bill Folwell's quirky electric bass, add much to the music, and Ayler still ''speaks in tongues of fire''. The album design and presentation are an added treat!

[@mazzysmusic]

Such a wild record and love that fabulous psychedelic cove art. Right there from 1967. Cool showcase. Love these ❤️‍🔥

[@diamond_marimba]

cover design by Robert and Barbara Flynn

[@gorvo31]

Hey Alex, Wow to be a saxophonist (however good) playing with John Coltrane in the audience! Reminded here of how little Albert I've heard, at least in full albums. Yes, fascinating hearing him on bagpipes, reminded me of nagaswaram, actually. New Grass is the only one I've heard in full, and came as quite a surprise. Thanks for sharing. -Carm

[@gidgetmaurer123]

Albert Ayler is an American treasure. Have many of his records.

[@diamond_marimba]

well said, and perhaps better appreciated outside the US to this day sadly

[@mistery-ed7900]

I have all those. The first two are the best in my opinion. The Last Album was the only one I bought when it was released.

[@christophe-posts]

Really enjoyed this Alex, Ayler was really the first jazz musician that really blew me away. At uni while making, or listening to post-rock or noise, Ayler just became this natural extension, no learning curve, the transition was just seemless. Hearing 'Ghosts' was big moment, the rhythm and melody that underpin every flight and freakout was unlike anything I'd heard, and that provided the hook (or anchor) for you to fully dive-in. I had forgotten all about his wife singing in thise Impulse lps, will have to go back and re-listen to those! Did you enjoy the doc 'My name is Albert Alyer'? Thanks again ✌️

[@diamond_marimba]

been a while since I saw the doc, but I recall the look in aylers eyes, haunting and on edge

[@the-vinyl-dreamscape5084]

Very interesting response video. Your video really got me thinking about how fortunate we are today that labels like….Black Jazz or Impulse (the “house that Trane built") were able to operate outside the usual framework of bottom line accounting that was the basis for most of the music industry. To me, the Impulse was a kind of template (or beacon) for what was/is possible when profits share a place with other (artistic and collective) outcomes for business. Instead of just wide profit margins, a society is left with a rich legacy that has a cultural significance far beyond the short-term balance sheet. Like the concept of a worker cooperative the places other values alongside profit as an outcome. And Impulse certainly produced some beautiful records; both aesthetically and artistically. Thank you for sharing these treasures with us. Shawn.

[@christophe-posts]

I think you've really hit the mark there Shawn, this is the investment that's now completely disappeared from the all the arts in general. People need patronage, funding to have time to create, fail, explore... without it we just end up with these very shallow meaningless waters. It reminds me of a quote when one of the heads of Decca was asked why they bother releasing John Surman LPs when they're so uncommercial, his response was 'because we can, and therefore we should.' Only wish that was an attitude that had survived. We'll be unlikely to ever get someone like Ayler given the resources, time and money to make these kind of essential contributions to culture.

[@christopherkibler511]

Thanks Alex. I do have a CD of New Grass, but not the others shown. Some of the music I think is covered on two compilations that I have, Reevaluations and the Impulse Story. - Chris

[@diamond_marimba]

yes I think you're right

[@twofromthetrunk9932]

Really interesting. Enjoyed the video

[@diamond_marimba]

thanks for stopping by

[@soundofminder]

I was only somewhat familiar with Green Grass as I listened to it when I think Third Man reissued it but it didn’t grab me. The other ones do sound interesting/good. Will seek them out. Love that Bagpipes track, did not know he played that.

[@Vinylly_Found]

Great records Alex. I like Ayler a lot unfortunately don’t have much of his catalog. I don’t see his records often. Cheers!

[@diamond_marimba]

yeah that's true, see the alice/sanders/coltrane at every shop it seems

[@Paneeks1960]

A few of these were naturally new to me Alex. But thanks for the info on each one. Music is the Healing Force sounds cool. You said it was soulful. Is it upbeat throughout the whole album? Thank you for sharing them A~ Rob/Boston

[@diamond_marimba]

yeah Parks is very much in that late 60s hippy vein, brings a different energy but maybe doesn't always work alongside ayler

[@Avalonrick1]

I enjoyed your video. It motivated me to pull out my Albert Ayler albums!

[@diamond_marimba]

excellent, that's the best outcome of making a video

[@seekingathread]

Surprising perhaps but I have only 1 Ayler record and its the Ghosts reissue on Arista Freedom. I have zero answer as to why this is but I will rectify it in time. And true, they are much more attainable than some of the other Impulses.

[@juliusjabbar1011]

l only have one if these lmpulse albums and that's fine. . we can't get everything

[@diamond_marimba]

lies!

[@diamond_marimba]

we are all sinners

[@juliusjabbar1011]

sin's a good mans brother

[@diamond_marimba]

grand funk!

[@Localbandography]

Quite oddly no Ayler Impulse! LPs on the shelves here. Party foul.

[@diamond_marimba]

sherv says you can't have it all, I think you can prove him wrong

[@Localbandography]

@@diamond_marimba😂😂😂