Ayler, Albert - In Greenwich Village - LP

In the mid-Õ60s, Albert Ayler found himself at the center of major transformations within jazz. On his albums for ESP-DiskÕ, his delivery was radically aggressive and his tone blisteringÑaiming for something beyond the New Thing. His music would be further energized when (at the behest of John Coltrane) Bob Thiele signed him to Impulse! As Ayler told The Plain Dealer at the time, ÒItÕs not about notes anymore. ItÕs a soundÑa feeling. The approach weÕre taking will discontinue the use of the word Ôjazz.ÕÓ
In Greenwich Village, AylerÕs first LP on Impulse!, perfectly captures the Cleveland-born saxophonistÕs radiant intensity. Sourced from a pair of live engagementsÑFebruary Õ67 at the Village Theatre on New YorkÕs Lower East Side and December Õ66 at the Village VanguardÑthese recordings show an improved clarity in production and performance.
Both sets feature two basses (including Alan Silva and Henry Grimes) which allowed the ensemble to go in different harmonic directions while maintaining an organic unity. Of particular interest are ÒFor John Coltrane,Ó a tribute to AylerÕs mentor who would pass later that year, and ÒTruth Is Marching InÓ where trumpeter Donald Ayler joins his brother to celebrate and ultimately deconstruct several jazz traditions to stunning effect.
Vibrant in sound and vision, Albert AylerÕs In Greenwich Village is a landmark statement in free jazz and a career high-point for this truly original artist. Superior Viaduct is honored to present this classic album on vinyl for the first time domestically in 30 years.