Albert Ayler With Don Cherry: 1964 Recordings First Visit Completed

In 2020 the ezz-thetics label released the two-disc CD European Recordings Autumn 1964 Revisited which comprised the six November 9th 1964 radio recordings made in Hilversum, the Netherlands, by the quartet of Albert Ayler, cornetist Don Cherry, bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Sunny Murray, "Angels," "C.A.C.." "Ghosts." "Infant Happiness" (composed by Don Cherry), "Spirits" and "No Name." That album also contained nine other recordings by the same quartet, made in Copenhagen, Denmark, in September 1964. In 2016, the HATology label, a precursor of ezz-thetics, had released European Radio Studio Recordings which contained all six of the Hilversum recordings plus three of the Copenhagen recordings heard on the 2020 ezz-thetics album, "Vibrations," "Saints," and "Spirits."" The Hilversum radio recordings had first been released in 1980 on the Dutch Osmosis label, and on several other labels later.

If that makes it seem that those three albums resemble Russian dolls which fit inside of one another, then 1964 Recordings. First Visit Completed is going to be the biggest doll of all to date. In addition to the tracks on the 2020 album, it includes all six tracks from the album Ghosts (Debut, 1965)—a.k.a. Vibrations (Arista Freedom, 1975)—thus making it a complete collection of all the recordings made by the Ayler quartet with Cherry.

In total, the album's twenty-one tracks comprise four versions of "Spirits," three each of "Vibrations" and "Ghosts," two each of "Saints," Mothers" and "Children" and one each of "Angels," "C.A.C.." "Infant Happiness," "No Name" and "Holy Spirit." The differing versions of the repeated tracks allow the listener to appreciate the interactions of the players, particularly those between Ayler and Cherry, which make the pieces sound very different; for instance, the four versions of "Spirits" have running times of 8:33, 1:07 (theme only), 4:43 and 9:10. While Ayler and Cherry were undoubtedly very well suited as soloists, Cherry told a journalist that working with Ayler had been wonderful because "he didn't know you were there"; although that comment seems to debunk the notion that improvising players listen to each other and react accordingly, listening to the two players solo together leads one to believe they did react to one another, whether knowingly or at some deeper level. As it comprises the entire oeuvre of this quartet, this album is sure to become a treasured record of them together. Priceless.

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