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Mars Williams: An Ayler Xmas Volume 2
BySaxophonist Mars Williams released An Ayler Xmas (Soul What Records, 2017) and is back with Volume 2 this year. Albert Ayler and Christmas music. The mash-up works, just like cranberry sauce and turkey. Recorded live in Chicago with his Ayler tribute band Witches And Devils and in Vienna with an Austrian band that includes Christof Kurzmann (Orchestra 33 1/3, Made To Break) and Didi Kern (Mats Gustafsson and DEK Trio). The music sizzles with nostalgia for the innocence of youth, both the lost naiveté of holidays past and the origins of free jazz.
Just as Albert Ayler could resurrect "La Marseillaise" sans irony, Williams performs "Carol Of The Drum," or as you might know it, "The Little Drummer Boy." Both musicians never met a march they didn't like. Josh Berman's cornet sits in for Donald Ayler and Fred Lonberg-Holm's cello for Michel Sampson's violin. And yes, there are Ayler flights of sound as the performance explodes in "Bells" or "Love Cry," which encircles "Christmas Wrapping," a song Williams recorded with the post-punk/new wave band The Waitresses in 1981. The entire recording shouts (metaphorically) "Joy To The World."
Track Listing
Xmas Medley; O Tannenbaum/Spirits/12 Days Of Christmas; Love Cry/Christmas Wrapping; Carol Of The Drum/Bells/O Come Emmanuel/Joy To The World; Universal Indians/We Wish You A Merry Xmas.
Personnel
Mars Williams
saxophoneChicago band Witches & Devils: Mars Williams: saxophones, toy instruments; Josh Berman: cornet; Fred Lonberg- Holm: cello; Jim Baker: piano, viola, arp synth; Kent Kessler: bass; Brian Sandstrom: bass, guitar, trumpet; Steve Hunt: drums; Vienna band: Mars Williams: saxophones, toy instruments; Thomas Berghammer: trumpet; Hermann Stangassinger: bass; Didi Kern: drums, percussion; Christof Kurzmann: Lloopp, vocals.
Album information
Title: An Ayler Xmas Volume 2 | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: Soul What Records/ESP Disk
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About Mars Williams
Instrument: Saxophone
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