Albert Ayler: Live Greenwich Village To Love Cry Revisited

When Ezz-thetics' previous Albert Ayler album More Lost Performances Revisited was released in December 2023, it felt as if it might be the label's final Ayler release; not only was it the eleventh of the series but, rather than featuring an Ayler album, it comprised recordings of significant points in Ayler's career such as his playing live with the Cecil Taylor Trio in Copenhagen in 1962, or at John Coltrane's funeral in 1967.

Now comes another release that does feature Ayler albums and has a commendable rationale for its existence—it includes the saxophonist's last sessions with his younger brother, trumpeter Donald Ayler. Six years younger than his brother, Don started learning alto saxophone but became frustrated that he could not match his brother's sound and mobility; Albert advised him to play trumpet instead and, after concentrated practice, it was not long until Don, aged twenty-three, was good enough to join his brother's quintet, with Bells (ESP-Disk, 1965) being the first album on which he played.

The two albums which comprise the current release, Live Greenwich Village (Impulse, 1967) and Love Cry (Impulse, 1968), were the last of Albert Ayler's recordings to feature his brother. In his time with his brother's quintet, Don played on many recordings worthy of attention, including such fine albums as Spirits Rejoice (ESP-Disk, 1970), At Slug's Saloon Volumes 1 and 2 (Base Record, 1992) and Lorrach / Paris 1966 (Hat MUSICS, 1982).

As is true of Albert playing alone but moreso of Albert and Don together, the Aylers are instantly recognizable right from the first notes they blow on the live "Truth is Marching In." When both of them are blowing flat-out for an entire piece such as this, any notion of soloing can be forgotten in favor of the whole ensemble playing their hearts out together. The end result makes thrilling, adrenalin-fueled listening. By way of contrast, next up is the gospel-tinged "Our Prayer," a much-recorded Don Ayler composition, which displays the brothers' more subdued, reflective side.

The studio-recorded album Love Cry, was Don's very last recording with his brother. His mental health was increasingly unsteady and not long after this recording he was hospitalized. Although changes of style lay ahead for Albert, foreshadowed by his use of his voice on two tracks here, the album still included such favorites as "Love Cry" (which had been performed at Coltrane's funeral the month before, along with "Truth is Marching In" and "Our Prayer"), "Ghosts" and "Bells." Aside from such pieces, the album comprised shorter pieces without much extended soloing, the exceptions being two longer pieces. "Zion Hill" and "Universal Indians," recorded at the last session the brothers played together. These are long enough for saxophone and trumpet to stretch out and blow, just as they did at their peak. An excellent way for the brothers to end their collaboration.

Unless, the new Ezz-thetics First Visit label is sitting on an unreleased recording by the Ayler brothers, it seems very likely that this album will be the last Ezz-thetics release to feature Albert and Don Ayler together.