Albert Ayler

Albert Ayler (July 13, 1936–November 1970) was a jazz saxophonist, singer and composer.

Influence

Ayler remains something of a cult artist. "Ghosts"—with its bouncy, sing-song melody (rather reminiscent of a nursery rhyme)—is probably his best known tune, and is something of a free jazz standard, having been covered by Lester Bowie, Gary Windo, Eugene Chadbourne, Joe McPhee, John Tchicai and Ken Vandermark, among others.

Related Topics:
Cult - Nursery rhyme - Free jazz - Standard - Lester Bowie - Gary Windo - Eugene Chadbourne - Joe McPhee - John Tchicai - Ken Vandermark

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Saxophonist Mars Williams led a group called Witches and Devils, which was not only named after an Ayler song, but which covered several of his songs.

Related Topics:
Mars Williams - Witches and Devils

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Peter Brötzmann's "Die Like A Dog Quartet" is a group loosely dedicated to Ayler. Several of their records have been in a series called "Little Birds Have Fast Hearts", a reference to Ayler's youthful nickname.

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In 2005, guitarist Marc Ribot (who has occasionally performed Ayler's songs for some years) released an album dedicated to the ethic of collective improvisation, entitled Spiritual Unity in honor of Ayler's 1964 album of the same name.

Related Topics:
Guitarist - Marc Ribot

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