Ghosts (Albert Ayler album)

Ghosts is the second album release by American free jazz saxophonist Albert Ayler's quartet featuring Don Cherry, Gary Peacock and Sonny Murray recorded in Copenhagen in 1964 and first released on the Dutch Debut label then later released on the Freedom label as Vibrations.[1][2]

Ghosts
Studio album by
Albert Ayler Quartet
Released1965
RecordedSeptember 14, 1964 in Copenhagen, Denmark
GenreFree jazz
Length37:35
LabelDebut (Denmark) DEB 144
Freedom AL 1000
ProducerOle Vestegaard Jensen
Albert Ayler chronology
New York Eye and Ear Control
(1964)
Ghosts
(1965)
The Hilversum Session
(1965)
Vibrations Cover

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [3]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide     [4]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz    [5]

The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 3 stars stating: "It helps greatly to have open ears to appreciate this music, although Ayler's jams would become a bit more accessible the following year. Recommended".[3] Michael Toland wrote: "Vibrations is practically a primer on sixties free jazz... Both horn blowers are in top form here, with Cherry blazing on the second version of 'Ghosts' like a man possessed and Ayler powering through the title track as in pursuit of the demons that did it. Vibrations is a fine introduction to the style for free jazz neophytes."[6] Ethan Iverson wrote that Vibrations is "well-recorded and has marvelous playing by all members of the quartet. Don Cherry's casual, unfettered melodies offset Ayler's fulminations perfectly; Gary Peacock's initial virtuosic salvo with Ayler remains one of the glories of his extensive discography."[7]

Track listing

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All compositions by Albert Ayler.

  1. "Ghosts (short version)" - 2:08
  2. "Children" - 6:53
  3. "Holy Spirit" - 8:30
  4. "Ghosts (extended version)" - 7:58
  5. "Vibrations" - 5:00
  6. "Mothers" - 7:06

Personnel

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References

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  1. ^ Albert Ayler discography accessed October 28, 2014
  2. ^ Discogs album entry, accessed October 28, 2014
  3. ^ a b Yanow, S., Allmusic Review accessed October 28, 2014
  4. ^ Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 16. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
  5. ^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (1992). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD, LP and Cassette. Penguin Books. p. 46.
  6. ^ Toland, Michael (May 10, 2019). "Albert Ayler & Don Cherry - Vibrations/Cecil Taylor - Silent Tongues/Art Ensemble of Chicago - Tutankhamun (ORG Music)". bigtakeover.com. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  7. ^ Iverson, Ethan (July 13, 2016). "Albert Ayler at 80". ethaniverson.com. Retrieved August 16, 2020.