Albert Ayler

Revelations – The complete ORTF 1970 Fondation Maeght Recordings

Albert Ayler (saxophones, musette, vocals), Mary Maria (saxophone, vocals), Cal Cobbs (piano), Steve Tintweiss (bass), Allen Blairman (drums) Elemental 5990443 (4 discs)

Ayler was arguably the most controversial member of the generation that developed the ‘New Thing’ in the early ’60s. Towards the end of his life he introduced elements of rock and soul on albums like New Grass (1969), but here his ‘purer’ style dominates, with echoes of gospel music and New Orleans marching bands. These performances, available in full for the first time and handsomely packaged, were taped at the arts complex a few miles outside Nice and date from four months before Ayler’s death. The first session on 25 July 1970 (minus Cobbs who was delayed in New York) served as a warm up for the scheduled concert two days later. The band had just a threeminute rehearsal, involving Ayler saying ‘you just start with the bow, then I’ll come in and we’ll go from there.’ Here’s the whole Ayler spectrum, from charming nursery-rhyme-like themes to blistering free-form torrents, while those New Orleans influences emerge in hymn-like dirges and sprightly march tunes. ★★★★★