Meditations on Albert Ayler - Live at Glenn Miller Café

Henrik Kaldahl, Jazznet

New download only release who was made available for the masses on the 13th of july 2007 to mark the day of Albert Ayler's birthday who would have been 71 years old this year. The people behind this ambitious project are a trio consisting of Luther Thomas on alt saxophone, bells, whistles and hollers, Jair-Rohm Parker Wells on bass and Tony Bianco on drums and cymbals.

Two long numbers is what we as hungry freejazz lovers are being presented of here. The first number called Ghosts/Thruth Is Marching In has a running time of 36 minuttes and 40 seconds and the second number called O Store Gud (How Great Thou Art) runs in on 29 minuttes and 54 seconds – both recorded at Glen Miller Café in Stockholm Sweden on the 8. of march 2007.

This trio does not play cover versions of the music of Albert Ayler but play improvised music inspired by the life, thoughts and music of this amazing artist who changed the jazz community forever and made sure that it would never be the same. Both numbers on this release are absolutely great and nothing but jawdropping – Thomas blows his horn like there was no tomorrow and sounds at times just like the master he so greatly admires, Parker Wells pushes his bass to the limit and yanks the strings with great skills and last there is the the human drum monster in the figure of Bianco. He is a true master on the drums and the absolute star on this release – just try to listen to his drum playing on the first number, only pausing a few times in the nearly 37 minuttes the number lasts, truly amazing and breathtaking.

This release is a worthy tribute to one of the creators of free jazz music, and i cant give it recommendations enough with it on the way. Great music from great musicians – it does not get any better than this.