Love Cry

Albert Ayler | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 15, 1991)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Grp Records
• ASIN: B000003N67
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #254,349 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Love Cry

2. Ghosts

3. Omega

4. Dancing Flowers

5. Bells

6. Love Flower

7. Love Cry II

8. Zion Hill

9. Universal Indians

10. Zion Hill

11. Universal Indians

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ayler records many old favorites., September 15, 2005

By 

Michael Stack (North Chelmsford, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Love Cry (Audio CD)

"Love Cry" is an album that is often spoken poorly of as the beginning of the end for Albert Ayler, the point where he started selling out, take your pick. Such accusations are a bit baseless-- the album, recored in two sessions in 1967, is in many ways a reflection of part of Ayler's live shows. The band, consisting of Ayler on tenor and occasionally alto sax, Don Ayler on trumpet (on roughly half the pieces), Call Cobbs on harpsichord (on about half the tracks), and a rhythm section of Alan Silva on bass and Milford Graves on drums, does basic performances of several favorite AYler themes and a few new pieces-- the themes are performed relatively straight with improvisation being predominantly playing in and around the theme from the horns (with a couple exceptions), while the rhythm section freely associates with the leader.

Admittedly, there's very little of that fierce improv that Ayler made his reputation on, but that makes the music no less valid (nor no more commercial), and in fact, while Ayler subtlely twists and turns about his melodies, with either his brother or Cobbs providing counterpoint or framing, the rhythm section is fiercely inventive. Alan Silva, for his part, is probably the best match on bass for Ayler since the early days of Gary Peacock-- not content to play simple counter or rhythm fixture to Ayler, Silva finds ways to engage in constant dialog. Likewise Graves proves a far more engaging fit for Ayler than Beaver Harris, who had played with him for the better part of the previous year-- Graves puts forth techniques and styles totally unique, finding homes and holes throughout the themes and always remaining engaging in the dialog.

Studio renditions of "Ghosts", "Omega" and "Bells" are welcome additions to the Ayler studio catalog, which is thin compared to his live performances. And with Ayler taking his mouth off the horn on "Love Cry" to let out a bizarre vocal that matches his horn playing, the new material has its share of intrigue to it. The point? This is a really great album, one of the best in Ayler's catalog, and worthy of serious consideration. It does not sound like the earlier material, but it is quite good in its own right. Highly recommended.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The album that helped change my life, July 27, 2000

By 

Gary Gomes - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love Cry (Audio CD)

Around a period of about 6 months between the summer of 1971 and winter of 1971 I encountered free jazz in some of its most extreme forms. I actually purchased this recording around Christmas time of 1971.

The sheer power and enthusiasm in thius recording are incredible. I would consider this group (with bassist Alan Silva and drummer Milford Graves) to be Ayler's best and most radical group. All of the players have unique voices, and the catchiness of some of the pieces are that rare thing -- hummable free jazz!

All the players are extraordinary, but I would mention Graves as a special standout. This is a rare chance to hear one of the greatest innovators in drumming in top form. Unfortunately, he abandoned this style of playing in favor of one that was closer to the great Andrew Cyrille's style, but it would have been fascinating to hear how much further he could have gone with this style.

The compositions and arrangements are incredible adventurous too! Just listen to the "skipped" notes by Albert Ayler in Ghosts and other pieces. Amazing!

In short, an essential free jazz recording, and a recording that changed my life, just in terms of what it was possible to do in music.

Gary Gomes

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Accessible free jazz, February 3, 2003

By 

a superintelligent shade of the color blue (minneapolis) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love Cry (Audio CD)

Lots of free jazz is great music, but very much an aquired taste. Very little of it makes any sense or brings any pleasure to anyone but the cognescenti who are already into it. This album is an exception - the melodies and arrangements are simple, even catchy, but the rhythms and improvisations are phenomenally deep. You can play this for your square friends and they'll laugh out loud, like they would for, say, really great New Orleans marching-band jazz.

Although all the players are wonderful, drummer Milford Graves in particular stands out. His rolling, childlike pulse here is as far beyond the post-bop stylings of Tony Williams and Elvin Jones as those masters were beyond the swing of Jo Jones and Gene Krupa. It was the future of jazz then, and it's still the future now!