[Rackety Sax]

I'd never seen this and it's well worth a look: https://www.bilibili.com/video/av26627589/

Sunny Murray, Gary Peacock, Donald Ayler, Edward Ayler (Albert's father), Maria Parks, and others are interviewed at length.

 

[osloutah]

What a wonderful find. Thanks for sharing.

 

[mrpeebee]

Thanks for sharing Rackety.

Very nice too see this modernist mentioned here (doesn't happen too often)!

 

[Olaf1]

Ayler was so interesting musician and person - thanks for sharing!

 

[Kritavi]

Thanks for posting this, I've wanted to see it.

 

[Lambros]

Thanks for sharing Rackety.

Very nice too see this modernist mentioned here (doesn't happen too often)!

I agree, Peter, and so far this thread picked up some momentum. You should chime in on the Dolphy SBA thread if you haven't done so already.

 

[Rackety Sax]

The sequences at the beginning and end of Edward Ayler searching for Albert's grave were really sad. I wonder if it was the first time he'd gotten up the strength to visit, as he didn't even seem to know what type of tombstone he was looking for or the correct section of the cemetery. Edward survived Albert, his wife, and Donald, who died in 2007. That's a lot of grief to endure. He died in December 2011 at the age of 98: 2012JanMay

 

[Rackety Sax]

Oh rats I almost forgot the most important thing... I see he's playing a Berg mouthpiece, but what kind of horn is it??

 

[mrpeebee]

Oh rats I almost forgot the most important thing... I see he's playing a Berg mouthpiece, but what kind of horn is it??

I've read he had different horns, probably including a Mark VI.

See also this link for some roomers about his death:

Ayler's death

At age 34 Albert Ayler's body washed up from Manhattan's East river. Did he drown? Was there foul play? Was he in with the wrong crowd & did this have anything to do with his bassist (henry grimes') dissappearance from jazz? has this mystery ever been solved?

www.organissimo.org

Lots of versions, including Mafia related things.

 

[Kritavi]

Photos show him either with a Mark VI or a Super Dynaction.

 

[Rackety Sax]

Thanks gentlemen, good to know in a way, but it doesn't really matter (about the horn that is).

Concerning Ayler's mysterious death, I don't dwell on it but I lean to the simplest explanation, accidental or suicidal drowning, but no one really knows, and I doubt anyone ever will know.

The guy behind this film also did I Called Him Morgan, which is really well done. Whereas the Ayler film doesn't dwell on Albert's death, the Morgan film has Lee's death at the center of it. I always assumed I wouldn't ever find out much about the details of Morgan's death, but that film dissects it down to the grittiest detail, and without seeming macabre about it. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.

 

[Kritavi]

I was really moved by this film, just as I am by Albert's music. I would not recommend it to anyone who does not like his music but for those who do it is well worth the time.

 

[tony51]

There’s a new Ayler biography out, reviewed here.

Richard Koloda – ‘Holy Ghost: The Life And Death Of Free Jazz Pioneer Albert Ayler’

Richard Koloda – Holy Ghost: The Life And Death Of Free Jazz Pioneer Albert Ayler(Jawbone Press. 312pp. Book review by Tony Dudley-Evans) There seems to be increased interest in the music of Albert…

londonjazznews.com

 

[John_Dikeman]

There’s a new Ayler biography out, reviewed here.

Richard Koloda – ‘Holy Ghost: The Life And Death Of Free Jazz Pioneer Albert Ayler’

Richard Koloda – Holy Ghost: The Life And Death Of Free Jazz Pioneer Albert Ayler(Jawbone Press. 312pp. Book review by Tony Dudley-Evans) There seems to be increased interest in the music of Albert…

londonjazznews.com

Amazing, and I've been meaning to buy this new book about Ayler...
Spirits Rejoice!: Albert Ayler and his message : Wilson, Peter Niklas: Amazon.nl: Boeken

I guess I've got some ordering and eventual reading to do!

 

[tony51]

I hope that they arrive before your next 12 hour train journey!

 

[John_Dikeman]

I hope that they arrive before your next 12 hour train journey!

Ha yes definitely!

 

[danasgoodstuff]

I saw this in a theater back when it was new and enjoyed it. But everything you really need to know about Albert is there in his music, all the pain and all the joy and all of life really.