spirits

After touring Scandinavia with the Cecil Taylor Jazz Unit in 1962-1963, Ayler began imposing his style - which was still considered odd and too innovative by the always conservative purists of jazz of the time - through a number of records of his own. One of the most interesting among them is Spirits, which was recorded in his then classic quintet line up at Atlantic Studios in New York City, February 1964. For the occasion, Ayler recruited some of the finest jazz giants: the album, originally released on Debut, features Norman Howard - a Cleveland based trumpeter who Ayler grew up with - and Henry Grimes and Sunny Murray as a potent rhythm section, with an appearance on bass by Earle Henderson, unknown at the time. ("If you don't dig the music on this album, you should maybe blame yourself as being behind the time" from the original liner notes by Ole Vestergaard Jensen).Track listing - 1. Spirits 2. Witches And Devils 3. Holy, Holy 4. Saints