Albert Ayler Quintet - 1970 Live

Review by Amy Do

The album 1970 by Albert Ayler Quintet is a masterpiece of free jazz. The album features Ayler on tenor saxophone, with a quintet of musicians that includes trumpeter Don Cherry, bassist Gary Peacock, drummer Sunny Murray, and violinist Michael Sampson. The recording captures the group's live performance at the Berlin Jazz Festival in November 1970, just a few months before Ayler's untimely death.

The album opens with "Bells," a 20-minute tour de force that showcases Ayler's raw, emotive style on the tenor saxophone. The quintet's interplay is mesmerizing, with Cherry's trumpet adding a haunting counterpoint to Ayler's saxophone lines. Peacock's bass and Murray's drums provide a propulsive rhythm that keeps the piece moving forward.

Other highlights on the album include "Love Cry," a beautiful ballad that features Ayler's saxophone soaring over Sampson's violin; and "Ghosts," a frenetic, free-form piece that showcases the quintet's improvisational prowess.

Summary by Amy Do

1970 is a must-have for fans of free jazz and avant-garde music. Ayler's playing is powerful and emotional, and the quintet's musicianship is truly remarkable. The album is a testament to Ayler's enduring legacy as one of the most innovative and influential saxophonists in jazz history.