Healing Force - "Healing Force: The Songs of Albert Ayler"

Healing Force - Oh! Love of Life (Cuneiform 2007)

Healing Force - Healing Force: The Songs of Albert Ayler / Cuneiform

The thing I've always loved about Cuneiform Records is the way in which they introduce their releases. When it comes to the hallowed greats of music, they often tend to look well beyond trite reference points - Zeppelin or Miles Davis or Grandmaster Flash or whatever - to find hallowed artists whose legacies have been worn down by the sands of time. In other words, they're incredibly educational. The occasion is rare when one does not learn at least a little something about the musicians they have dug up.

Albert Ayler is one such case. The Cleveland, Ohio native was one of jazz's most interesting figures but has been doomed to the shadow of John Coltrane's early improvisational work. In fact, Ayler was just as accomplished if not more controversial than the legendary Coltrane. A US Army veteran, Ayler played alto saxophone while stationed in France and then back in LA and Cleveland. As his idiosyncratic style of playing evolved (wherein he used stiff reeds in his tenor sax), he became less welcome by jazz traditionalists. In 1962 he moved to Sweden and recorded with both Swedish and Danish-based groups. The eponymous My Name is Albert Ayler album derives from sessions in Copenhagen during this period.

His best known works were recorded following a return to Stateside in 1964: Spiritual Unity was his breakthrough and Spirits Rejoice followed not long thereafter, but even though Impulse Records signed him in 1966 at Coltrane's behest, Albert Ayler never found a proper home for his "energy music" and in late 1970 he committed suicide in the mist of a depression.

Though his final years were a dramatic descent for him spiritually, Healing Force are determined that his innovative style of playing not be in vain. To this end, they have recorded nine of his songs and put it out there for your consumption. It should be mentioned that these people aren't mere amateurs: Vinny Golia is a composer and professor at the California Institute of the Arts; Aurora Josephson is an accomplished improv singer; Henry Kaiser is a brilliant experimental musician and improvisational guitarist; Mike Keneally had chops enough to back Zappa; Joe Morris owns his own record label and has recorded with the likes of William Parker and Joe Maneri; Damon Smith has recorded with Audiversity favorite Fred Lonberg-Holm; and Weasel Walter founded The Flying Luttenbachers.

Their exceptional talents, though disparate, come together in a way that surely would've impressed even Ayler. "New New Grass / Message from Albert" gives you a brief glimpse of what's to come, but the masterful free-jazz epic "Music is the Healing Force of the Universe" dominates proceedings by standing as the album's albatross, a spectacular track that begins purposefully with Josephson's smooth voice soaring above the flaring saxophone. And then, gradually, it morphs into an otherworldly experience the likes of which Ayler himself must've gone through after experimenting with psychedelics to the point that he once swore he'd seen UFOs. "Japan / Universal Indians" plays on the Eastern themes of the title, and its exotic sound perfectly matches the mystical spirit of its origins. Its wicked guitar solos also probably keep Omar Rodriguez-Lopez up at night wondering why the hell it never seems to be as satisfying for him.

Same goes for the blistering guitar that runs through the heart of "Oh! Love of Life." Josephson's sultry and impassioned vocals are the element that smooths out the guitars and the erratic sax. It is an obvious highlight, and the reason it's here is because, while guitar does tend to dominate the track, the saxophone strays just far enough for you to get a feel of what Ayler was doing in the late 60s.

Though many of the songs here are similar, none quite so encapsulate what's going on with this record. "New Generation" is the most standard-sounding track on here, a lilting piano line tickling the ears before crashing into a track that is dominated suddenly switches to a line I swear I've heard before... But I've already mentioned Air once today, so forget it. It ends in a glorious cacophony that will appeal to people who are less interested in the jazz side of things and more interested in the "What can I dance to?" side of things. Whatever the case, this album is a tremendous success. Kaiser is quoted for the press release. Here is what he had to say.

"Through meditations, dreams, and visions, the players on this project were given the message to once again attempt to send the people of earth a message of love, peace, and spiritual understanding. We selected a representative set of tunes for this material and essentially let it play itself through us ... We hope you like this record." It doesn't feel like enough for these ears. Once again, Cuneiform has educated and once again they have rewarded followers with a superb free-jazz release that will hopefully pique interest in the legacy of Albert Ayler.