ALBERT AYLER - Music Is The Healing Force Of The Universe (1970-2003) RM | Serie : LP Reproduction | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Music Is the Healing Force of the Universe is a powerful and often ignored recording from the Albert Ayler catalog. It is a prophetic statement dealing with guilt, confusion, sorrow, and hopes of redemption. A powerful rhythm section of Bobby Few on piano, Stafford James and James Folwell on bass, (Folwell on electric fender bass), and Muhammad Ali on drums manage to take a backseat to the prominent vocals of Ayler's business associate and girlfriend Mary Parks, listed on the record as Mary Maria. Her emotional vocals are featured on "Music Is the Healing Force of the Universe," "Man Is Like a Tree," and "Island Harvest." Throughout these tracks Maria sounds as if she is pleading and reasoning not just universally, but directly with Ayler, trying to convince him of the positive aspects of life and her evangelistic shouts of "be healed" on the title track can prove uncomfortable. "Masonic Inborn" is an instrumental track finding Ayler not only overdubbing cacophonous bagpipe solos but also playing ocarina. "Oh Love Is Life" is Ayler's sole vocal performance on the album, his words and vocal delivery are truly frightening. This is a dreamlike plea to the sources haunting his soul to succumb to universal love. Following the intensity of the previous five tracks, the album closes with the hazy gutbucket blues of "Drudgery" reminiscent of the New Grass sessions, adding guitarist Henry Vestine of the blues rock band Canned Heat. Ayler's musical curtain was eerily closing the same way it started -- playing the blues of his high school summer vacations as a member of Little Walter's band. Music Is the Healing Force of the Universe, along with tracks that were released posthumously on the Last Album, were recorded at the same session. While not easy listening, they complete an important portrait of a man facing a life and death inner struggle beyond the boundaries of jazz. The inevitable outcome culminated on November 25, 1970, when Ayler's drowned body was found floating in New York's East River. Al Campbell
Tracklist :
1     Music Is the Healing Force of the Universe 8'37
Mary Maria Parks / Mary Parks
2     Masonic Inborn, Pt. 1 12'08
Mary Maria Parks / Mary Parks
3     A Man Is Like a Tree 4'31
Mary Maria Parks / Mary Parks
4     Oh! Love of Life 3'48
Mary Maria Parks / Mary Parks
5     Island Harvest 5'01
Mary Maria Parks / Mary Parks
6     Drudgery 8'09
Bill Folwell / William Folwell / Mary Maria Parks / Mary Parks / Henry Vestine
Credits :
Bass – Bill Folwell, Stafford James
Drums – Muhammad Ali
Guitar – Henry Vestine
Piano – Bobby Few
Tenor Saxophone – Albert Ayler (pistas: 1, 3 to 6)
Vocals – Mary Maria (pistas: 1, 3, 5)
Notas.
"Recorded at Plaza Sound Studios, New York City, August 26, 27, 28 and 29, 1969. Throughout the album Bill Folwell's bass is heard on the left channel, Stafford James' on the right. On 'Masonic Inborn (Part 1)', Albert Ayler plays two bagpipe parts employing overdubbing. Henry Vestine plays both guitar parts, employing overdubbing on 'Drudgery'".