3. Albert Ayler TrioSpiritual Unity
Yeah, that’s just – ah – what can you say! The music really speaks for itself. The emotions, when I listen to it loud, I get lost. It puts me in a state of mind that is beautiful. There is a special connection between yourself and the music. Spiritual Unity is a really appropriate title for the record. But if you look from a historical perspective it’s extremely interesting, because this is really one of the first records where the role of the drummer is changed. Sunny Murray is completely leaving the traditional role as the time-keeper. It’s about energy and communication. If you try to listen to it non-emotionally, it’s extremely interesting to hear how the bass, the drums, and the saxophone are working, leaving all the traditional ways, the values of the instrument in the group. The bass is the centre, it’s really pushing the music forward while the drums are all over the place and the sax is on top. It’s scary what it can do to you. I’ve heard it many, many times and it still freaks me out. It’s deep.
I have so many influences, but of course there are a couple of musicians who really affect me deeply and all of the artists on this list have influenced me very heavily… And of course Ayler was one of the first musicians I heard who was making jazz with a strong emotional and spiritual message. It was quite a shock. The first time I heard Peter Brötzmann, Albert Ayler and John Coltrane, that’s when I really understood that music can actually change things. It was the beginning of the end!
