"...tenorman Albert Ayler has probably, next to Coltrane and Cecil Taylor, held the most sway on the direction of improvisation from a "thematic" or phrase-based" approach to that of a purely sonic one."- Clifford Allen, All About Jazz

BELLS RETURNS TO VINYL THIS NOVEMBER WITH A B-SIDE FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER: the performance briefly and accidentally substituted for "Spirits" on an early vinyl edition of Spiritual Unity. It is the same tune known as "Vibrations" on the album of that title on Arista/Freedom (AKA Ghosts when issued on Debut) and as "[tune Q]2" on the Revenant box set Holy Ghost.

“Bells” is the celebrated set that overjoyed the audience at New York’s Town Hall on May 1st, 1965. It’s a ferocious, twenty-minute romp containing excellent group improvisation and Ayler's signature military-themed melodies. The performance marks an important shift in Albert’s music: towards blurring the lines between composition and improvisation. It is also the debut recording of Charles Tyler.

Personnel:

A:1: Albert Ayler, tenor saxophone; Donald Ayler, trumpet; Charles Tyler, alto saxophone; Lewis Worrell, bass; Sunny Murray, drums. Recorded live at Town Hall, New York City, May 1, 1965.Engineer: Richard Alderson

B:1: Albert Ayler, tenor saxophone; Gary Peacock, bass; Sunny Murray, drums.Recorded at Variety Arts Studio, New York City,July 10, 1964. Engineer: unknown. Sound file/mastering courtesy of Martin Davidson