Search - Marc Ribot :: Spiritual Unity

Primal free jazz classics for a new century

Troy Collins | Lancaster, PA United States | 05/18/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"One of the original giants of 1960's free jazz, saxophonist Albert Ayler's simple folk melodies and catchy march themes are easily the most instantly recognizable yet curiously the least covered or emulated. Guitarist Marc Ribot's "Spiritual Unity" is an attempt to bring Ayler's music into the future by re-imagining these primal works with an electro-acoustic quartet.



From Tom Waits and Elvis Costello to the Lounge Lizards and John Zorn, Ribot is the consummate Downtown scenester. Following his muse from the early "fake-jazz" of his own Rootless Cosmopolitans to exploring Afro-Cuban rhythms with his Los Cubanos Postizos, Ribot has always had an ear for the primal. Shrek was Ribot's early attempt to translate the energetic qualities of Ayler's passionate acoustic free jazz sensibilities to an electric guitar ensemble. With "Spiritual Unity" Ribot has assembled a quartet that not only mirrors Ayler's own classic quartet line-ups, but even features an original member.



With Henry Grimes, Ayler's original bassist, "Spiritual Unity" has a link to the past that provides a solid conceptual as well as sonic foundation. Despite Grimes' decades long hiatus from performing, he sounds utterly confident here and holds down the bottom end as readily as he uses his arco playing to invoke Ayler's frequent use of violins and cellos in his later music. Drummer Chad Taylor's approach to the intrinsic freedom found in these tunes is one of freely modulated pulse and embodies as much textural coloration as blazing forward momentum. Trumpeter Roy Campbell, a long time admirer of the late Don Cherry (one of Ayler's many horn partners) holds up the front line with splintery abstract glee one moment, somber lyricism the next. It is Ribot's own angular electric guitar improvisations that propel the album into the future however. Utilizing an edgy overdriven sound to conjure Ayler's own primal tenor shreik, Ribot bridges the gap between free jazz saxophone skronk and rock guitar wail.



The tunes themselves are mere melodic skeletons, sketched out head melodies designed for intensive improvisation. Subtly updating the old man's original formula, Ribot has managed to transmit Ayler's timeless folk tunes into the next century. Unconcerned with tricky time changes and complex multipart themes utilized by so many other Downtown improvisers, this session is one of unfettered free blowing. The only non-studio track, the closer "Bells," recorded live at Tonic, is a perfect example of the quartet's methodology. Riding a simple melody from barely audible pointillism to burn out collective improvisation and back again, these four conjure everything from plaintive sing song cadences to frenzied electric melt down.



"Spiritual Unity" not only breathes life into classic post-war free jazz tunes, but provides an easy entrance for those unfamiliar with the folksy delirium of Albert Ayler's oeuvre."

Spirits Rejoice.

Michael Stack | North Chelmsford, MA USA | 07/05/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Marc Ribot's Spiritual Unity is a band put together to explore the music of Albert Ayler, both from a compositional and theoretical standpoint-- this recording, four Ayler pieces and one original by Ribot, are performed with the same sort of frenzied collective improvisation style of Ayler's bands. What's remarkable is that for a band that was relatively recently formed, this quartet (Ribot on guitar, bassist on several early Ayler sessions Henry Grimes, trumpeter Roy Campbell and drummer Chad Taylor) sounds as though they've been doing this for years.



Themes are generally briefly stated, after which frantic collective improvisation begins-- at each point, there is a solo voice, but everyone gets involved in the improvisation. Perhaps most impressive is Grimes, making only his second recording since returning to the music scene, who performs with a self-assured confidence, particularly arco. The album is full of powerful moments (all over), but for me, the best moment is the theme statement of "Truth is Marching In"-- Campbell plays the melody, Ribot counters and harmonies it and Grimes freely associates in arco below. Eventually, Taylor joins in and adds flourishes and emphasis to the points being made. The band switches to a second theme (about four and a half minutes in) before soloing, and you can hear the pure joy in their playing.



All in all, this is a great piece-- you get the impression (particularly from the included live recording, "Bells") that this band would be a monster live and that this is only a snapshot of what their potential is. Recommended."

Spitual unity

Charlie Seale | canyon lake, texas | 09/01/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"marc ribot is one of our most interesting guitars along with bill frisell. ribot has recognized albert ayler as the great jazz composer, improviser, and performer. ayler's compositions are the great dark ones of jazz. perhaps now ribot or frisell should tackle bix beiderbecke's work."