There are few tests as to a jazz fans commitment to free jazz as to one’s commitment to the music of Albert Ayler. His entire life, both spiritually and personally seemed as free and passionate as his music. His all too short career and life is chronicled here by Richard Koloda, who spent 20 years putting the pieces together through various interviews with none less than Albert’s brother Donald.
The book adeptly delivers the trajectory of Ayler’s personal and musical life, giving details of his spiritual upbringing and how his church life had an impact on the rest of his trek on earth. His albums are all well analyzed as are his musical career changes. The controversies of his death (suicide? Mafia?) are finally laid to rest as well, with the book begging to have someone turn into a movie. As passionately written as one of Ayler’s solos.