Produced by Carlos Niño & Dexter Story; featuring production from Ras G, Sa-ra, Madlib, J Dilla, Daedelus, Georgia Anne Muldrow, etc…
Styles: Acid Jazz, Organic Beat Music, Jazz-Funk, Spiritual Jazz, Trip-Hop, Vocal Jazz
Moods: Devotional, Uplifting, Spiritual, Communal, Sunny, Warm, Passionate, Groovy, Triumphant, Conscious
Musical Qualities: Beats, Collage, Rhythmic, Eclectic
Style: Soul (A-Side), Jazz-Funk, Spiritual Jazz (B-Side)
Vibe: Sunny, Uplifting, Communal, Joyful, Anthemic, Passionate
Musical Qualities: Groovy, Lush, Percussive, Rhythmic
Instrumentation: Horns, Vocals, Electric Keyboard, Electric Guitar (played by Sonny Sharrock!), Congas, Drums, Electric Bass
Style: Spiritual Jazz, World Fusion, Soul Jazz
Vibe: Devotional, Communal, Flowing, Peaceful, Warm, Mysterious, Longing, Conscious, Uplifting, Cosmic, Airy, Groovy, Lush, Eclectic
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Percussive, Improvisation, Thematic, Instrumental (Except A1, B3)
Instrumentation: Flute, Harp, Electric Guitar, Mbiri, Upright Bass, Drums, Gong, French Horn, Harmonica, Berimbau, Electric Bass, Percussion
Style: Soul-Jazz, Avant-Garde Big Band, Vocal Jazz
Vibe: Conscious, Communal, Political, Passionate, Poetic, Groovy, Lush
Musical Qualities: Suite, Orchestral, Improvisation, Rhythmic, Spoken Word
Style: Free Funk, Electric Blues, Jazz Fusion
Vibe: Energetic, Triumphant, Angular
Musical Attributes: Improvisation, Complex
Style: Jazz-Funk, Soul Jazz
Vibe: Conscious, Empathetic, Passionate, Groovy, Liberation, Political, Energetic, Warm, Bittersweet, Sunny
Musical Qualities: Percussive, Lush, Polished, Rhythmic, Lyrical, Improvised Sections
Style: Soul Jazz, Singer/Songwriter, Jazz-Funk
Vibe: Conscious, Bittersweet, Political, Uplifting, Sunny, Warm, Urban, Sombre, Poetic, Contemplative, Observant, Passionate, Determined, Confident
Musical Qualities: Groovy, Lush, Spoken Word, Technical
Style: Soul Jazz, Spiritual Jazz
Vibe: Uplifting, Joyful, Anthemic, Communal, Groovy, Spiritual, Spring
Musical Attributes: Complex, Improvisation (Chordal), Rhythmic, Technical, Thematic
Instrumentation: Piano, Upright Bass, Trumpet, Saxophone (Tenor), Flute, Drums, Trombone
One can only imagine how Ayler bringing more commercial styles like R&B, Rock, and Gospel into his avant-garde music messed with critics and fans alike when it came out—the way it looked like commercial pandering to the Free Jazz listeners but was probably still too weird for new listeners. It helps to remember that Ayler came from R&B and went straight to the Free Spiritual Jazz of the early 60s, making Jazz critics highly skeptical skeptical by not climbing the bebop ranks like Coltrane before plunging into freedom. On New Grass, Ayler really started to synthesize the spiritual elements of many forms of Great Black Music, making more accessible music not as a way of selling out, but a way of sharing his beautiful spiritual message and sound with a wider audience. Plus this thing has Bernard Purdie on drums so of course it slaps.
If you dig this LP, I think he succeeded in this sound direction even more on his following albums Love Cry and Music is the Healing Force of the Universe. Albert Ayler was a pure soul that left this world too soon, grateful for the gifts of music and wisdom he left behind.
Style: Organic Beat Music, Jazz Fusion, Future Soul-Jazz
Vibe: Warm, Personal, Groovy, Breezy, Colorful, Eclectic, Comforting
Musical Qualities: Loops, Sampling, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Improvisation, Melodic, Rhythmic
Released in 1972 on Capitol Records Format: LPx2
Released in 2017 on Young Turks Format: 12″ EP
Album Information: Originally released in 1964 on Blue Note Records 1975 United Artists Pressing
“Classic creative bop melodies and golden era beat memories woven into a vibrant new thread of psychedelic soul jazz”
