Bells is a live album by American free jazz saxophonist Albert Ayler recorded at The Town Hall in New York City in 1965 and first released as a single sided LP on the ESP-Disk label.Albert Ayler discography accessed October 29, 2014Albert Ayler sessionography, accessed October 29, 2014 The album was released in many variations including clear and coloured vinyl and with a variety of colored covers and also on CD combined with Ayler’s live Prophecy album.ESP-Disk catalog, accessed October 29, 2014Ayler.com album entry, accessed October 29, 2014
Reception
A critical contemporary review in the magazine Down Beat declined to award any stars to the album.Down Beat: September 23, 1965 vol. 32, no. 20
The Allmusic review by Michael G. Nastos states: "As Albert Ayler recorded several definitive recordings before or after this one, and due to the very short length of Bells, it cannot be considered a magnum opus. But it does contain music played by his most powerful unit, a small window into the mind and heart of the most iconic maverick in the free jazz movement, and a magnet for discussion that lingers on well past his death".Nastos, M. G., Allmusic Review accessed October 28, 2014
The authors of The Penguin Guide to Jazz awarded the album 3 stars, stating that it was "a token that here was music so powerful you'd probably only manage 20 minutes of it before switching off the hi-fi and taking deep gulps of air."
All About Jazz commented: "Part of the lasting brilliance of Bells is that the group is much more roughshod at this early stage, the ensemble not yet formed into a cohesive, balanced whole but a rickety patchwork, its seams (and therefore process) showing proudly through".Allen, C., Albert Ayler: Prophecy/Bells Review, July 14, 2005
Track listing All compositions by Albert Ayler "Bells" - 20:03
Personnel Albert Ayler - tenor saxophone Donald Ayler - trumpet Charles Tyler - alto saxophone Lewis Worrell - bass Sonny Murray - drums
References