New York, NY — July 7, 2025 — WKCR 89.9 FM is excited to announce a 10 hour broadcast on Saturday, July 13, in celebration of the life and music of avant-garde saxophonist Albert Ayler (1936–1970). Known for his radical reimagining of jazz, Ayler forged a deeply spiritual and emotionally raw sound that redefined the genre and remains unmatched to this day.
Born in Cleveland, Ayler was introduced to the saxophone by his father and played his first gigs in church. As a teenager, he joined Lloyd Pearson and the Counts of Rhythm and caught the attention of blues great Little Walter, with whom he toured. His musical evolution continued during his service in the U.S. Army, where he switched to tenor sax, jammed with Stanley Turrentine, and immersed himself in the recordings of John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, and Ornette Coleman—influences that helped shape his singular voice.
After stints in Europe and early recordings like Something Different!!!!! and My Name Is Albert Ayler, he returned to the U.S. and quickly became a central figure in the free jazz movement. His 1964 masterpiece Spiritual Unity, recorded with Gary Peacock and Sunny Murray, became the flagship release of Bernard Stollman’s ESP-Disk label and remains a cornerstone of avant-garde jazz. That same year, he collaborated with Don Cherry and others on New York Eye and Ear Control, a landmark in collective improvisation.
Ayler’s music fused jazz with spirituals, marches, and folk melodies—resulting in ecstatic works like Ghosts, The Hilversum Session, and Truth Is Marching In. His live performances were intense and polarizing, with fervent group improvisations that pushed beyond traditional harmony and melody into realms of pure sound.
Coltrane not only mentored Ayler but requested his group play at his funeral in 1967—an honor Ayler shared with Ornette Coleman. Later that year, Ayler recorded for Impulse! Records, releasing Albert Ayler in Greenwich Village and debuting his piece “For John Coltrane.”
Though his life ended tragically in 1970 at the age of 34, Ayler’s legacy lives on. His bold sound continues to inspire generations of musicians—from jazz and noise to rock and experimental music.
Listeners can tune in to 89.9FM in New York or stream the tribute worldwide at wkcr.org. Follow WKCR on Instagram (@wkcr) and Twitter (@WKCRFM) for updates on this and future broadcasts.
