Spirits (Albert Ayler album)

Spirits
File:Spirits (Albert Ayler album).jpg
Studio album by Albert Ayler
Released	1966
Recorded	February 24, 1964 at Atlantic Studios, New York City
Genre	Free jazz
Length	35:35
Label	Debut (Denmark) DEB 146 Freedom AL 1018
Producer	Robert Altshuler and Jørgen Frigaard
Albert Ayler chronology
Ghosts (1965)Ghosts1965 Spirits (1966) Swing Low Sweet Spiritual (1964)Swing Low Sweet Spiritual1964
Witches & Devils Cover
Witches & Devils Cover

Spirits is an album by American free jazz saxophonist Albert Ayler recorded in New York City in 1964 and first released on the Dutch Debut label then later released on the Freedom label as Witches & Devils.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide

The Allmusic review by Thom Jurek awarded the album 3 stars stating "This is a revealing if not completely satisfying recording".

All About Jazz stated "The names on the cover look good: Albert Ayler, Henry Grimes, and Sunny Murray. But somehow the parts never add up, though. Sure, the album's four tunes wiggle plenty, producing the agitated jazz Ayler often preached; but, the motions on Spirits, unlike Ayler's better moments, resolve too very little... True Ayler diehards will undoubtedly gobble this recording up, but those in search of quality best look elsewhere".

Track listing

All compositions by Albert Ayler

1. "Spirits" - 6:35
2. "Witches and Devils" - 11:55
3. "Holy, Holy" - 11:00
4. "Saints" - 6:05

Personnel

• Albert Ayler - tenor saxophone
• Norman Howard - trumpet
• Henry Grimes (tracks 1, 2 & 4), Earle Henderson (track 2 & 3) - bass
• Sonny Murray - drums