the albert ayler boxed set is scary

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

that engraved wooden box- u have to jimmy it open, and its like opening a pandoras box to the 7th gateway of hell. then inside it only gets weirder: that little pressed flower in its own little enveleope, what r u supposed 2 do w/ that? r u supposed to smoke it while listening to the music? what is its significance as to, the box? there are also some photos of him as a baby in it, and also a copy of that red SLUGS poster which also shows lee morgan and the 'jazz communicators' . and or course sun ra and his asto-infinity arkestra every monday. all this set is i think is bootlegs which have been bought out and issued, right? i dont know if im ready to actually listen 2 the cds yet, i am scared

[ep1str0phy]

From a Chicago Tribune article:

"The dried flower is a dogwood bloom," Waggener explained in an e-mail. "It is said that the cross Jesus was crucified on was made of a dogwood tree. The legend goes that after the crucifixion, dogwood trees would no longer grow strong enough to crucify a person on. Dogwood blooms thereafter grew stained with blood in the center and with holes punched into the ends of their petals to symbolize the nail holes in the cross."

The flower, like the box's title, underscores the deeply spiritual nature of Ayler's music.

The box is "deep" like Ayler. Get a little bit in, and you're solid gone. I spent a whole week hearing nothing but...

Edited November 22, 2006 by ep1str0phy

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

now im twice as scared

[Simon Weil]

I think the box is plastic - at least in the edition I've got - called a "spirit box" from discussions here earlier (as I recall). I don't think you want to get too wound up about the packaging. I mean faux (plastic) spirit boxes aren't spirit boxes. The music, on the other hand...

Speaks about things you won't hear elsewhere...

Simon Weil

[rockefeller center]

[brownie]

The box is plastic, not wood. And the music is definitely not plastic.

chewy if you're not really familiar with Ayler's music, I suggest you start listening to disc 3 or 4.

The truth will be marching on!

[erhodes]

all this set is i think is bootlegs which have been bought out and issued, right?

No.

A good deal of the material has never been commercially issued, boot or otherwise. The Cellar Cafe material was issued on InRespect and that was, indeed, a boot. The September 1964 Monmartre material was issued on Ayler records and that was positioned as a legitimate release. A lot...but not all...of the rest was circulated on the Ayler tree that originated on the Coltrane listserv.

[alocispepraluger102]

NUR back in july did a 15 hour tribute to ayler. soon to be retired i am looking forward to investigating every nuance of the revenant set, and the nur broadcast, as well.