Spiritual Unity
What is Spiritual Unity? Spiritual Unity is a group formed by Marc Ribot dedicated to re-creating and re-imagining the music of the great saxophonist Albert Ayler, one of the pillars of modern jazz. To Ribot, playing Ayler's music is a "ritual process, through improvisation, of experiencing and presenting the rawest moment of musical creation."
Spiritual Unity features the great bassist Henry Grimes, who played on many of Ayler's seminal recordings from the 1960s. After Grimes returned to the jazz scene in 2003, Ribot knew that the time had come to realize his long-time dream of forming a collective band to play this music. The group's 2005 album released on PI Recordings is only the second release to feature Grimes since his return to music. Spiritual Unity also features eclectic trumpeter Roy Campbell, Jr. and drummer Chad Taylor, best known for his work with the Chicago Underground.
The album features one original by Ribot and four songs by Ayler. Ribot's "Invocation" opens the album and is exactly that - an invocation of the Ayler spirit. This is followed by "Spirits," one of Ayler's catchy and instantly recognizable tunes. "Truth is Marching In" is next, another of Ayler's signature tracks, featuring a long, mournful intro that suddenly breaks into a warped march. This is followed by the more spacious "Saints." The album closer "Bells," recorded live at Tonic the night before the studio session, proves that the band succeeds both live and in the studio.
Marc Ribot Trio
Marc Ribot's experimental trio with Henry Grimes and Chad Taylor draws on the improvising telepathy developed performing together in the years working together as Spiritual Unity to reach new heights and depths of free/punk/jazz. The trio format allows for greater compositional flexibility.
"To a packed, sold out hall, resplendent in an academic way, these fine gentlemen not only blew the blues away, they blew the world's current strife and woe away and replaced them, for a stunning temporal moment, with the absolute possibility of ecstasy and joy." - All About Jazz review of the Trio at Bishopgates Institute-London 2011
“…mixing improv with snippets from the John Coltrane and Albert Ayler back catalogue and adding a dollop of delta blues. The energy level was fearsome, and even the most expansive train of thought was delivered with concentrated venom.” - Financial Times Int’l review Bishopgates Institute, London 10/30/11
“Ribot led a fiery fine power trio with Grimes and Chad Taylor…and Ribot was in his best, feral-smart, break-two-strings fettle.” – Santa Barbara Independent review Guelph Jazz Fest 2010
Video:
Audio (mp3):
Spiritual Unity Live in Willisau (Excerpt)
Marc Ribot Trio Live in Basel (Excerpt)
Photos:
Discography:
2005: Spiritual Unity (Pi Recordings)
Reviews for Marc Ribot Trio in London Nov 2011:
The Financial Times (download PDF)
The Guardian (download PDF)
All About Jazz (download PDF)
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