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| This wild, R&B-influenced set from the ’60s avant-garde cult hero (and featuring groove-intensive drummer Bernard Purdie) is available again at last. |
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| 1 New Grass/Message from Albert |
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| 2 New Generation |
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| 3 Sun Watcher |
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| 4 New Ghosts |
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| 5 Heart Love |
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| 6 Everybody's Movin' |
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| 7 Free at Last! |
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Album Review
Possibly the most notorious Albert Ayler release and universally misunderstood (i.e., hated) by fans and critics alike. When "New Grass" was released in 1968 it received a hostile outcry of sellout. Listening to "New Grass" in hindsight it must be taken into account that even though commercial elements are apparent -- a soul horn section, backup singers, boogaloo drumming from Bernard Purdie, and electric rock bass -- Ayler's vocals and tenor playing could hardly gain commercial radio exposure at any time. It's likely Impulse prodded Ayler to move into a more pronounced blues-oriented sound and he went willingly. Ayler wasn't a stranger to R&B or gutbucket blues; he had started his career playing saxophone with Chicago bluesman Little Walter in the '50s. Ayler's screeching tone remains intact on "New Grass" but it's mixed with definite R&B riffs like the obvious honkin' nod to "Slippin And Sliddin" on "New Generation." Ayler's attempt to explain himself on the opening track "Message From Albert Ayler" reveals his impending dread over controversy concerning the material. It is a problem many artists face at some point in their careers when trying to move in a different direction, no matter what the reason; they may end up losing a majority of their audience by taking a foreign approach. The fact that this material remains out of print in the United States speaks volumes for the lasting commercial contempt still attributed to this album, not only by fans and critics but the record company. Proving that "New Grass" wasn't commercial when it was first released and remains less so decades later. ~ Al Campbell, All Music Guide
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• Biography
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