Mcphee, Joe

Angels Devils + Haints [2 CDs]

Label: CJR Country: USA

"In 1965, shortly after returning home from my military tour as a trumpet player in the 3rd Infantry Division Band, I went to New York City in search of music I had been reading about, the music of Albert Ayler. In a record store on 8th St., as I was checking out a copy of BELLS, a curious clear disc with silk screened graphics on one side, a voice from behind and over my shoulder asked "What do you think of this music?" I responded, "I haven't heard it yet, but this certainly looks interesting." To which the voice replied "That's my brother." Of course it was Donald Ayler, who then told me he was a trumpet player. When I mentioned that I played trumpet as well, he handed me a note with the address for a rehearsal to which he invited me. Unfortunately I had to catch a train back home and my meeting of a lifetime never happened. Although I never did meet Mr. Ayler, I was fortunate to have experienced several of his live performances.

As a personal celebration of the change of the century and the music of Albert and Donald Ayler I proposed a series of concerts in France, which I called THE ALBERT AYLER 2000 PROJECT, consisting of an international bass quartet and me. Mr. Ayler's Impulse recording FOR JOHN COLTRANE (Live at the Village Theater) was clearly a major part of the inspiration for the project, as were memories of the glorious music I heard on July 21st, 1967, at the going home service for John Coltrane, performed by Albert Ayler's quartet and Ornette Coleman's trio. [...]"-Joe McPhee

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