The New Jazz Musings

The Cricket Front Cover The Cricket was a short-lived "Black Music in Evolution" magazine/fanzine created in 1968 by Amiri Baraka (LeRoi Jones), Larry Neal and AB Spellman. It ran until 1969. Larry Neal wrote an "out-there" review of Pharoah Sanders' record, Karma in 1969. Needless to say, he loved it. In the same edition, Neal also reviewed New Grass from Albert Ayler. That record was most definitely slated; "the rhythm on this album is shitty" and "this album is a failure". To be honest, it's hard to disagree since Ayler's new direction did not work. Ayler wrote a piece in the same magazine (ouch !). I don't plan to comment on this, his motivation, state of mind etc, only reproduce. TO MR JONES - I HAD A VISION Brothers and Sisters, Listen. A few weeks ago I beared witness to my last Miracle; Here it is: Fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his judgement is come. Worship him that made the heaven and earth a...

Albert Ayler New Grass When Albert Ayler released New Grass in 1968, his attempt to move in a new direction pretty much failed. His message on the first track of New Grass seemed genuine. Impulse had signed Ayler towards the end of a previous phase in his career and he was moving in a new direction, fusing his saxophone dynamics and sounds with R&B and (limited) Rock. Below is a review of New Grass by Larry Neal in The Cricket (Black Music in Evolution) magazine/fanzine from 1969. The Cricket was a highly influential Black culture publication and the same edition included an article written by Ayler. Ouch ! This must have hurt, but it was a genuine review and appeal to Ayler by Larry Neal. Neal suggested Impulse were driving Ayler in this more crossover and commercial direction. I don't believe this was the case. Bob Thiele was still at Impulse in 1968 and his only interest in crossover was recording two generations of jazz artists together. NEW GRASS/ALERT AYLER ...

Pharoah Sanders The Cricket was a short-lived "Black Music in Evolution" magazine/fanzine created in 1968 by Amiri Baraka, Larry Neal and AB Spellman. It ran until 1969. Larry Neal wrote an "out-there" review of Sanders' record, Karma in 1969. Needless to say, he loved it. In the same edition, Larry Neal also reviewed New Grass from Albert Ayler. That record was most definitely slated; "the rhythm on this album is shitty" and "this album is a failure". To be honest, it's hard to disagree since Ayler's new direction did not work. I'll post the New Grass review in a future blog. karma/PHAROAH SANDERS The temple had a round spiraling dome and I stood with my father's spirit listening to Pharoah cascade through alcoves and spectrums of light; and yes the light came in many colors, the black shatterings full released, some under spirits churning too. My father had never heard Pharoah in his time so he wept upon hearing him,...