ALBERT AYLER 1970 Diplomat Hotel

[Guest youmustbe]

I remember going to the Diplomat Hotel, which I think was on 44th or 43rd Street in Manhattan and hearing Albert with Juma Santos on bass, that drummer from SF Smith, I forget his first name...he was on a Sonny Simmons record.

If I remember, somembody was recording it, but I've never come accross it or seen it in any discography. I don't have the box, but I don't think it's in it, so I guess it doesn't exist anymore. Does it?

[clifford_thornton]

Paul Smith, right. It's mentioned in the liners to the Simmons Arhoolie record that the drummer was working with Ayler.

I don't know of recordings of this gig surfacing anywhere, but it would be interesting to hear with that rhythm section.

[Christiern]

The homophobic creep returns. :tdown

[clifford_thornton]

But with an interesting question.

[AllenLowe]

kinda like the fo' day creep -

[B. Clugston]

Ben Young and Carlos Kase`s gigography list an Ayler date at the Diplomat Hotel in 1968, but nothing for 1970. The scheduled performers (uncomfirmed) listed for the `68 gig were Ayler, Don Ayler, Mary Maria, John or Paul Smith, Milford Graves (second show only) and a batch of singers. No recording is indicated.

[marcello]

in April 1968 Ayler presented “Universal Message: Rainbow of Love” at NYC’s Hotel Diplomat – an opera that featured his sextet, his brother Donald’s poetry, five singers, and dancers. Sometime afterwards, Donald’s mental and alcohol problems led Ayler to fire him from the band

[RDK]

The homophobic creep returns. :tdown

You know, Chris, I find this accusation ironic coming from someone who, rightly or wrongly, must repeatedly defend himself from charges of antisemitism. I don't think I've ever seen what I assume is an offending post by Youmustbe, only posts proclaiming your animosity towards him. But here you go, disrupting an otherwise interesting thread.

[paul secor]

in April 1968 Ayler presented “Universal Message: Rainbow of Love” at NYC’s Hotel Diplomat – an opera that featured his sextet, his brother Donald’s poetry, five singers, and dancers. Sometime afterwards, Donald’s mental and alcohol problems led Ayler to fire him from the band

Haven't been able to access the Atler gigography mentioned by B. Clugston, but I attended an Ayler concert in Buffalo in the spring of 1968. I believe it was at the Allbright-Knox Museum, and it was filmed. Perhaps there was another concert at the University of Buffalo after that one, and perhaps it was televised. Or perhaps the Allbright-Knox concert is the one referred to in the poster above, and there was just some confusion.

edited for spelling

Edited September 19, 2008 by paul secor

[clifford_thornton]

Albert Ayler and Clyfford Still - two of my absolute favorite artists, irrespective of medium.

[Guest youmustbe]

Maybe it was the 68 gig and I just don't remember the dancers etc. It was in afternoon, I remember that. I might be confused because I ran into him on the street in Brooklyn just before he died. I remember he looked spiffy in a suit and tie.

[Guest youmustbe]

I hope to do a tribute to Albert in NYC sometime in 2009 with wadad smith, Joe Lovano, Eddie Gomez and Milford Graves.