New Grass

New Grass is a 1968 album by jazz saxophonist Albert Ayler released on Impulse! Records.^[1]

The album mixed Ayler's vocals and tenor saxplaying with elements from R&B and other genres, including a soul horn section, backing singers, rock electric bass, and boogaloo drumming. It met a hostile reception from fans and critics alike on its release, with many accusing Ayler of "selling out". All Music Guide's Al Campbell nevertheless calls the album "misunderstood", speculating that Impulse had encouraged Ayler to go in a more commercial direction, and he had willingly acquiesced.^[1]

Track listing

1. "Message From Albert/New Grass" (Albert Ayler, Bert de Coteaux) – 3:53
2. "New Generation" (Ayler, Rose Marie McCoy, Mary Maria Parks – 5:06
3. "Sun Watcher" (Ayler, Robin Syler) – 7:29
4. "New Ghosts" (Ayler, Parks) – 4:10
5. "Heart Love" (Ayler, Parks) – 5:32
6. "Everybody's Movin'" (Ayler, McCoy, Parks) – 3:43
7. "Free At Last" (Ayler, McCoy, Parks) – 3:08

Personnel

Performance

• Albert Ayler – recitation, tenor saxophone, vocals, whistling
• Garnett Brown – trombone
• Call Cobbs – electric harpsichord, harp, organ, piano
• Burt Collins – trumpet
• Bill Folwell – bass, electric bass
• Buddy Lucas – bass, baritone saxophone
• Rose Marie McCoy – vocals
• Joe Newman – trumpet
• Seldon Powell – flute, tenor sax
• Bernard "Pretty" Purdie – drums
• Soul Singers – vocals

Production

References