Angels is the second track on the side B on the album Spirits Rejoice by Albert Ayler, recorded and released in 1965.

Recorded live at New York’s Judson Hall in 1965, Spirits Rejoice is one of Albert Ayler´s wildest, noisiest albums, partly because it’s one of the very few that teams him with another saxophonist, altoist Charles Tyler. It’s also one of the earliest recordings to feature Ayler´s brother Don playing an amateurish but expressive trumpet, and the ensemble is further expanded by using bassists Henry Grimes and Bary Peacock together on three of the five tracks; plus, the rubato “Angels” finds Ayler interacting with Call Cobbs´ harpsichord in an odd, twinkling evocation of the spiritual spheres. Aside from that more spacious reflection, most of the album is given over to furious ensemble interaction and hard-blowing solos that always place in-the-moment passion above standard jazz technique. [read more]

Albert Ayler – Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone
Donald Ayler – Trumpet
Call Cobbs – Harp, Harpichord
Henry Grimes – Bass
Sunny Muray – Drums, Percussion
Gary Peacock – Bass
Charles Tyler – Alto Saxophone, Unknown Contributor Role