Albert Ayler (1936-1970) was an American tenor saxophonist whose innovations were a major influence on free jazz. His 1964 album Spiritual Unity for ESP-Disk Records remains an essential record of 1960s jazz. His ecstatic music featured simple march-like themes alternating with wild improvisations, and his song 'Ghosts' became a jazz standard. He influenced John Coltrane and died in 1970 at age 34.