Since the passing of Roy Ayers this week, there’s been a vibraphone-shaped void in my heart. If you don't recognize the name, you’re likely familiar with Everybody Loves the Sunshine, which has become synonymous with Ayers' signature sound. His passing has resonated globally, with people everywhere reflecting on his pivotal role in shaping jazz, funk, and soul.
I can’t help but think back to this time last year, when I started my spring cleaning with Ayers in my ear. There’s something about the brightness of spring that aligns so naturally with his sultry, yet uplifting grooves. Now, as the sun finally peeks through after a long winter, it feels only right to pay tribute to his legacy with a session of his finest cuts.
Here are my go-to tracks:
The throbbing bass line alone is enough to pull you in, but it’s the seductive harmonies that really keep you hooked. At just under five minutes, Liquid Love feels like a slow, smooth ride. The kind of track that feels perfect to close out an evening with, lingering in the air long after it’s over.
The first time I heard this track was in a dimly lit bar tucked beneath a suit shop, an experience that I can only describe as transformative. Running Away is a funk classic, with an energy that makes it impossible to remain still. It’s far more upbeat than Liquid Love, and even now, as I write this, I can’t resist tapping my feet to its relentless groove.
A personal favorite, Searching evokes the feeling of a late spring morning. It’s slow and meditative, but also full of life and potential. The track builds on itself, layering textures that continuously refresh the sound. It’s one of those songs that gets sweeter the more intentionally you listen to it, rewarding attention with its dynamic shifts.
Not as widely known as some of his other works, Synchronized Vibration is a slower collaboration with Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad. The track is a beautiful intersection of Ayers’ trademark sound and something a bit more experimental. The mellow synths create a vibe that feels both familiar and fresh, offering a different shade of Ayers’ artistry.
There’s no denying the place this track holds in both Ayers’ catalog and in the broader cultural landscape. The iconic synth line that kicks in at six seconds is forever etched in my memory, followed by the piano, which gives way to the rich harmony that feels like sunlight on your skin. The track’s warmth and ease have made it a timeless anthem, one that has the rare ability to feel both intimate and expansive at once.
While Roy Ayers has left us, his music continues to resonate, a living testament to his genius. There’s no better time than now to revisit his catalog and honor the lasting imprint he’s made on music.
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