Tag: CecilTaylor

One Too Many Salty Swift and Not Goodbye

One Too Many Salty Swift and Not Goodbye by Cecil Taylor.

A live album recorded in 1978 in Stuttgart, Germany. The Cecil Taylor Unit at the time was comprised of Cecil Taylor, Piano; Jimmy Lyons, Alto Saxophone; Raphe Malik, Trumpet; Ramsey Ameen, Violin; Sirone, Bass; and Ronald Shannon Jackson, drums.

When Ronald Shannon Jackson and the Decoding Society’s album Barbeque Dog came out, I read a review, perhaps in Rolling Stone, and thought it was something I should be listening to. After listening, I become intrigued by his unique style of drumming and where he was coming from. I was listening to other work that I had found by Jackson, including Ornette’s Dancing in Your Head. 
The albums on Hat Hut had always intrigued me, with their odd cardboard box sleeves, cryptic art, and arty photos. So, seeing Shannon Jackson in the Cecil Taylor Unit, I picked this up, not particularly knowing what to expect.

The fierceness of the first two tracks, with Taylor, Ameen, Sirone, and Jackson surprises me to this day. Strapped to the mast of a ship, surrounded by a storm, waves lashing over the deck, not sure if you will make it through.

Music that sounds like their lives depended on making it.

Beautiful and frightening.

My life, and the way I listened to music, was never quite the same after.

#TodaysCommuteSoundtrack #CecilTaylor #CecilTaylorUnit #Sirone #JimmyLyons #RapheMalik #RamseyAmeen #RonaldShannonJackson

2017-07-14 Nefertiti the Beautiful One is Come

Nefertiti, the Beautiful One Has Come by Cecil Taylor, Jimmy Lyons, and Sunny Murray.

One of the key recordings of Cecil Taylor’s career, and one of the key documents of “Free Jazz”, the concerts recorded at Cafe Montmartre in Copenhagen, Denmark in November of 1962 are the first recorded expressions of the true vision Taylor would pursue (and continues to pursue). Astonishing and beautiful. To have been in the audience!

#TodaysCommuteSoundtrack #CecilTaylor #JimmyLyons #SunnyMurray

2017-07-13 Jazz Advance

Jazz Advance by Cecil Taylor, Denis Charles, Steve Lacy, and Buell Neidlinger.

Continuing my investigation into Cecil Taylor’s early work, with his recorded debut from 1956. More interesting, than compelling, you can hear Taylor is still working out his concepts. And the rest of the band is trying to figure out, “If he’s playing THAT, what do we play?” The forms, at least in terms of time, are largely respected by Taylor, but the content of his solos often strays. Lacy is primarily playing Bebop runs over the changes. And the rhythm section is keeping time and walking the chords.

#TodaysCommuteSoundtrack #CecilTaylor #DenisCharles #SteveLacy #BuellNeidlinger

2017-07-12 Cell Walk for Celeste

Cell Walk for Celeste by Cecil Taylor with Buell Neidlinger, Denis Charles, and Archie Shepp.

A year after the “World of Cecil Taylor” sessions and the band is a lot tighter. Shepp has matured and is incorporating Taylor’s right hand melodic expressions and rhythmic motifs into his playing. Unfortunately, Taylor is saddled with a painfully out of tune piano and sits out much of this session. Two of the tracks are Bass/Sax duets. The piano issue is particularly egregious on the relatively straight forward covers of the Mercer/Ellington tune Jumpin’ Punkins with a larger band including Billy Higgins, Clark Terry, Roswell Rudd, Steve Lacy, and Charles Davis. Unless you’re curious what it would sound like to hear Taylor playing honky tonk piano, avoid those two tracks.

#CecilTaylor #BuellNeidlinger #DenisCharles #ArchieShepp #BillyHiggins #ClarkTerry #RoswellRudd #SteveLacy #CharlesDavis #CellWallkForCeleste

2017-07-11 The World of Cecil Taylor

The World of Cecil Taylor by Cecil Taylor, Buell Neidlinger, Sunny Murray, Denis Charles, and Archie Shepp.

Since I listened to alternate takes from the sessions for this album yesterday, I thought I should revisit the album proper today.

First, whomever picked the takes to use on the album was right. While the tracks on “Air” have their charms, these stand head and shoulders above. From Murray’s drum call to action to Cecil’s soft intro to track 2, these are invigorating, dramatic, and astounding.

#TodaysCommuteSoundtrack #CecilTaylor #BuellNeidlinger #SunnyMurray #DenisCharles #ArchieShepp #TheWorldOfCecilTaylor

2017-07-10 Air

Air by Cecil Taylor, Buell Neidlinger, Sunny Murray, Archie Shepp, and Denis Charles.

Recorded in 1960, this album is additional material from the sessions for, “The World of Cecil Taylor”. The first two tracks, a trio with Taylor, Neidlinger, and Murray, are finger tapping, steering wheel pounding, goodness. A 23 year old Archie Shepp joins on track 3, and at first seems a bit lost, deploying idiomatic Jazz and Blues expressions. As he settles in, and begins to find his place in the maelstrom, things get interesting. By Take 24 of “Air” he’s really getting it.

#TodaysCommuteSoundtrack #CecilTaylor #BuellNeidlinger #SunnyMurray #ArchieShepp #DenisCharles #Air