R.I.P. Cecil Taylor (1929 - 2018)

[Darkness_Fish]

One of the innovators of free jazz, and general all-round giant of piano abuse, has passed away after a pretty decent innings.

http://www.freejazzblog.org/2018/04/cec ... -2018.html

[George P. Smackers]

Didn't know. Just had Unit Structures on last night, drove the family from the room.

[take5_d_shorterer]

Even with the sound off, you can tell this is a new way of playing the instrument.


It seems as much an example of modern dance as strictly a music performance.

















Regarding the "free" in free jazz.

Billy Hart: Cecil Taylor asked me to play with him once. He said, “Billy, the reason I want you to play in my band is so that you can play what you wanna play. Because that’s what my band requires, is a drummer that plays exactly what he wants to play.”

He said, “If you want to sit in my band and not play anything, you can do that in my band. You can just sit there and not play anything.”

So I’m sitting there scratching my head, trying to figure out what this motherfucker is saying. And while I’m doing that, he looks over at me and says, “Look, man. There have been many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many great jazz bands, but very few innovative jazz bands. And in every innovative jazz band, the drummer has been free.”

https://ethaniverson.com/interviews/int ... illy-hart/

[algroth]

Damn. R.I.P.

[Nervous Ned]

A very good innings, particularly for a jazz musician. I’ve got a fair few of his records and I’ve come to the conclusion that my favourites are the ones where he is just teetering on the verge of completely free form playing.
I’ve heard several of his solo records where I’m not sure he’s even playing with his hands!! Not for me I’m afraid.
My favourites are albums like Jazz Advance and the sessions with Buell Neidlinger. There’s enough experimentation to give the music an edge, but enough convention to avoid excess.
Rest in (free form) peace Cecil!

[Six String]

I have several albums by him but to really experience that music he created, in concert was tge way to go. Something about being riveted to my seat not knowing what or when the next note was coming. I sat close enough to see his sheet music which looked like hieroglyphics mixed with child-like whimsy to my untrained eyes. A true original in jazz and his arrival on the scene is like a sign post of jazz. There is piano playing before Cecil Taylor and then there's piano playing after Cecil.

[Darkness_Fish]

Buell Neidlinger

Who died last month

[clive gash]

[Fonz]

I was just playing the Montmatrre set last week. Great stuff.

RIP

[mentalist (slight return)]

I have some of his work released on the FMP label. Challenging! I found it most hit home when listening to while tired. Seemed to seep through some of those barriers.

[Nervous Ned]

Amazingly there was a brief obituary on Today (Radio 4) yesterday. Amongst other things they said that his style was unique or something similar. Yet playing ‘Love For Sale’ (awful title and cover btw) it’s pretty obvious that, to begin with, he followed Monk’s lead and took it that much further.
Great stuff.

[fange]

What an innings. RIP Mr Taylor.

[fange]

Buell Neidlinger

Who died last month

Damn.

[joels344]

RIP to an absolute legend.