Cecil Taylor died on April 5, 2018, a connection to remember as the same day as my amputation. I’ve still not finished my hard bop essay, and the connection in the late 50s would be some hard bop sessions and performances with drummer Max Roach, and Taylor’s own hard percussive style.Taylor was regarded as one of the most startling proponents of free jazz along with Ornette Coleman (sax) Don Cherry (trumpet) and Charlie Haden (bass)Taylor’s debut album Jazz Advance in 1956 is often considered as an essential part of anty jazz “core collection” along with the more familiar Miles Davis Kind of Blue and John Coltrane‘s (here they are together on Like Someone in Love) hard bop My Favourite Things and Love Supreme. Taylor did learn composition in college “More than any other jazz artist, Taylor was determined to combine atonal modern classical music with the playfulness and syncopation of jazz.” Marc Meyers, JazzWax, also source of the clip.
One famous debut, Jazz Advance, recorded 1956 released 1957, on iTunes, re-released by Blue Note 1991
One noteable obituary in The Atlantic magazine “The Deceptively Accessible Music of Cecil Taylor ”
RECOMMENDED LISTENING
In addition some songs, not linked, I heard I would recommend: “Excursion On a Wobbly Rail,” The Cecil Taylor Quartet Looking Ahead! The first two songs by Cecil Taylor Quartet At Newport ’57, “Johnny Come Lately” and “Nona’s Blues,” I’m naturally drawn to blues, depression and the Jimmy Bang Blues Project and all, and hard-bop post bop, whatever, the blues are a connection from the gritty urban jazz from Chicago, Kansas City, and New York that is an essential ingredient in hard bop and the advanced jazz of Cecil Taylor and Ornette Coleman. “Nona’s Blues” was the song from his Newport set set that made it onto to the 50th anniversary Newport release.
One remarkable solo set; and get a load of his posture as he takes possession of all 88 keys. Thundering bass, rhythm and timing by Monk out of Tatum…am looking for a video of a performance.
Silent Tongues was the first album of Taylor’s I listened to, looking for something new to hear last week.
Also like JeryJazzMusician a website, from Portland Oregan which was where I started looking for information about Cecil Taylor and Ornette Coleman, when I left the iTunes and Youtube. Mostly abut Jazz but also looking at what else was going on in the 20th century from which this came.
My new tag is “Victor Enns, bringing chaos to order since 1955,” which may make me more disposed to the same principles in art, music and theatre. Today is not a particularly good day for order, judged for chaos pretty fantastic! Now what the hell am I going to do about keeping my stump up? Also my back has a pretty good grip on chaos as well today. Pfft! I figure I got only one thing I got on Cecil Taylor, I’m still breathing!
Odd fact: Taylor played at the White House for President Jimmy Carter, who went directly to talk to him after the performance, which included many stellar musicians. His Atourney General had to get the names of some of his records and where Carter might have them bought.