Improvisation – 1984

Cecil Taylor with the Art Ensemble Of Chicago

A rare encounter between the pianist and the unique group

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Pianist Cecil Taylor (1929-2018) was an avant-garde master who took jazz to its extreme, creating atonal ruminations during marathon concerts, sometimes making the piano sound like a thunderstorm.

The Art Ensemble Of Chicago (comprised of trumpeter Lester Bowie, Roscoe Mitchell and Joseph Jarman on reeds, bassist Malachi Favors, and drummer Don Moye) created what they called “ancient to the future” music that could go in any direction while always sounding original.

Taylor and the Art Ensemble only recorded together once, in 1991, making this 1984 meeting rather unique.

Their set lasted over three hours with this fascinating and relatively thoughtful ten-minute section focusing on Taylor and his interplay with Bowie.

-Scott Yanow

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