Cats Are Grey

Cecil Taylor played at The Concert Hall on June 20th, 2008 as part of the JVC Jazz Festival. Seeing Cecil Taylor solo is always an intense experience. He is one of the founders of “free jazz” and his performances are challenging and complex but also beautiful and mesmerizing.

Cecil Taylor plays the piano differently than anyone else in the world of jazz. At first, he always seems to be pounding the keys randomly, attacking them with an amazing amount of energy and ferocity (sometimes with his elbows). But as his performance continues, usually for over an hour without a break, the density of his playing starts to unravel and you are struck by his subtlety and beauty. Each note, chord or tone cluster he plays, he plays for a reason. A casual listen might sound like loud, meaningless noise, but once you’re entranced by his spell (a state easier to achieve seeing him live than listening to him on record) an incredible amount of drama, mood and emotion open up.

Below is the third piece he played at a concert in Willisau, Switzerland in 2000. While the main piece on this record is the 51 minute opening track, this encore (at 2 minutes) might be a better starting point for those unfamiliar, but interested, in his work. Also of note, he’s playing an Imperial Grand Bosendorfer with 97 keys.

Cecil Taylor will be playing with drummer Tony Oxley at The Village Vanguard from July 15-20 and at The Highline Ballroom on August 29th.