Cecil Taylor Unit

Cecil Taylor Unit

ASIN: B0000030CU

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Whether he's playing solo piano or working in a group, Cecil Taylor creates whirlwinds of sound, layers of intricately detailed percussive patterns that form into long overlapping arcs and result in works of extraordinary scale and density. However controversial or demanding his work has been, in a career that stretches back to the early 1950s, it's rooted deeply in the jazz tradition of kinetic rhythmic dialogue. On this sextet recording from 1978, Taylor is joined by alto saxophonist Jimmy Lyons, trumpeter Raphé Malik, violinist Ramsey Ameen, bassist Sirone, and drummer Ronald Shannon Jackson. Taylor's complex methodology here involves both written scores and free improvisation, but the elements are integrated into thick group textures in which lines of demarcation become blurred.

There are three pieces, long by the standards of jazz and short by the standards of Taylor's live performances since the mid-'60s. "Idut" and "Serdab" are each about 15 minutes, "Holiday en Masque" nearly 30. All are densely concentrated rather than diffuse. "Idut" is a study in pointillist fragments, while "Serdab" seems focused on expanding rhythmic motifs. "Holiday en Masque" develops a teeming group language with long tension curves. Taylor and Lyons had been working together steadily since 1961, and their interplay approaches the telepathic. What is most astonishing about Taylor's group playing is the way it touches on, extends, and forms every part of the work. A brilliant musical raconteur, Taylor is simultaneously engaged in conversation with each member of the ensemble, in dialogue with drums and bass, commenting on a horn's phrase, offering new materials, and forging links between disparate threads. When the other parts fall away to solo piano, all the topics of the group discourse are still present, but with a sharpened clarity. --Stuart Broomer

Cecil Taylor Unit,Cecil Taylor,New World Records,Avant-Garde,Avant-Garde Jazz,Free Jazz,Jazz,Jazz Music,Pop

Average customer rating:

unit structures indeed !

Good summation of the free Jazz spirit through piano

life-changing

Very poor indeed.

the jokes on you

Unit Structures
Cecil Taylor
Manufacturer: Blue Note Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000005HD4
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Steps
Enter, Evening (Soft Line Structure)
Enter, Evening (Alt. Take)
Unit Structure/As Of A Now/Section
Tales (8 Whisps)

Amazon.com

Uncompromising and endlessly controversial, Cecil Taylor's percussive, intellectual approach to jazz composition, improvisation and piano remain largely outside the mainstream after more than 40 years. A classically trained pianist prior to discovering the music of Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, and Horace Silver, Taylor soon developed a percussive, clustered, impressionistic style that, while taking Monk as a harmonic starting point, charts a course straight for the stratosphere. Indeed, Taylor frequently seems to have dispensed with both melody and form, yet he's brilliant at conveying a broad complex of emotions, from introspection to tenderness to rage.

Unit Structures, through its use of two bassists (Henry Grimes and Alan Silva) and the two-reed front of Ken McIntyre and Taylor-mainstay Jimmy Lyons, suggests a "double band." Yet such structures become almost meaningless in Taylor's world: it is all about energy and exploration. Punctuated by percussive bursts and melodic eruptions, Unit Structures is, despite its title, impressionistic and whimsical, although devoid of all standard structures and romance. Instead, Taylor pushes his band to explore the limits of improvisation where nothing--neither form, nor melody, nor structure--is a given. Still challenging listening after nearly four decades. --Fred Goodman

Album Details

Japanese 20Bit Re-Issue.

Customer Reviews:

unit structures indeed !.......2007-06-23

There should be no misunderstanding - Cecil Taylor meant it when he called this album "Unit Structures". That these structures are experimental in nature does not make them less "structured". By respecting his audience, Taylor is not content with repeating old structures (12, 16, 32 bars). He experiments with different elements of structure - the structure of instrumentation, of the melodic development, of the dynamics. You will notice how on each piece the instrumental structure changes - piano and drums, a bass joins, the drums drop out and a second bass joins, etc. The two takes of "enter evening" prove that the musicians were provided with a basic melodic line which is the starting point and the point of departure for their collective experiments.
We should be thankful for artists such as Taylor who respect us enough to attempt to find something new for us, who believe that we deserve a broadening of the musical spectrum.
For the edventureous experiments, for the many beautiful moments, and for the communicative energies - this is a definite 5 star album worth having and listening to.

Good summation of the free Jazz spirit through piano.......2007-06-02

Although nothing here is as shocking as Albert Ayler's forays into structure/less jazz improvisation--nor as revolutionary as Ornette Coleman's hard-charging free-bop assault; Cecil Taylor introduces a comparatively difficult to manipulate instrument to free jazz; the piano. His fingers sound like they are that of a millipede on some of these tracks because I honestly cannot distinguish notes at times. Instead everything is clustered in spasmic leaps. The great part about this seeming indulgence, however, is that there is a well-studied classicism here. Strings pop up and fade away. Best of all, in true Blue Note fashion, it is a live recording with all of the great explosive energy of 60's freak out jazz. I would recommend this for progressive enthusiasts of any music who are looking for a change from brass-based free jazz, with a touch of classical, or even avant rock tendencies. That is not to say this CD is cosmic. Quite the opposite actually--this is rooted in the hard sounds of jazz and amidst all of its beauty, it is also menacing at times. Solid for sure. I would recommend Ornette Coleman's live at the Golden Circle or any of the Ayler 'Spirit' series if unrestrained energy is what you are looking for. If you prefer the mathematician approach of Thelonious Monk and wonder what he would have attempted if pumped full of endorphins and 60's counterculture; start with Unit Structures.

life-changing.......2007-01-27

as a jazz pianist (of both traditional and avantgarde jazz), i consider listening to this album for the first time one of the major moments in my life that changed my perception of music. i don't understand how people can think this is meaningless, as this album has opened my mind to so many things and made me appreciate the value of cecil's emotional playing. powerful and breathtaking stuff.

Very poor indeed........2005-11-24

What a racket. Give this a miss. Like being dragged through a hedge backwards.

the jokes on you.......2005-10-04

is this guy putting us on? all his albums sound the same and the reviews do as well-if your not hip enough or intellectual enough than you can't understand this deep moving experience. stick to music you enjoy, not what your supposed to "understand"-this music is for the few people recording it, not those who want music than can experience and feel something from.

Average customer rating:

A Very Short Review
"Unit" Is Taylor 's Greatest Band

Cecil Taylor Unit
Cecil Taylor
Manufacturer: New World Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000030CU
Release Date: 1996-06-18

Tracks:

Idut
Serdab
Holiday En Masque

Amazon.com

Whether he's playing solo piano or working in a group, Cecil Taylor creates whirlwinds of sound, layers of intricately detailed percussive patterns that form into long overlapping arcs and result in works of extraordinary scale and density. However controversial or demanding his work has been, in a career that stretches back to the early 1950s, it's rooted deeply in the jazz tradition of kinetic rhythmic dialogue. On this sextet recording from 1978, Taylor is joined by alto saxophonist Jimmy Lyons, trumpeter Raphé Malik, violinist Ramsey Ameen, bassist Sirone, and drummer Ronald Shannon Jackson. Taylor's complex methodology here involves both written scores and free improvisation, but the elements are integrated into thick group textures in which lines of demarcation become blurred.

Customer Reviews:

A Very Short Review.......2004-01-09

A friend of mine, after listening to this album, said that it was, "Rude... rude and beautiful."

Which I think is the best description of Mr. Taylor's work that I've ever heard. I was lucky enough to catch the late 70's-through-late-80's Units live quite a few times- and in all honesty, the full impact of a Taylor performance *can't* really be captured by recording technology, even as it is now.

But this stunning album comes very close to doing so.

"Unit" Is Taylor 's Greatest Band.......2000-09-17

This edition of The Cecil Taylor Unit, featured here on the album of the same name, is definitely the pianist's greatest group. This Unit, consisting of Jimmy Lyons on alto sax, Raphe Malik on trumpet, Ramsey Ameen on violin, Sirone on bass and Ronald Shannon Jackson on drums, also recorded the two classic albums "3 Phasis" and "One Too Many Salty Swift And Not Goodbye" (see my review). "The Cecil Taylor Unit" features three extended compositions -- "Idut" and "Serdab" each logging in at over 14 minutes, and "Holiday En Masque" the longest at more than 29 minutes. As with other Taylor recordings, this music is very creative, involved, complex, distinctive, and will be difficult to listen to for many out there. But those who can get passed the "noise" will be rewarded with some very personal musical revelations. A final note about this album, for all those people out there who think that the NEA was just used to fund controversial artists like Andres Serrano and Robert Mapplethrope, this album would not have been possible without grants from the NEA and the Rockefeller Foundation.

Average customer rating:

Dark Unto Themselves
Cecil Taylor Unit
Manufacturer: Tokuma
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000MM0D7Q
Release Date: 2007-04-09

Tracks:

Streams and Chorus of Seed

Album Details

24bit Digitally Remastered Japanese Limited Edition Issue of the Album Classic in a Deluxe, Miniaturized LP Sleeve Replica of the Original Vinyl Album Artwork.

Average customer rating:

Fire from The Unit
An incredible performance
Someone Ken Burns couldn't relate back to Louis or Bird!
Uncool Jazz

Dark Unto Themselves
Cecil Taylor Unit
Manufacturer: Enja
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000005C68
Release Date: 2001-06-12

Tracks:

Streams And Chorus Of Seed

Customer Reviews:

Fire from The Unit.......2005-02-16

This is a very strong date from the Cecil Taylor Unit, circa 1976, a time when Cecil's music had already fully blossomed into what it is today -- dense, unbridled, frenetic, passionate, and complex. For those not accustomed to avant-garde (kind of a misnomer now since Cecil's been recording since the 50's) or free jazz, it's safe to say his music can be "difficult" and it's certainly not for everyone, with accessibility inversely proportional to the number of sidemen in his band. Even a die hard fan like myself (particularly in my older, more mellow age) is partial to his solo, duo, and trio work.

And yet, while this might not be the place to start, this is nevertheless an outstanding live concert featuring the Unit as quintet, with Raphe Malik on trumpet, Jimmy Lyons on alto sax, David S. Ware on tenor, and Marc Edwards on drums. It's classic Cecil -- a single tune ("Stream and Chorus of Seed") of more than an hour of non-stop, breakneck piano playing, with the horn players taking turns as soloists. Raphe Malik dominates the first quarter blasting and trilling away on trumpet; David Ware takes over at the 20 minute mark with squallering and upper register explorations easily on par with latter day Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, Albert Ayler, or David Gilmore; Jimmy Lyons' trademark alto sound emerges at minute 35 (Cecil treasured Lyons, who played alongside for more than two decades); and then by minute 46 the horns yield (out of sheer exhaustion?) to Cecil and the rhythm section to round out the final 15 minutes of the concert. Malik and Ware are incendiary, while Edwards sticks to fairly conventional accompaniment underneath it all. Since the horns rarely play atop one another (except at the start and very end), the music is not as dense and cluttered as on other dates, such as Unit Structures or Winged Serpent (Sliding Quadrants), other noteworthy sessions where things are about as freewheeling as free jazz can be. Most of the music here is therefore really trio music (piano, drums, horn), in the tradition of the classic Live at Monmartre date from 1962 (Nefertiti, the Beautiful One Has Come), but now fully matured (and with much better recording quality).

Definitely among Cecil's very best group outings.

An incredible performance.......2004-03-24

Owning almost all of Cecil Taylors recorded output, it is difficult to pinpoint one high point. This is it though. A continous performance lasting just over one hour with J. Lyons, Raphe Malik, Marc Edwards and the incredible David S. Ware. Strong soloing and ensemble passages throughout it sometimes becomes a challenge to find where solo's and individual thoughts cease and ensemble notated work begins. Being a 1976 performance this also serves as a prelude to the wonderful recordings that David s. Ware would go on to record as a leader with his own bands. Highly recommended and challenging music that bears repeated listening and investigation.

Someone Ken Burns couldn't relate back to Louis or Bird!.......2001-07-09

Doesn't it seem like every artist mentioned on Ken Burns Jazz was related back to Louis Armstrong or Charlie Parker? Dark unto themselves is an absolutley staggering work of art by the master of the avant-garde movement. One track-62 minutes in length. I always say for people just discovering Cecil Taylor, borrow his records from a friend before purchase, because his music can be quite difficult to grasp at first. After that though, buy all the Cecil you can get your greasy mitts on! He's an absolutely brilliant musician and should get more credit where it is due.

Uncool Jazz.......1998-11-26

If you are already 'advanced' in Taylors music or simply want to confront yourself with something rather overwhelming (or disturbing, if you are not into such 'Free' Jazz) try 'Dark to themselves'. Especially sax- & trombone-enthusiasts should not miss it, for it contains brilliant solos of R. Malik, D.S. Ware and (of course!) Jimmy Lyons. This music burns and screams in a way, which is most obviously not made for a cocktail party. But to an open ear it might turn out to be a revelation.

Average customer rating:

Akisakila
Cecil Taylor Unit
Manufacturer: Trio
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Avant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000248FG
Release Date: 1999-05-28

Tracks:

Bulu Akisakira Kutala, Pt. 1

Tracks:

Bulu Akisakira Kutala, Pt. 2

The Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz Volume 5 Revised

Average customer rating:

The Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz Volume 5 Revised
Sonny Rollins , Wes Montgomery , Miles Davis , Bill Evans Trio , Cecil Taylor Unit , John Coltrane , Ornette Coleman , and World Saxophone Quartet
Manufacturer: CBS Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000FOZZ2E

Product Description

The Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz Volume 5 Revised // 1. Blue 7 - Sonny Rollins Quartet 11:08 2. West Coast Blues (Abridged) - Wes Montgomery Quartet 5:30 3. So What - Miles Davis Sextet 8:51 4. Blue In Green - Bill Evans Trio 5:20 5. Enter Evening - Cecil Taylor Unit 10:57 6. Alabama - John Coltrane Quartet 5:09 7. Lonely Woman - Ornette Coleman Quartet 4:54 8. Congeniality - Ornette Coleman Double Quartet 6:41 9. Free Jazz - Ornette Coleman Double Quartet 10:03 10. Steppin' - World Saxophone Quartet 7:13

Average customer rating:

Cecil does Japan

Akisakila
Cecil Taylor Unit
Manufacturer: Trio
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Avant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000635FQ
Release Date: 2002-04-24

Tracks:

Bulu Akisakira Kutala, Pt. 1

Tracks:

Bulu Akisakira Kutala, Pt. 2

Customer Reviews:

Cecil does Japan.......2006-01-15

The "Akisakila" concert was a live concert in Japan by the Unit back in 1973 -- before the release of "Silent Tongues" and just after "Indent." "Akisakila Vol. 1" features a 60-minute hammering away by Cecil and core sidemen at the time Andrew Cyrille (drums) and Jimmy Lyons (alto sax). The trio concert actually lasted in excess of 80 minutes, making it impossible to fit on a single CD, much less an LP. "Akisakila Vol. 2" therefore has as it's first track the 20-minute conclusion to "Bulu Akisakila Kutala" (the name of the track on Vol 1.), picking up the trio in mid-flight. They're banging away in frenetic style pretty much for the duration and you can see here why Cyrille is sometimes called CT's best drummer. This is dense, live, energy music by the Unit. However, track 1 on Vol 2. really should be heard along with the first hour of the concert and therefore sits here alone like a decapitated monster.

The remaining 4 tracks that take up the other half of the Vol. 2 CD feature CT solo on piano, recorded 9 days later. It's not clear where the playing comes from -- there's no applause, so it might be a brief studio session and the recording is indeed more clear than the trio stuff (track 1), which has an airy, poorly miked sound throughout. In any case, there are 4 solo tracks that total about 30 minutes: 2) Choral of Voice (Elesion), 3) Lono, 4) Asapk in Ame, and 5) Indent. The LP version of this record subtitles track 4 as "1st layer part of Indent," while track 5 is called "1/2 of first layer, 2nd 1/2 of first layer." Curious indeed given that Cecil had just recorded "Indent" (now out of print on CD) 18 days earlier at Antioch College in Ohio -- and starting with track 3 here, it even sounds like the same song! Quite a rarity for Cecil to ever play the same song twice, and proof that he's not just improvising randomly, but does in fact play from notation.

The solo work here is strong, and because the recording sounds more pristine than either "Indent" or "Silent Tongues," it sounds more like latter-day Cecil. However, it stands apart from the disembodied trio music in recording quality and tone -- it's substantially more reigned in than the Unit's pyrotechnics. Altogether, this disc is therefore something of a mismash -- it doesn't make sense to own it without Vol 1., and the solo tracks have a different feel altogether. A shame you can't have the full 80-minute trio concert, "Bulu Akisakila Kutala" seamlessly on one disc.

Average customer rating:

Unit Structures
Cecil Taylor
Manufacturer: Phantom Sound & Vision
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000BRHTAQ
Release Date: 2000-10-25

Average customer rating:

Akisakila
Cecil Taylor Unit
Manufacturer: Trio
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Avant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000JXCS

Tracks:

Bulu Akisakira Kutala, Pt. 1

Tracks:

Bulu Akisakira Kutala, Pt. 2

Album Details

Recorded Live in Osaka, Japan on May 22, 1973.

Average customer rating:

somewhere there

Unit Structures
Cecil Taylor
Manufacturer: Phantom Sound & Visi
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000053SQE
Release Date: 2000-10-25

Tracks:

Steps
Enter,Evening (Soft Line Structure)
Unit Structure - As Of A Now - Section
Tales (8 Whisps)

Album Description

Japanese 24bit remastered reissue by RVG. Originally released on Blue Note in 1966. Packaged in a miniature LP sleeve reproduction of the original artwork.

Album Details

Japanese Version Featuring A Limited LP Style Slipcase Cover. 24Bit Digitally Remastered.

Customer Reviews:

somewhere there.......2000-12-14

A lurid beauty walking from hill to hill. Directions transcend the compass.

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Jazz Music

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