Jazzists - Pianist Cecil Taylor

[MdmeX]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/04/ar...gacy.html?_r=1

[Historian]

A True Great!

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/04/ar...gacy.html?_r=1

Cecil Taylor is a truly great pianist and musician, although not the easiest musician to understand. In my opinion he’s right up there in the class of other improvisation-oriented greats like be-bop’s Thelonious Monk and the more classical music-leaning jazz piano maestro Keith Jarrett. Like sax man John Coltrane, Cecil Taylor disdained traditional forms and instead ventured -- and generally stayed -- in his own private domain.

This article brings back so many memories, like the time I shook Chick Corea’s hand and had a somewhat lengthy chat with him and his lovely wife Gayle Moran. That evening was also the first time I ever saw John Patitucci, a very pleasant and down-to-earth genius of modern jazz.

Forgive my momentary wandering down memory lane, but we planet Earth people (mortals) have been so blessed with geniuses such as these!

Thank you for posting this nice feature piece on the great Cecil Taylor, MdmeX.

[HL]

Well that gives me the opportunity to go down memory lane too Historian.

I attended a Herbie Hancock concert some time ago. I found Herbie not easy to understand too. But suffice it to say...the man is a genius!!!

Think i've heard of Cecil Taylor...I am sure he must have influenced Hancock.

[Historian]

Lol, HL

Lol, HL.

I agree fully with your comments on the great keyboardist Herbie Hancock! From his early days as a Miles Davis sideman to the present apparently more introspective period of his life, his brilliance and his complexity have stood out!

There was a time, however, when I lost interest in him, and I’m referring here to that period in the 1970s and 1980s when he (like a number of other jazz musicians) seemed hell-bent on reaping (the well-deserved) commercial profits, in the form of Top 20 hits, from their talent. I’m referring here to Herbie’s work during, for example, his Island Records period. “Rockit” is a classic example of the undiluted electronic crap he gave us!

I suspect that the immense success of George Benson’s “Breezin’ ” album, which was a successful jazz excursion into the world of chart music, was a major catalyst in the resulting commercial jazz efforts of the 1970s. In my view, Creed Taylor’s CTI records (with output of a large body of work from people like Hank Crawford, Eric Gayle, Cornell Dupree, etc.) led the way in this regard. Despite this, most of the commercial jazz efforts by Hancock, Crawford, etc., were not as successful as they probably hoped.

By the way, HL, my personal favorite jazz pianist is the late Canadian giant, Oscar Peterson.

[HL]

In the jazz pianist group I like Joe Sample , Dave Brubeck, David Benoit-- and from the pioneer group Count Basie is my favorite!!

Your analysis on Hancock's Island period is accurate (as far as I am concerned). I just cannot wrap my ears around those recordings. Those sounds transcends mere mortals.

What ever happened to Chuck Mangione? My all time favorite is the CD Chase the Cloud Away and the Cut: Can't we do this all night.

I was trying to find 'Can't we do this all night" on YouTube but did not have the time.

[MdmeX]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBAJIvO6eIA