The album's full title - The Complete, Legendary, Live Return Concert at The Town Hall NYC November 4, 1973 - marks the release of all the material recorded at the New York Town Hall concert almost fifty years ago. In the pre-digital age it wasn't viable to market a free jazz album running to almost two hours. Now, compressed onto a two-disc CD package, we get to hear Taylor in full, unexpurgated, vintage form. The established Cecil Taylor Unit (the CTU - Jimmy Lyons and Andrew Cyrille) was augmented for the occasion by bassist Sirone (Norris Jones).
The 'return' element of the recording points to Taylor's immersion in composing and teaching for some years until returning to the New York stage with a vengeance. The CTU was a long-established working unit, the addition of Sirone being the new element. Spring of Two Blue-J's (solo piano) and Spring of Two Blue-J's (quartet), spanning some thirty eight minutes, are the known tracks, now we get to hear the rest of it, all eighty eight minutes of it! Uncompromising, fearless, virtuosic. Taylor dazzles, the percussive drive relentless. Jimmy Lyons, Taylor's most frequent collaborator, hangs onto his bop leanings although, as the compositions develop, he plays every bit as 'free' as the CTU's leader.
The then newcomer, Sirone, deftly navigates his way through Taylor's turbulent musical landscape alongside percussionist Andrew Cyrille (the sole surviving member from the November evening in '73) who knew what was required and duly delivered. For those unfamiliar with Cecil Taylor's work, the length of some of the numbers - Autumn Parade clocking up one hour and twenty eight minutes - could be a bit of a stretch. However, patience and listening closely should/will bring its rewards.
The Complete, Legendary, Live Return Concert at The Town Hall NYC November 4, 1973 (catalogue no. OD-8) is available from revived Oblivion Records (the label has been more or less dormant since the mid seventies). A 24-page, LP-size booklet contains some fascinating facsimiles of documents from the time including a Town Hall concert programme and handwritten notes on the original master recording tapes. See: www.oblivionrecords.co.
Russell
Russell
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