Cecil Taylor Music

This searingly intense trio recording is one of my all-time CT favorites. Andrew Cyrille and Jimmy Lyons, along with CT, play a vast set of unrelenting and explosive improvised music, reminiscent of the lashing "Great Concert of Cecil Taylor" and "Dark to Themselves." Brilliant.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

What an amazing performance! The Library of Congress commissioned Taylor for a violin-piano duo, and they certainly got their money's worth!

For Taylor-lovers like me who feel he sometimes repeats himself on disc (certain musical figures appear too predictably in most of his work from the early 70s on), this will be a DELIGHT. There is so much fresh material here! Plus, more of Taylor's amazing lyricism and harmonic richness that he's been showing over the past 10 years or so.

There's a section early in the 1st movement that outdoes Stockhausen's glissando/cluster writing in Klavierstuck X!

And Maneri, who I hadn't heard of before but certainly will seek out now, is an amazingly perfect match for Taylor in this piece. Evidently Taylor rehearsed him intensely for only one day - the day of the performance. If this is true, it speaks VOLUMES for Taylor as a teacher AND for Maneri as a musician.

(By the way, I suspect the violin is an electric violin, not just an amplified acoustic violin, because of some of the low-pitched material that sounds more like a viola or even a cello in some parts.)

The blurb on the CD -- "this is truly a musical COMPOSITION, whatever the notation" -- is fully vindicated here. The tragedy is that no-one else will likely be able to perform this. The miracle is that the performance here is UNSURPASSABLE.

Buy this CD if you love Taylor, or Maneri, or the piano, or the violin, or new jazz, or new classical music, or high-energy music, or lush music, or the interplay of two master musicians, or ... just want to be BLOWN AWAY.

The term "Algonquin" is from the Maliseet word elakómkwik (IPA: [læomowik]), "they are our relatives/allies; its name to the much larger, variegated group of Algonquian-speaking peoples from Virginia to the Rockies and north to Hudson Bay. Most Algonquins,live in Quebec; the nine Algonquin bands in that province and one in Ontario have a combined population of about 11,000.

this is not a bridge so much as simply more cecil, he plays very slick here, polished, I'd like to see how much of this is written out, nice pacings all along, and the bonfires he sets here, makes you want more oxygen for his fast furioso liks, I really thought the violin and cecil piano would not mix, would produce a synergy, they way you want, but it does at times, nice structure as well, some solos, then breaking the structure of the proceedings. nothing new from cecil though, but equally wanting to hear, hear again, dont know if a cello, or viola, or contrabass would get as engagin as this, I guess you need to think about that, cecil and strings, does it give off what it should,winds blowing through the park, trees there with garbage below, a homeless person,seeking hot coffee. . .

I find this to be an ideal album to introduce new listeners to Cecil's art. I've been a fan of his since my teens (I'm a bit older now... ahem), and I wouldn't use, say "The Eighth," "Nailed," or C.T.'s duet album with Max Roach to try to persuade anyone of his genius. Too "intense!"

But the man's genius is quite real; Mat Maneri listens carefully to what Cecil is doing on the keyboard, responds beautifully, and so the exchange of musical thoughts is almost equal, although Cecil generally leads the "dance".

There are flashes of Scriabin, Bartok, and Stravinsky here, along with Ellington and Monk and even a hint or two of Bud Powell. Still, the Taylor sound isn't just an amalgam of all these influences, it's always had a vitality of its own that's absolutely unique.

This album reminds me of some of the more relaxed dialogues between Cecil and the late, great Jimmy Lyons, like "Student Studies" and "With (Exit)."

Comparing any of Cecil's collaborators to Jimmy is a high compliment, but Mat Maneri deserves it.

This isn't a perfect disc--the recording is a little ropey, violinist Mat Maneri sounds overmatched at times, & there are feedback problems. But it's also some of the best Cecil Taylor I've heard in a while. Rabid Taylor fans won't admit this, but he does sometimes record the same album a few too many times over.... so it's nice to hear something like this, which really _does_ feel fresh--not quite like anything else the man's done. It's particularly delicious to think of him on a "classical" label, with a concert recorded at the Library of Congress as part of a commissioned series of piano/violin duets, & Taylor seems to be relishing the moment too--there are some explicit references to classical music (a touch of Debussy at one point, for instance), & also a wonderfully funny moment where he rustles the sheet music. (Yes, there's a score, now duly deposited in the Library of Congress. It's one page of stacks of notes for the players to improvise off of.) Anyway, despite some blemishes this is a fascinating album: if you're already on Taylor's wavelength it's a must.