Cecil Taylor

Pianist and composer Cecil Taylor created a radically new musical language in the '60s that became a fundamental building block of the free jazz/avant jazz movement. Born in New York City in the Corona section of Queens on March 25, 1929, Taylor received an extensive musical education, at both the New England Conservatory of Music and the New York College of Music. He released his first album, Jazz Advance, in 1956, accompanied by bassist Buell Neidlinger and drummer Denis Charles, who would remain with him for several years, and saxophonist Steve Lacy. While Taylor was still keeping a tentative foot in bop at this early stage, his revolutionary approach was already apparent, as was the influence of European classical composers like Bartok and Stravinsky. By the time he released Nefertiti the Beautiful One Has Come in 1962, with Lyons and drummer Sunny Murray, innovation had almost completely eschewed tradition in his music. His next releases, the 1966 Blue Note albums Unit Structures and Conquistador, were both a high-water mark in Taylor's career and a milestone in free jazz. In subsequent years, may of Taylor's performances and releases were in Europe. Alongside his band work, he developed a unique solo performance style, mixing improvisation with avant-garde techniques. Over time Taylor revealed himself to be as much a New Music composer as a jazz experimentalist. He also expanded his artistic reach into a number of areas, writing poetry, composing for dance, and teaching music. He remained active as a performer and recording artist into his eighties, and passed away at the age of 89 on April 5, 2018 at the Brooklyn home he'd occupied since the 1980s. By that time, Taylor had long been internationally respected as one of the elder statesmen and primary innovators of free jazz, a distinction he will retain in perpetuity.