Icon Re: Thinkin' bout Cecil...
E
Eugene (view)

Gosh, hate to tell you that although those are great records, they are not at all representative of his sound over the years.  His early stuff was pretty tame, though I enjoyed it immensely.  If you want to go full bore into it...just get Air Over Mountains.  It is a solo piano concert recorded in Austria, early 1970's.  I prefer his solo ventures over some of the group stuff, when it gets too busy with other players.  Of his small groups, the ones with Jimmy Lyons on alto are probably the best. Here, I'd recommend Unit Structures (should be available on Blue Note).   Another favorite of mine is Spring of Two Blue Jays (I found this by fluke in a Montreal record store; it is a collector's item, and solidly out of print.  I can burn this for you, if you end up liking any of the other stuff. 

He has on occasion been featured on albums of other artists.  One notable one is the CD/LP he did with Coltrane.  They really didn't work/blend well together at all, but it is a worthwhile purchase for posterity sake.  It came out under one title orginally, was scrapped and then re-issued with the title Coltrane Time (it is a CD available I think on Blue Note).  It is NOT a Coltrane album, but is clearly a Cecil Taylor record, though it probably at least gets some sales by them using Coltrane as the focal point.   About 10 years ago, the Art Ensemble of Chicago did a record both as an homage to, and including Mr.Taylor.  This one is a real gem start to finish; amazing piano, amazing percussion, theatrics, vocal improv...wonderful. 

If you can't find, lemme know, I can burn some for you.   

Gene

P.S. I met him after a series of concerts here in Baltimore about 4-5 years ago.  One of the greatest nights of my life.  I literally didn't wash my hand after shaking his for some time after. 

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