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Jazz, Freed: On Cecil Taylor's Expansive Brilliance

Cecil Taylor. Stuart Nicholson/Redferns hide caption

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Stuart Nicholson/Redferns

The Record

Jazz, Freed: On Cecil Taylor's Expansive Brilliance

April 6, 2018 • Over a career that sprawled across six full decades, Taylor maintained an unwavering standard of expedition. And what he discovered — in an endless, boundless process — was a world unto himself.

Cecil Taylor On Piano Jazz

Cecil Taylor performs at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall in 2002. Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images hide caption

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Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images

Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz

Cecil Taylor On Piano Jazz

April 6, 2018 • Cecil Taylor encompasses a never-ending range of sound and emotion. Hear an archival session with Marian McPartland from 1994.

Cecil Taylor On Piano Jazz

59:30

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Cecil Taylor, Jazz Icon Of The Avant-Garde, Dies At 89

Cecil Taylor performs at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall in 2002. Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images hide caption

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Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images

The Record

Cecil Taylor, Jazz Icon Of The Avant-Garde, Dies At 89

April 6, 2018 • Taylor stretched the beats in a measure and played notes outside the chords of a song. A pioneer of free jazz, the pianist and composer remained true to his vision even through financial struggle.

Cecil Taylor, Jazz Icon Of The Avant-Garde, Dies At 89

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Music Interviews

Avant-Garde Made Easy: Cecil Taylor

Fresh Air

May 3, 2001 • Kevin Whitehead continues his Avant Garde Made Easy series with a look at pianist Cecil Taylor.

Avant-Garde Made Easy: Cecil Taylor

Only Available in Archive Formats.

Real Media

Cecil Taylor: The Pianist Who's Also An Orchestra

Cecil Taylor, 83, is being feted in a two-week celebration of his music in New York City. Peter Gannushkin/downtownmusic.net hide caption

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Peter Gannushkin/downtownmusic.net

Music News

Cecil Taylor: The Pianist Who's Also An Orchestra

May 17, 2012 • He broke all the rules of jazz and improvised music — and that was in the 1950s. Now 83 and idolized by musicians, the great improviser is celebrated for developing a unique language at the keyboard.

Cecil Taylor: The Pianist Who's Also An Orchestra

Listen · 5:37 5:37

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