Favorite Cecil Taylor on FMP

[stonemonkts]

I'd like to see which of these recordings register with his fans. I've been delving into them recently with relish. This thread is also for discussing them generally, why you like this one over that one, etc and so on. I am interested to read what others think. As I type this, "The Tree Of Life" is playing, yet another magnificent solo outing.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that you can choose as many as you like.

[Jon Abbey]

you'd better edit that to add Nailed before Horn gets here...

[MRS]

Leaf Palm Hand

[stonemonkts]

I tried to "edit poll" but it wouldn't allow me access.

Mone - If and when you read this, would you be so kind and add "Nailed" to the list?

I do NOT wish to suffer the Wrath of Horn.

[Dan G]

and if you want to be complete, add The Light of Corona.

I voted for Erzulie Maketh Scent, the first Taylor disc where I really felt I understood what he was doing. But it's a tough decision comparing solo to the drummer duos, of which I'd pick Leaf Palm Hand or Remembrance (where I feel Taylor gives in a bit more to his partner).

[stonemonkts]

Mone - Please add "The Light Of Corona" and "Nailed" to the poll choices.

p.s. Romper Room really was the bomb (or "da bomb" if you prefer).

[walto]

Thanks, Jon. "Nailed" is indeed my favorite of those recordings.

[Derek Taylor]

TREE OF LIFE gets my vote.

[Brian Olewnick]

I only have 7 or 8 of these, but of those I own, "Looking (Berlin Version) Solo" got my vote, with "Double Holy House" a close second. Might've chosen 'Nailed' if it had been available.

[moneyp]

Both added (and I voted for Nailed, which is the only one I have aside from Alms/Tiergarten).

I'll see if I can find a hack that allows the poll starters to actually edit their own polls. Silly software.

[stonemonkts]

Thank you very much, Mone.

The poll was a sham without "Nailed" !

I'm listening to "Looking (Berlin) Solo" for the second time in a row. I think this is my current favorite solo by Taylor. Of course we hear stuff at different times, so I'm sure another one will replace it eventually, but for now this is IT!

[Martin]

I'm a bit off topic with this, but surely you CT fans won't blame me for pointing out to you that there is another Taylor CD awaiting its release on FMP (maybe later in 2004): Almeda, recorded with the same ensemble as The Light Of Corona.

[walto]

Nobody's voted for it, but "Legba Crossing" is a very good one--and it's got some future "names" on it.

[Dan G]

Yeah, Legba Crossing is on OK disc that is often overlooked, but isn't it also kind of hard to find? I think it is the only one of the original Berlin box that isn't still in print.

[Steve Reynolds]

Nailed

Alms a close second - especially disc 2

[martini]

My favorite is "Alms / Tiergarten (Spree)". I love just about all of Taylor's work, but the large ensemble stuff is really special, since there aren't many recorded examples of it (officially released, at least).

[saltwatersnow]

what do people think of the feel trio version of looking? how does it compare to thatgroups other disks

[stonemonkts]

what do people think of the feel trio version of looking? how does it compare to thatgroups other disks

I recently compared them and I have to say my favorite is the feel trio version of looking as the best trio recording from Taylor during his FMP period.

[john williams]

Nailed

Alms a close second - especially disc 2

I must have chosen well as they are the two I have. I'm liking Nailed more than I used too these days.

[Enforcer]

what do people think of the feel trio version of looking? how does it compare to thatgroups other disks

That's my favorite.

[Nefertiti]

I voted for "The Hearth", but "Nailed" is even better (just listened to it). The combination of Cecil Taylor with Evan Parker is magic, and Oxley's playing is surreal as always.

[SilentKnowledge]

I have only heard four discs freom Cecil's FMP catalog which were: Pleistozaen Mit Wasser, Leaf Palm Hand, Melancholy, & Nailed.

Neither if those impressed me. The only one that satisfied me was Shakin' The Glass, but I still prefer Barcelona for Bailey piano duos. Leaf Palm Hand bored me, there wasn't much variation in the improvisations to enthrall my attention; Nailed was decent, bur I prefer the Schilppenbach trio's, & as for Melancholy, that one was just fair.

Prehaps the members here could suggest another Cecil album from the FMP catalog that I might enjoy?

Thank you.

[Dan G]

If you don't like Leaf Palm Hand, there's no hope ;) But try Regalia (with Lovens) or Remembrance (with Louis Moholo) for ones from the Berlin 88 series. Otherwise, the Feel Trio discs are very good; I prefer Celebrated Blazons. Or for a great solo record try Erzulie Maketh Scent.

[Ed the Happy Clown]

So Nailed seems to be the favorite, but how would you all have voted if forced to choose one of the Berlin 88 discs?

[stonemonkts]

So Nailed seems to be the favorite, but how would you all have voted if forced to choose one of the Berlin 88 discs?

My first choice would be Leaf Palm Hand, followed by In East Berlin (with Gunter Sommer), and finally his solo Erzulie Maketh Scent.

[frankiepop]

So Nailed seems to be the favorite, but how would you all have voted if forced to choose one of the Berlin 88 discs?

i love that question better....becuz that is a very special unified release...

1. Pleistozaen Mit Wasser (Shakin' the Glass) ....

regalia & left palm hand respectively

[Dan G]

I'd go for any of Leaf Palm Hand, Regalia, or Erzulie Maketh Scent. Remembrance, the duo with Louis Moholo, would be my next choice. that one surprised me because I didn't think it would come off as well as it did.

For some reason, I've never been too fond of the duos with Sommer.

As for Pleistozaen Mit Wasser...I think trying to match Taylor and Bailey was a failed experiment. Both guys are just too unique and individual to be able to come together to make sense (about the same as pairing Bailey and Braxton, which didn't work either).

[MRS]

Is Pleistozaen Mit Wasser supposed to translate as "Shakin' the Glass"? Because it doesn't.

"A prehistoric period" with water?

[Enforcer]

I think that title was created by Falco.

[Jon Abbey]

As for Pleistozaen Mit Wasser...I think trying to match Taylor and Bailey was a failed experiment. Both guys are just too unique and individual to be able to come together to make sense

maybe not on that disc, but the Taylor/Bailey concert at Tonic a few years back was quite good from all reports (I only saw the half hour long encore).

as for the FMP '88 stuff, I was never blown away by any of the small group stuff I've heard, I'll take Alms/Tiergarten (Spree).

[Steve Reynolds]

don't have that many of them - but I LOVE the Alms/Tiergarten set - with disc 2 being some of the most incredible large band improvisation ever made.

Parker and Brotzmann are both on fire throughout - it must have been a very intense experience for those fortunate enough to witness it live

[frankiepop]

u already posted that.