Search - Cecil Taylor - The Feel Trio, William Parker, Tony Oxley :: Celebrated Blazons

The Feel Trio

Joe Pierre | Los Angeles, CA United States | 07/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Celebrated Blazons is a live recording from a trio date recorded in Berlin in 1990. Cecil teams with what are arguably his best sidemen -- European free drummer Tony Oxley and William Parker on double bass -- a group that would often go by the name of 'The Feel Trio,' perhaps referring to the communication between the players. This is their second recording together, after meeting for the first time on 'Looking' recorded in 1989 and before their monster 10-CD London session, 'Two T's for a Lovely T' a few months after this concert.



'Celebrated Blazons' is Cecil at his best -- the concert is a single piece lasting 56 minutes, but composed of various movements: (3 in One), Lords of the House, Deep Water, Realm of the Winds, and 3 in One. It starts out with some barely audible vocalisms and soon launches into full bore Cecil, banging away at the Bosendorfer in characteristic fashion. The real appeal of this recording is the trio -- Oxley maintains a steady, though free, rhythm of cymbals and snare-less drums that sound almost melodic, perfectly embellishing but never overpowering the piano. Likewise, Parker plucks and bows the bass strings, bending notes beneath it all. The music certainly gets rowdy and thunderous as one would expect, but also frequently lets up starting at the half-way mark, with the players stretching out and leaving open space and Cecil returning to vocalisms and poetic recitation towards the end. It's really quite lyrical at times, and along with the maniacally crashing sections and the poetry, this recording displays the full palette of Cecil's art. My only complaint is that there was no encore."

Magnificent

demomo | 01/05/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"To me this is Cecil in his best (and most accessable) period. It's good to hear his playing without the distraction of horns. William Parker and Tony Oxley play beautifully with him which makes me prefer this to his solo work. The music is positive, powerful and strong -even rock fans end up liking this."

The best Cecil Taylor you can get!

Martial Steeg | Riva, France | 09/16/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the ultimate free jazz record : raw, powerful.Not intellectual free jazz but physical one. Cecil Taylor at his best. As important as Free Jazz by Ornette Coleman or Interstellar Space by Coltrane or Ask the ages by Sonny Sharrock.

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