Cecil Taylor: All the Notes

Of course, Cecil Taylor’s living legend status is indisputable. All the Notes (Cadence) teams him with his principal Stateside rhythm section, bassist Dominic Duval and drummer Jackson Krall. Since joining Taylor in the mid-’90s, Duval and Krall have gone from being overly deferential to relating to him on a more or less equal footing. This one-a live date recorded in February 2000-was made midway in the evolutionary process. Accordingly, their performance is a bit less fire-breathing than the last time I heard them in person, in the summer of 2003. Still, there’s plenty to sink your teeth into, from Taylor’s fists of fury to Duval’s Bernard Hermann-esque arco filigrees and Krall’s bed-of-nails percussion. It might not be among Taylor’s top 10 all-time (that’s a hard list to make at this late date) but it’s plenty good. Given that this fine trio has been so little documented, it’s a welcome addition to Taylor’s discography.

Originally Published April 1, 2005