
Cecil Taylor, the pioneering free-jazz pianist, was 89 when he passed away last year on this day, April 5. In his memory, Bay Area poet and jazz singer Lisa B released a single, “Cecil Taylor: I Am an Orchestra,” a few days before the anniversary of his death.
The single pays homage to Taylor and his percussive, improvisational style with free-verse poems, occasional singing, and a diverse cast of musicians including Lisa B’s longtime collaborator, pianist Scott R. Looney.