Description:

On Sunday, October 10th, 2004 Cecil Taylor gave the first of the Master Classes Series presented by NYU in conjunction with Artists House Foundation. Pianist Cecil Taylor has been recognized for his challenging and complex music and is considered to be one of the few cornerstones of progressive music, sometimes called ‘the avant garde’. His influence is pervasive, making him a charter member of the pantheon of the greatest jazz artists, if not all 20th century music. Mr. Taylor is widely acknowledged as a visionary and musical prophet. In 1956, Cecil Taylor formed his own band with soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy and released his first album, Jazz Advance. Starting in 1961, Mr. Taylor played primarily with musicians Jimmy Lyons, Sunny Murray, and Andrew Cyrille. This group was known as the “The Unit” and continued to develop new forms of conversational interplay. Mr. Taylor performs in a variety of settings, from solos to large ensemble projects, and he has also taught at various universities in the United States and Europe. Mr. Taylor’s love for and expertise in classical and modern dance, as well as architecture, inform much of his music. In addition to creating his own musical language, Mr. Taylor is also an accomplished poet and he often incorporates his poetry into his musical performances.