Cecil Taylor: Live At Fat Tuesday's February 9, 1980 First Visit

For some years, Werner X. Uehlinger's Ezz-thetics label has been bringing smiles to the faces of countless lovers of free jazz by re-releasing albums featuring such luminaries as Albert Ayler, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Jimmy Giuffre, Sun Ra, Cecil Taylor (to name but a few of many) all with state-of-the-art sound quality. The label's distinctive orange lettering over black and white period images of the featured artists has made its albums instantly recognisable. Until now. The current album has blue lettering instead of the customary orange. Close reading of the small print reveals the reason; rather than the orange lettered "Revisited series by Ezz-thetics," this blue lettered album is the start of the "First Visit series by Ezz-thetics." The sleeve states that "First Visit archive offers previously unreleased recordings of historic and musical importance."

The music here was recorded live during Cecil Taylor's residency at Fat Tuesday's in New York from February 8th to 10th 1980. Four sets were recorded—the first on 8th pm, the second from 8th pm to 9th am, the third on 9th pm, the fourth on 10th am. The second of those sets was released on the sold out (and much sought after) double LP It is in the Brewing Luminous (hat Hat, 1981). The third of those sets comprises the current album, having convinced all involved at Ezz-thetics that it was the best.

Although three tracks are listed, the music is continuous throughout the album's sixty-six minutes. Taylor was joined by a mix of old and new players—Jimmy Lyons on alto sax, Alan Silva on bass and cello, Sunny Murray on drums, Jerome Cooper on drums and African balaphone (balafon) and Ramsey Ameen on violin—giving the sextet a rich and varied soundscape. The cello and violin were not deployed in any quasi-classical way, but were an integral part of the ensemble. For much of the time, there is no semblance of solos played by individuals; often all six play continuously, creating a wall of sound in which the contributions of individuals can be clearly heard and followed. In particular, the playing of Lyons and Taylor is prominent throughout and constantly demands attention. When this album was recorded, the two had been together for two decades and clearly knew each other's playing inside out. From the beginning, Taylor was clearly the leader, but Lyons ran him a close second throughout. After sixty-four tumultuous minutes, the album draws to a beautiful close with a lyrical piano finale offset by Taylor's voice.

All things considered, it is clear why the third set from Fat Tuesday's was chosen for release. It certainly betters It is in the Brewing Luminous, not least because it plays continuously rather than needing to be flipped or changed every eighteen minutes or so. Devotees of Taylor's music will surely be delighted by this album, and curious to know the fate of the unreleased first and fourth sets. Who knows, maybe It is in the Brewing Luminous will be released on CD, or all four sets together. Watch this space and also the end-of-year lists. A splendid way to begin "First Visit series by Ezz-thetics."

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