THE GIL EVANS ORCHESTRA — Into the Hot (1962-1988) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Although this album (reissued on CD) proudly states that it is by the Gil Evans Orchestra and has Evans' picture on the cover, the arranger actually had nothing to do with the music. Three songs have the nucleus of his big band performing numbers composed, arranged, and conducted by John Carisi (who also plays one of the trumpets). Those selections by the composer of "Israel" are disappointingly forgettable. The other three performances are even further away from Evans for they are actually selections by avant-garde pianist Cecil Taylor's septet! Taylor's music features trumpeter Ted Curson, trombonist Roswell Rudd, altoist Jimmy Lyons, tenor saxophonist Archie Shepp, bassist Henry Grimes, and drummer Sunny Murray and is quite adventurous and exciting, the main reason to acquire this somewhat misleading set. Scott Yanow    Tracklist & Credits :

CECIL TAYLOR — Nefertiti, the Beautiful One Has Come (1962-1997) 2CD | APE (image+.cue), lossless

This double-LP is the only recording that exists of Cecil Taylor and his group (other than two songs on the bootleg Ingo label) during 1962-1965. Taylor's then-new altoist Jimmy Lyons (who occasionally hints at Charlie Parker) and the first truly "free" drummer Sunny Murray join the avant-garde pianist in some stunning trio performances recorded live at the Cafe Montmartre in Copenhagen. With the exception of an interesting version of "What's New" (which finds Lyons showing off his roots), the music is comprised entirely of Taylor originals and is atonal and full of power. Scott Yanow
Tracklist 1 :
1     Trance 9:12
Cecil Taylor
2     Call 9:00
Cecil Taylor
3     Lena 6:58
Cecil Taylor
4     D Trad, That's What 21:26
Cecil Taylor
5     [Untitled Track] 1:02
Cecil Taylor
6     Call 6:36
Cecil Taylor
Tracklist 2 :   
1     What's New? 12:11
Johnny Burke / Bob Haggart
2     Nefertiti, the Beautiful One Has Come 9:11
Cecil Taylor
3     Lena 14:21
Cecil Taylor
4     Nefertiti, the Beautiful One Has Come 8:07
Cecil Taylor
5     [Untitled Track] 1:02
Cecil Taylor
6     D Trad, That's What 20:08
Cecil Taylor
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Jimmy Lyons
Drums – Sunny Murray
Piano – Cecil Taylor

CECIL TAYLOR - Conquistador! (1966-1987) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

For the second of Cecil Taylor's two Blue Note albums (following Unit Structures), the innovative pianist utilized a sextet comprised of trumpeter Bill Dixon, altoist Jimmy Lyons, both Henry Grimes and Alan Silva on basses and drummer Andrew Cyrille. During the two lengthy pieces, Lyons' passionate solos contrast with Dixon's quieter ruminations while the music in general is unremittingly intense. Both of the Taylor Blue Notes are quite historic and near-classics but, despite this important documentation, Cecil Taylor (other than a pair of Paris concerts) would not appear on records again until 1973. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Conquistador 17:55
Cecil Taylor
2     With (Exit) 19:22
Cecil Taylor
3     With (Exit) 17:23
Cecil Taylor
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Jimmy Lyons
Bass – Alan Silva, Henry Grimes
Drums – Andrew Cyrille
Piano, Written-By – Cecil Taylor
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
Trumpet – Bill Dixon

CECIL TAYLOR - Unit Structures (1966-2000) RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 After several years off records, pianist Cecil Taylor finally had an opportunity to document his music of the mid-'60s on two Blue Note albums (the other one was Conquistador). Taylor's high-energy atonalism fit in well with the free jazz of the period but he was actually leading the way rather than being part of a movement. In fact, this septet outing with trumpeter Eddie Gale, altoist Jimmy Lyons, Ken McIntyre (alternating between alto, oboe and bass clarinet), both Henry Grimes and Alan Silva on basses, and drummer Andrew Cyrille is quite stunning and very intense. In fact, it could be safely argued that no jazz music of the era approached the ferocity and intensity of Cecil Taylor's.  by Scott Yanow
Tracklist
1 - Steps 10:18
Cecil Taylor
2 - Enter, Evening (Soft Line Structure) 11:05
Cecil Taylor
3 - Unit Structure / As Of A Now / Section 17:45
Cecil Taylor
4 - Tales (8 Whisps) 7:43
Cecil Taylor
Credits
Alto Saxophone - Jimmy Lyons
Alto Saxophone, Oboe, Bass Clarinet - Ken McIntyre
Bass - Alan Silva, Henry Grimes
Drums - Andrew Cyrille
Piano, Bells, Written-By, Liner Notes - Cecil Taylor
Trumpet - Eddie Gale Stevens Jr.

CECIL TAYLOR UNIT – Dark to Themselves (1976-1990) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Dark to Themselves is a continuous 61-plus-minute performance by pianist Cecil Taylor and his 1976 quintet (which also includes such fiery players as trumpeter Raphe Malik, his longtime altoist Jimmy Lyons, tenor saxophonist David S. Ware, and drummer Marc Edwards). There is a quick theme along with brief transitions that form the composition "Streams and Chorus of Seed," but the bulk of the passionate performance is taken up by spontaneous and intense solos. Listeners with very open ears, and longtime fans of Taylor's, can consider this explosive performance essential. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Streams and Chorus of Seed 1:01:4
Cecil Taylor
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Jimmy Lyons
Drums – Marc Edwards
Piano, Composed By, Liner Notes – Cecil Taylor
Tenor Saxophone – David S. Ware
Trumpet – Raphé Malik

CECIL TAYLOR UNIT - One Too Many Salty Swift and Not Goodbye (1978-2004) 2CD / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

With one of his greatest groups in a powerful performance, this was the Unit at its peak. by Michael G. Nastos
Tracklist 1 :
1    Jimmy Lyons, Raphé Malik–    Duet    3:49
2    Ramsey Ameen, Sirone–    Duet    11:24
3    Ronald Shannon Jackson–    Solo    5:35
4    Cecil Taylor Unit–    Untitled    24:16
5    Cecil Taylor Unit–    Untitled    27:27
Tracklist 2 :
1    Cecil Taylor Unit–    Untitled    29:01
2    Cecil Taylor Unit–    Untitled    17:57
3    Cecil Taylor Unit–    Untitled    28:33
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Jimmy Lyons
Double Bass – Sirone
Drums – Ronald Shannon Jackson
Piano, Composed By – Cecil Taylor
Trumpet – Raphé Malik
Violin – Ramsey Ameen

CECIL TAYLOR - The Cecil Taylor Unit (1978-1987) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

A sextet, this is as close to as definitive an ensemble as Taylor has launched. With Jimmy Lyons (sax), Raphe Malik (trumpet), Ramsey Ameen (violin), Sirone (bass), and R. Shannon Jackson (drums). This runs 60 minutes on vinyl, including a 30-minute "Holiday en Masque." by Michael G. Nastos
Tracklist :
1     Idut 14:44
Cecil Taylor
2     Serdab 14:15
Cecil Taylor
3     Holiday en Masque 29:39
Cecil Taylor
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Jimmy Lyons
Bass – Sirone
Drums – Ronald Shannon Jackson
Piano – Cecil Taylor
Trumpet – Raphé Malik
Violin – Ramsey Ameen

CECIL TAYLOR - It is in the Brewing Luminous (1980-1989) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Originally released as a double-LP and then reissued as a single CD, this continuous 71-minute live performance from 1980 features pianist Cecil Taylor with a particularly intriguing sextet comprised of his longtime altoist Jimmy Lyons, violinist Ramsey Ameen, Alan Silva on bass and cello and both Jerome Cooper and Sunny Murray on drums. Not too surprisingly, the playing is quite intense and dense with only a few moments of lyricism popping through. Taylor sounds very much like a human dynamo while Lyons' solos are full of fragile beauty. This is brilliant music that will not sound "safe" or "easy listening" even a century from now. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     It Is in the Brewing Luminous 1 09:59
Cecil Taylor
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Jimmy Lyons
Bass, Cello – Alan Silva
Drums – Sunny Murray
Drums, Balafon [African Balaphone] – Jerome Cooper
Piano – Cecil Taylor
Violin – Ramsey Ameen