Search - Cecil Taylor :: Student Studies

"The Great Paris Concert" reissued

R. Hutchinson | a world ruled by fossil fuels and fossil minds | 12/07/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a superb live recording of Cecil Taylor, recorded on November 30, 1966 in Paris. He performs with a quartet of Jimmy Lyons on alto, Andrew Cyrille on percussion and Alan Silva on bass. Track 3, called "Amplitude," features Andrew Cyrille, who I consider to be the best of Cecil's percussionists. The previous spring UNIT STRUCTURES had been released on Blue Note (see my review), and the music of this concert is, like that record, more contemplative than some of Cecil's later work -- AKISAKILA, for instance, a live recording from Japan in 1973 with Lyons and Cyrille, is much more explosive. But this is powerful and essential, not to be missed among Cecil's many recordings.



Do not be misled by AMG -- contrary to Jurek's review, this is not the first CD release of this concert. It was previously released in 1994 on the Black Lion label, and called THE GREAT PARIS CONCERT. AMG mistakenly dates the disc with that name to 1964. (I cannot comment on the sound quality of the Varese Records remastering as I have the 1994 Black Lion version.)"

Student Studies

Finn Solvang | Denmark | 09/26/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a very dark and sinister record, but never the less my personal all time favorite. Everything about the record is amazing. From the begining of "Student Studies Part 1" Jimmy Lyons frist echo call and response lines sets the mood, and it's dark very dark. Cecil Taylors playing is hard and intense, at times with furious attack, with unsurpassed control of his instrument. Alan Silva adds much color to the ensemble, he bows his doublebass at length and adds to the sinister flavor.Andrew Cyrille is Cecils match on the drums. Everything about this record is great! Five stars is minimum, I think it deserves the old Crown :0)"

Wrong title (in more ways than one)

David Weitz | Connelly, NY | 09/25/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Amazon (and Tower too) have labeled this recording with the wrong title. As you can see from the picture, the name of this recording is "Student Studies", not "Social Studies". This is a remastering of a previous recording- also called "Student Studies". Don't know how this error crept in to both Amazon and Tower websites. Otherwise the music is great; I mean we are talking about Cecil Taylor here- a force of nature on the piano! Also, this guy was obviously no "student" at this point (not with Andrew Cyrille on drums)."