Cecil Taylor solo & duo

"I try to imitate on the piano the leaps in space a dancer makes." Cecil Taylor Despite being the other side of eighty (!), Cecil Taylor still dances out picturesque landscapes and fascinating, stimulating images on his piano. He plays hard, with intensity and dynamism, in a controlled explosion of energy. This is no sacred journey to a higher plane or blue horizon, but more like a violent thunderstorm. Misha Lengelberg says of Taylor: "What he plays on the piano is a dense hailstorm". His previous visits to deSingel are burned into the memories of numerous concertgoers. As a virtuoso pianist, Taylor blends jazz and modern music at such a breakneck speed that you simply don't notice the transitions. He structures his solos more than before: interweaving the blues, Satie's lyricism, the spirit of Ellington or Monk, Bud Powell's touch or a disguised Chopin motif. His use of chords, counterpoint, dynamics, solo lines and tension are extremely tasteful. The keyboard becomes an orchestra and gets a powerful reaction from Tony Oxley's percussive approach. These two have enjoyed a telepathic collaboration for years. Oxley's playing is very dry and subdued. No hard thwacks, but measured taps and above all colours. Don't miss him/them!