Relived/Reimagined - Cecil Taylor’s :: “Live at The Cafe Montmartre” - Org Music
It’s been a little over half a decade since the untimely passing of the mighty, trailblazing tonal tyrant, known around the world as Cecil Percival Taylor. Esoteric efforts that transcended the musical realm that he often occupied, Taylor’s cosmic contributions to society and culture as a whole are simply unparalleled. Gripping the harmonious horns of “free jazz”, Taylor shattered the soundscape with a splendid seance that hummed a holy chant for his brave listeners, while the glorious glow from the clandestine candles lit a poetic path in culture, black artists and the atmospheric ability to conquer something both fierce and eternally forever. As we prepare to dive into the devastating talents and piano philosophy of one of the greatest figures in jazz and beyond, let us recall a time and place in early 1960s Copenhagen, Denmark in late November, six decades ago, that is regarded as one of the greatest recorded moments in the genre’s entire, electrifying ethos. Shortly after the release of his famed solo debut “The World of Cecil Taylor", the sophisticated trio consisting of Sunny Murray (drums) and Jimmy Lyons (alto sax) landed in Europe in 1962 and began their historic journey to the center of the sonic sun on one of the most iconic nights in jazz history at the Café “Jazzhus” Montmartre. Having only been open just a few short years since its establishment in 1959 by owner, Anders Dyrup, the young club saw an instant introduction to both business and sonic success from the America jazz scene, coming overseas to plant its ancient language into the fundamental fibers of the new immersing scene by the likes of Stan Getz and Dexter Gordon, before being conquered by the cosmic climate of Taylor’s merciless magic in the following years.
“The first record I made, when I listen to it, I understand. I understand perfectly well why certain musicians were unhappy with me. I had to decide: was I unhappy with me? I liked it. If they didn’t like it, it was on them.”
A momentary meditation captured on tape and seen by, perhaps, one of the most fortunate crowds since Mozart, or the raging mania of Chopin, the trio expressed an explosive exploration into the deep depths of human consciousness with a levitational language that could be heard from many miles away. One can only imagine what the missing link of bassist Henry Grimes’ preliminary presence could have ultimately added to the band’s universal unity, but due to him falling ill just prior to the group taking off, you simply have to continue envisioning the evening of enlightenment and how much this singular moment in music influenced the world as a whole both spiritually and emotionally via the ether of energy. While occupying a directional diet of champagne, sorbet and cocaine, which could be an uninteresting or tasteless detail to some, but one to take into consideration as most of us now need more than eight hours of sleep, Wi-Fi in every which way and the creature comforts of likes, shares and re-posts. But the sensational setting and gravitational generation in which Taylor hailed from danced with both the sun and the moon and melted down their trophies and eager earnings into this golden puddle of successful stress, repetitious rage and testimonial tenacity like no others before them. Behind his darkened glasses he could see the world for just what it was, black and white, giving him all the time, poetic patience and bravery beyond any planetary understanding, in order to paint the universe in any color he so fancied.
“We were in Sweden and we had finally decided to be free... The way Cecil and Jimmy and I were playing, we could absorb any different thing at that period, because we were so fresh!”
Originally pressed on the Danish based jazz label, Debut Records, “Nefertiti, the Beautiful One Has Come”, also released “Complete Live At The Café Montmartre”, has officially been remastered and given proper relic restoration by engineer wizard and longtime collaborator of Org Music, Dave Gardner and with Taylor’s spiritual blessing from beyond the musical mist, his live magnum opus will come to life in all its iconic glory just as it was meant to be heard. As a special double LP pressing set for release on RSD Black Friday, fans will be enlightened by its holy gesture and mesmerizing methods into the unknown, while simultaneously being able to teleport back in time to briefly occupy the sacred sounds and timeless temptations of Taylor’s groundbreaking metamorphosis in music that even Jesus himself said that he was, “glad to have been there to witness something that even I had no clue anyone could do”.
