Coltrane, John & Cecil Taylor

Coltrane Time [VINYL]

Label: Doxy Country: Italy

"Recorded in NYC on Oct 13, 1958, this album was originally released as Hard Driving Jazz (mono version) / Stereo Drive (stereo version) and the then 29-year-old pianist Cecil Taylor (not John Coltrane) originally got top billing on this date. This session is interesting because it is the only one Taylor ever did with Coltrane, and considering Taylor's status as one of the true founders of free jazz and Coltrane's status as jazz legend it is a kind of missing link in the history of jazz. Here the group plays two originals (one by trumpet player Kenny Dorham and one by bass man Chuck Israels), while the other two tracks 'Just Friends' and 'Like Someone In Love' are standards, an interesting look into early Taylor, because by the early sixties he was played almost exclusively original compositions. One of the most uncompromising and unique pianists in jazz, his difficult and percussive style has placed him in a class of his own, making him one of those artists you either love or hate...but love or hate him, there is no denying his contribution to jazz, and that his visionary music is still ahead of the pack."