Search - Cecil Taylor, Derek Bailey :: Pleistozaen Mit Wasser

Cecil vs. guitar

Joe Pierre | Los Angeles, CA United States | 12/17/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The idea behind this concert from Cecil's extended stay in Berlin in 1988 seems like a good one -- the unique pairing of Cecil with Derek Bailey, the European free jazz guitarist -- but for me it's a disappointment. The first part of the concert ('Acoustic Guitar') finds Bailey in the spotlight, picking and strumming somewhat lazily and abstractly on his guitar and sounding as if the strings are wound too slack. Cecil emits some screeches and guttural noises in the background and recites the occasional poetic phrase, and then eventually plucks and scratches at the strings of his piano in the spirit of comaraderie, blurring the lines between his and Bailey's playing. But he really doesn't sit down in front of the keyboard until after Bailey plugs in for the second track ('Electric Guitar') at the half hour mark and even then it takes a while for things to warm up. The last 15 minutes give you an idea of the potential, but too late. This is a quiet and restrained Cecil Taylor effort, but I can't count myself among the fans of Derek Bailey, so I find it frustrating. I find this much more enjoyable if I just skip the first track, and the second has therefore grown on me with repeated listenings, but it's no gem in the CT discography. I still like the idea of Cecil playing with a guitarist, but maybe John McLaughlin or Pat Metheny (I'm thinking Song X here) in an adventuresome mood might work better. But this was the first time Cecil tried playing with a guitarist and he hasn't attempted it again since."

Fantastic

Thor Furbeck | maryland usa | 11/03/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"seriously, if you can be patient, and wait out the intial derek bailey intro, you will find herein some of the most quizzical, interesting interaction between cecil taylor and any collaborator ever. when this session heats up it's almost unbeatable. admittedly, it'd be nice if the two played together longer, but it's totally worth it and gets my 5 stars for the interaction that takes place nontheless. trust me, this is concentrated genius. dont belive the haters, just get this. you wont be sorry."