In East Berlin cover

In East Berlin

Cecil Taylor · 1989

144 min · 11 tracks · jazz · avant-garde music

A sprawling exploration of avant-garde soundscapes where chaos and structure intertwine in a dense musical tapestry.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • extended exploratory listening experience
  • immersive soundscape for deep focus
  • patient unfolding of musical ideas
  • chaotic interludes with structured moments

Maybe skip if you want

  • prefer concise, standalone tracks
  • seek immediate gratification

Where this album fits

Career context
Released in 1989, 'In East Berlin' came during Cecil Taylor's prolific phase as a revered innovator in avant-garde jazz. At this point, Taylor had already established himself as a leading figure since the 1950s, continuing to push boundaries with complex compositions and improvisational techniques. The album showcases his long-standing commitment to experimentation and live performance dynamics.
Stylistic neighbors
Sun Ra· Ornette Coleman· Anthony Braxton

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

Disc 1

  • 1 Reinforced Concrete, Part 1 13:46
  • 2 Reinforced Concrete, Part 2 20:33
  • 3 Reinforced Concrete, Part 3 30:22
  • 4 Stone, Part 1 1:47
  • 5 Stone, Part 2 1:13
  • 6 Stone, Part 3 1:13
  • 7 The Old Canal 2:00
  • 8 Stone, Part 4 1:47

Disc 2

  • 1 Puuc, Part 1 38:25
  • 2 Puuc, Part 2 22:37
  • 3 Puuc, Part 3 11:07

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata