Leaf Palm Hand cover

Leaf Palm Hand

Cecil Taylor · 1989

69 min · 5 tracks · jazz · avant-garde music

A sprawling exploration of improvisational jazz, merging dissonance with lyrical beauty through Taylor's innovative piano technique.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • long central piece for reflection
  • immersive exploration of improvisation
  • cathartic resolution in sound
  • dynamic shifts in pacing

Maybe skip if you want

  • prefer short, standalone tracks
  • seek instant gratification

Where this album fits

Career context
By the time 'Leaf Palm Hand' was released in 1989, Cecil Taylor had established himself as a leading figure in avant-garde jazz since his debut in the mid-1950s. This album came during a period where he increasingly embraced extended compositions and complex structures, following his influential recordings like 'Unit Structures' (1966) and 'Conquistador!' (1966), showcasing his evolution as an artist.
Stylistic neighbors
Sun Ra· Ornette Coleman· Anthony Braxton

Tracklist

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

  • 1 Stylobate 1 17:26
  • 2 Leaf Palm Hand 42:20
  • 3 Chimes 3:50
  • 4 Stylobate 2 3:23
  • 5 The Old Canal 2:42

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata