Live in the Black Forest cover

Live in the Black Forest

Cecil Taylor · 1978

50 min · 2 tracks · jazz

A frenetic exploration of sound where dissonance and rhythm collide in a captivating avant-garde jazz experience.

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Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    The Eel Pot — This nearly twenty-five-minute piece exemplifies Taylor's mastery of extended improvisation, intertwining intricate melodies with rhythmically complex passages that challenge conventional jazz forms.
  • →
    Sperichill on Calling — Offering a contrasting yet equally vibrant experience, this track showcases Taylor's dynamic interplay between piano and percussive sounds, creating a rich tapestry of experimental jazz.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental
76 /100
Alpine
Higher than 98% of albums we've rated

The album showcases intense improvisation and unique piano techniques, marking it as a standout in avant-garde jazz.

What we noticed

  • The album features two lengthy tracks that each explore complex rhythmic patterns and dissonant harmonies, creating an immersive soundscape.
  • Cecil Taylor's piano work is characterized by rapid-fire notes and unconventional chord progressions, often layering multiple melodic lines simultaneously.
  • The performance includes moments of silence and dynamic contrasts, allowing for tension and release throughout the extended improvisations.
Composition 25% of the score
8/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
9/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
7/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
9/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
6/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

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

  • 1 The Eel Pot 24:57
  • 2 Sperichill on Calling 25:08

What to play next

Cecil Taylor Unit
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Air Above Mountains (Buildings Within)

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Full Cecil Taylor discography Where to start with Cecil Taylor Artists like Cecil Taylor
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Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata