Winged Serpent cover

Winged Serpent

Cecil Taylor · 1985

42 min · 4 tracks · jazz

A sprawling exploration of free jazz, weaving intricate textures with hypnotic rhythms and avant-garde improvisation.

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Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Womb Waters Scent of the Burning Armadillo Shell — This track exemplifies Taylor's ability to merge abstract soundscapes with rhythmic complexity, creating an immersive listening experience that captures the essence of avant-garde jazz.
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    Winged Serpent — The title track features a remarkable interplay of percussive piano and layered textures, reflecting Taylor's innovative approach to composition and improvisation.
  • →
    Taht — Opening the album, this track sets the tone with its dynamic shifts and intricate motifs, showcasing Taylor’s virtuosity and unique style right from the start.

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 intricate improvisation and unique piano techniques, marking it as a significant work in avant-garde jazz.

What we noticed

  • The album consists of four lengthy tracks, each featuring extended improvisation that often shifts in tempo and dynamics.
  • Each track develops organically, with motifs emerging and evolving rather than following traditional song structures.
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 Taht 8:50
  • 2 Womb Waters Scent of the Burning Armadillo Shell 13:04
  • 3 Cun-Un-Un-Un-An 7:10
  • 4 Winged Serpent 13:54

What to play next

The Eighth
Listen next

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Historic Concerts
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Historic Concerts

1984
Full Cecil Taylor discography Where to start with Cecil Taylor Artists like Cecil Taylor
avant-garde music jazz

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata