Cecil Taylor
Unit Structures
Play Unit Structures
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MOG Editorial Review
Over 45 years after its initial release, Cecil Taylor's Unit Structures is still considered to be one of jazz's oddest masterpieces, and rightfully so. Pushing free jazz even further into the avant-garde, Unit Structures is jarring from the first notes of "Steps" and doesn't let up throughout. While each and every member of the septet assembled here is technically sound, it's the way that their instruments clash against one another that make this such an intiguing listen, as Taylor's lightning-fast piano style competes with the sax solos of Jimmy Lyons and crazed drumming of Andre Cyrille. Songs like "Unit Structure/As of Now/Section," which clocks in at over 17 minutes, still sound challenging today, but the enjoyment you'll get out of active listening here once again confirms the ahead-of-its-time genius by Taylor and company.
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AMG Review of Unit Structures
Scott Yanow
All Music GuideAfter several years off records, pianist Cecil Taylor finally had an opportunity to document his music of the mid-'60s on two Blue Note albums (the other one was Conquistador). Taylor's high-energy atonalism fit in well with the free jazz of the period but he was actually leading the way rather than being part of a movement. In fact, this septet outing with trumpeter Eddie Gale, altoist Jimmy Lyons, Ken McIntyre (alternating between alto, oboe and bass clarinet), both Henry Grimes and Alan Silva on basses, and drummer Andrew Cyrille is quite stunning and very intense. In fact, it could be safely argued that no jazz music of the era approached the ferocity and intensity of Cecil Taylor's.
 "Unit Structures")
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