Spring of Two Blue J's
Encyclopedia
Spring of Two Blue J's is a live album
by Cecil Taylor
recorded at The Town Hall
in New York City in November 1974 and originally released on Taylor's Unit Core label and rereleased on the Jazz View label. The LP features one side-long solo performance by Taylor and one side-long quartet performance with Jimmy Lyons
, Sirone
, and Andrew Cyrille
.
The Allmusic review by Stephen Cook states "The extended solo piece finds Taylor subtly moving from faint, romantic chords into knotty and mercurial ruminations, then ending the piece with tumultuous runs over the entire keyboard. With its keen call-and-response motives, endlessly fertile improvisation, and intuitive shifts in dynamics, this piano exploration qualifies as one of Taylor's best and most accessible. The ensemble version is predictably more intense. While Cyrille compliments and provokes Taylor with his supple and energetic work behind the kit, Lyons alternates between comically detached commentary and frenetic wailing on the alto. Sirone gets lost in the mix, but is heard to great effect on a solo spot at the end of the piece".
was billed as Cecil Taylor's "return" to New York City after a period teaching in the Midwest United States
. The concert program notes said:
"This concert marks the return of Cecil Taylor to New York City
, his birthplace, to embark upon projects conceived during the past three and one-half year while he held the position of artist and composer in residence at the University of Wisconsin and Antioch College
.
"The premiere of the first of these projects will take place at Avery Fisher (Philharmonic) Hall, January 1, 1973. By what can only be termed an ambitious undertaking, it will include the Unit Core, dance, voice, special effects, an ensemble of musicians who have participated in the Cecil Taylor Unit program at the institutions mentioned. Mr. Taylor will be presenting various parts of this project in a series of special programs to take place at the Spring Natural Foods restaurant, 149 Spring Street, in Soho."
Mr. Taylor's self proclaimed manager, David Laura, arranged the production of the concert and engaged Fred Seibert
, Oblivion Records
owner and a Columbia University
WCKR
-FM producer/engineer/DJ, to record the concert for eventual LP release on Taylor's Unit Core Records. Seibert, assisted by Nick Moy and Alan Goodman
, brought a portable Ampex 4-track, half inch, tape recorder, mixers, and microphones to capture the performances. The tapes were mixed twice, first at Blank Tapes in the Chelsea section of Manhattan
, and then again at Generation Sound; engineering advice was provided by world class engineer Tony May, who'd developed high jazz visibility with a series of recordings for Germany's ECM Records. Limited equalization and reverberation were used so as to preserve the acoustics of the original Town Hall recording.
The 1974 LP release was a limited pressing of 2000 albums, independently distributed. The album cover was a solarized photograph by renowned Japanese jazz photographer K. Abe, and the record labels designed by Frank Olinsky (the future designer of the MTV
logo from Manhattan Design
). The record was never repressed or re-released, except in bootlegs of vinyl/digital transfers on obscure European labels. Both LP sides are currently available for free downloads on the internet. The original LP was the second half of the concert, but files of the first half (titled "Autumn" and "Parade") are beginning to surface.
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
by Cecil Taylor
Cecil Taylor
Cecil Percival Taylor is an American pianist and poet. Classically trained, Taylor is generally acknowledged as one of the pioneers of free jazz. His music is characterized by an extremely energetic, physical approach, producing complex improvised sounds, frequently involving tone clusters and...
recorded at The Town Hall
The Town Hall
The Town Hall is a performance space, located at 123 West 43rd Street, between Sixth Avenue and Broadway, in New York City. It seats approximately 1,500 people.-History:...
in New York City in November 1974 and originally released on Taylor's Unit Core label and rereleased on the Jazz View label. The LP features one side-long solo performance by Taylor and one side-long quartet performance with Jimmy Lyons
Jimmy Lyons
Jimmy Lyons was an alto saxophone player. He is best known for his long tenure in the Cecil Taylor Unit.-Biography:...
, Sirone
Sirone (musician)
Norris Jones, better known as Sirone was an American jazz bassist and composer.-Biography:Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Sirone worked in Atlanta late in the 1950s and early in the 1960s with "The Group" alongside George Adams; he also recorded with R&B musicians such as Sam Cooke and Smokey Robinson...
, and Andrew Cyrille
Andrew Cyrille
Andrew Charles Cyrille is an avant-garde jazz drummer.Cyrille was born in Brooklyn, New York into a family with a mother from Haiti. He began studying science at St...
.
The Allmusic review by Stephen Cook states "The extended solo piece finds Taylor subtly moving from faint, romantic chords into knotty and mercurial ruminations, then ending the piece with tumultuous runs over the entire keyboard. With its keen call-and-response motives, endlessly fertile improvisation, and intuitive shifts in dynamics, this piano exploration qualifies as one of Taylor's best and most accessible. The ensemble version is predictably more intense. While Cyrille compliments and provokes Taylor with his supple and energetic work behind the kit, Lyons alternates between comically detached commentary and frenetic wailing on the alto. Sirone gets lost in the mix, but is heard to great effect on a solo spot at the end of the piece".
Track listing
- All compositions by Cecil Taylor.
- "Spring Of Two Blue J's" - 16:19
- "Spring Of Two Blue J's" - 21:29
- Recorded at New York City Town Hall on November 4, 1973
Personnel
- Cecil TaylorCecil TaylorCecil Percival Taylor is an American pianist and poet. Classically trained, Taylor is generally acknowledged as one of the pioneers of free jazz. His music is characterized by an extremely energetic, physical approach, producing complex improvised sounds, frequently involving tone clusters and...
: pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - Jimmy LyonsJimmy LyonsJimmy Lyons was an alto saxophone player. He is best known for his long tenure in the Cecil Taylor Unit.-Biography:...
: alto saxophoneAlto saxophoneThe alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in 1841. It is smaller than the tenor but larger than the soprano, and is the type most used in classical compositions... - SironeSirone (musician)Norris Jones, better known as Sirone was an American jazz bassist and composer.-Biography:Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Sirone worked in Atlanta late in the 1950s and early in the 1960s with "The Group" alongside George Adams; he also recorded with R&B musicians such as Sam Cooke and Smokey Robinson...
: bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2... - Andrew CyrilleAndrew CyrilleAndrew Charles Cyrille is an avant-garde jazz drummer.Cyrille was born in Brooklyn, New York into a family with a mother from Haiti. He began studying science at St...
: drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Recording background & details
This concert at The Town HallThe Town Hall
The Town Hall is a performance space, located at 123 West 43rd Street, between Sixth Avenue and Broadway, in New York City. It seats approximately 1,500 people.-History:...
was billed as Cecil Taylor's "return" to New York City after a period teaching in the Midwest United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The concert program notes said:
"This concert marks the return of Cecil Taylor to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, his birthplace, to embark upon projects conceived during the past three and one-half year while he held the position of artist and composer in residence at the University of Wisconsin and Antioch College
Antioch College
Antioch College is a private, independent liberal arts college in Yellow Springs, Ohio, United States. It was the founder and the flagship institution of the six-campus Antioch University system. Founded in 1852 by the Christian Connection, the college began operating in 1853 with politician and...
.
"The premiere of the first of these projects will take place at Avery Fisher (Philharmonic) Hall, January 1, 1973. By what can only be termed an ambitious undertaking, it will include the Unit Core, dance, voice, special effects, an ensemble of musicians who have participated in the Cecil Taylor Unit program at the institutions mentioned. Mr. Taylor will be presenting various parts of this project in a series of special programs to take place at the Spring Natural Foods restaurant, 149 Spring Street, in Soho."
Mr. Taylor's self proclaimed manager, David Laura, arranged the production of the concert and engaged Fred Seibert
Fred Seibert
Frederick "Fred" Seibert is a television and film producer and entertainment entrepreneur who owns Frederator Studios, and who has held leading positions with MTV Networks, Hanna-Barbera, and Next New Networks; he owns Frederator Studios...
, Oblivion Records
Oblivion Records
Oblivion Records was an American independent record label that focused on under recorded blues and jazz musicians. The company was based in Huntington, New York and New York City and a post office box in Roslyn Heights, New York from 1972–1976....
owner and a Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
WCKR
WCKR
WCKR is a radio station broadcasting a Country music format. Licensed to Hornell, New York, USA, the station serves the Elmira-Corning area. The station is currently owned by Pmj Communications, Inc.....
-FM producer/engineer/DJ, to record the concert for eventual LP release on Taylor's Unit Core Records. Seibert, assisted by Nick Moy and Alan Goodman
Alan Goodman
Alan Goodman has played a key role in creating and launching many media brands since 1981, first in cable television and now for the internet and other platforms....
, brought a portable Ampex 4-track, half inch, tape recorder, mixers, and microphones to capture the performances. The tapes were mixed twice, first at Blank Tapes in the Chelsea section of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, and then again at Generation Sound; engineering advice was provided by world class engineer Tony May, who'd developed high jazz visibility with a series of recordings for Germany's ECM Records. Limited equalization and reverberation were used so as to preserve the acoustics of the original Town Hall recording.
The 1974 LP release was a limited pressing of 2000 albums, independently distributed. The album cover was a solarized photograph by renowned Japanese jazz photographer K. Abe, and the record labels designed by Frank Olinsky (the future designer of the MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
logo from Manhattan Design
Manhattan Design
Manhattan Design was a graphic design collective in New York City from 1979 until 1991. The studio is known for having designed the MTV logo, as well as album packaging, posters, books, and magazines...
). The record was never repressed or re-released, except in bootlegs of vinyl/digital transfers on obscure European labels. Both LP sides are currently available for free downloads on the internet. The original LP was the second half of the concert, but files of the first half (titled "Autumn" and "Parade") are beginning to surface.