Cecil Taylor & Buell Neidlinger - New York City R&B

1989 CD reissue.

Originally released under bassist Buell Neidlinger's name in 1961, this 4 song album contains two tracks featuring a trio with pianist Taylor, bassist Neidlinger and drummer Billy Higgins. One track adds the young tenor Archie Shepp (and has Dennis Charles in Higgins's place). This music is quite advanced for the period, although more accessible to the average listener than Taylor's later recordings; at least one can hear (even in abstract form) his connection to the bebop tradition and to Duke Ellington. The most intriguing track is a version of "Things Ain't What They Used to Be" that not only has Taylor, Neidlinger, Higgins and Shepp, but Steve Lacy on soprano, baritonist Charles Davis, trombonist Roswell Rudd and trumpeter Clark Terry.