R.I.P. Cecil Taylor

Cecil Taylor has died. The legendary pianist recently celebrated his 89^th birthday. What a legend. What a legacy. He took what Art Tatum started and freed it. That’s a simple description – but it’s how I’ve always heard him.

Taylor – along with Ornette Coleman, Albert Ayler and John Coltrane was one of the towering giants of free jazz – one of the educat…