Rabble Without A Cause
Wednesday August 31st, 2011 with Bernard Stepien
Max Roach & Cecil Taylor, 1979

Cecil Taylor and Max Roach are iconic contributors to two distinct revolutions in Jazz history. Max Roach was instrumental for shaping the Be-Bop style in the '40s while Cecil Taylor was instrumental for shaping Free Jazz in the '60s. Both of these musical styles have survived to this day. Be Bop has taken Jazz out of dance halls to more culturally respectable concert halls while Cecil Taylor made an essential connection with the world of classical avant-garde giving Free Jazz not only respectability but more of a prestigious status. After all Cecil Taylor was sponsored by one of the most expensive piano brand, Bösendorfer during the '70s and '80s. Max Roach was by far not an old timer of a revolutionary music. Throughout his life he continued to push Jazz forward searching for unexplored territory. His associations with Free Jazz musicians such as Archie Shepp and Anthony Braxton are already a good track record. Max even went a step further by seeking associations with the new generation of Black musicians called rappers. Thus, in 1979 came the idea to play together with Cecil Taylor. Columbia University in NYC has a well established link to Jazz. For one thing, they harbor one of the finest university radio-station, WKCR of the world and second, they organize a free (moneywise) Jazz Festival every year in August that reflects all components of Jazz and is staffed with the leading Jazz artist. Another Max Roach - Cecil Taylor concert took place in the same location in the year 2000. I was there...