The contents of this rather brief set feature trio selections with
Cecil Taylor and bassist
Buell Neidlinger, plus drummer
Billy Higgins (one performance adds the young tenor
Archie Shepp and has
Dennis Charles in
Higgins' place). The music is quite advanced for the period, although more accessible to the average listener than
Taylor's later recordings; one can hear, even in abstract form, his connection to the bebop tradition and to
Duke Ellington. Speaking of the latter, the most intriguing selection 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, making for a very interesting mixture of styles. ~ Scott Yanow