Harlem Stage Presents CECIL TAYLOR: A CELEBRATION OF THE MAESTRO, Now thru 5/22

Legendary pianist and poet Cecil Taylor is one of the greatest improvisers in the history of modern jazz. Since the first performances of his quartet at the Five Spot Cafe in 1956, he has unflinchingly and tirelessly worked to define a sound that is still light years ahead of its time. His playing has been called fierce, constructivist, percussive, and atonal. We call it a thing of beauty, an expression of pure genius.

Harlem Stage and the ISSUE Project Room, in association with Columbia University and the Anthology Film Archives, present Cecil Taylor: A Celebration of the Maestro, May 8-22. This unique celebration of the great maestro, Cecil Taylor, features a range of performances, readings, conversations and screenings as well as two extremely rare performances by Cecil Taylor himself.

Celebrating Cecil at Harlem Stage
Featuring pianists Vijay Iyer, Craig Taborn and Amina Claudine Myers, and special guest Amiri Baraka
Tue & Wed, May 8 & 9, 8:00 PM at the Harlem Stage Gatehouse / $10

Three of the day's celebrated pianists will honor the uncompromising creative force of Cecil Taylor in an evening of solos and duos for piano, with a special performance of poetry by Amiri Baraka.
Dig Deeper on Wednesday night with a post- performance discussion – “Decoding Cecil” – with George E. Lewis and the artists.

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Celebrating Cecil at Harlem Stage is presented as part of the Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival, an annual festival produced by Harlem Stage, The Apollo and Jazzmobile.

Celebrating Cecil at ISSUE Project Room
Featuring Thollem McDonas and Arrington de Dionyso and The William Hooker Ensemble
Wed, May 16, 8:00 PM at ISSUE Project Room / $15 / $12 for ISSUE members

In this evening dedicated to Taylor’s mastery and enduring influence, virtuoso pianist Thollem McDonas performs solo and with bass clarinetist Arrington de Dionyso, followed by a set from the thunderous percussionist and powerhouse bandleader William Hooker.

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An Intimate Evening with Cecil Taylor at Harlem Stage
Thurs, May 17, 7:30 PM at Harlem Stage Gatehouse / $45 / $36 for members

Now in his 83rd year, our own living National Treasure, Cecil Taylor, graces us with an unforgettable one night only performance in the intimate setting of the Harlem StageGatehouse.

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An Intimate Evening with Cecil Taylor at ISSUE Project Room
Sat, May 19, 8:00 PM at ISSUE Project Room / $55 / $45 for ISSUE members

A Brooklynite for thirty years now, Cecil Taylor performs a spellbinding solo evening in his “back yard” at ISSUE Project Room’s unique new historic Downtown Brooklyn theater.

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Anthology Film archives Special Screening of Film Footage with Cecil Taylor
Tue, May 22, 7:30 PM at Anthology Film Archives / $9 general / $7 students/ seniors/children / $6 AFA members

A special screening event of rare archival footage of live concert material by Cecil Taylor and the Cecil Taylor Unit.

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The Harlem Stage Gatehouse
150 Convent Avenue
New York, NY 10031
(212) 281-9240 ext. 19 or 20

ISSUE Project Room
22 Boerum Place
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 330-0313

Anthology Film Archives
32 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10003
(212) 505-5181