89th birthday of Cecil Taylor

(Born 25 March 1929, New York, US)

VIRTUOSO pianist and one of the preeminent leaders of the free-jazz movement beginning in the mid-1950s, prolific composer, poet, academic

(TWO masters’ rare and perhaps only known recording session together: John Coltrane and Cecil Taylor play Coltrane Time, featuring the following four compositions: “Shifting down”, “Just friends”, “Like someone in love”, “Double clutching” [full personnel: Coltrane, tenor saxophone; Kenny Dorham, trumpet; Taylor, piano; Chuck Israels, bass; Louis Hayes, drums; recorded: United Artists Records, New York, US, 13 October 1958])

Twitter @HerbertEkweEkwe

108th birthday of Art Tatum

(Born 13 October 1909, Toledo, Ohio, US)

Piano virtuoso, arguably the most influential jazz pianist in history

(Art Tatum Trio, “Blues in C” [personnel: Tatum, piano; Benny Carter, alto saxophone; Louie Bellson, drums; recorded: Pablo Group, New York, US, 25 June 1954])

Twitter @HerbertEkweEkwe