''Conversations with Tony Oxley'' is a live album by pianist

Cecil Taylor Cecil Percival Taylor (March 25, 1929April 5, 2018) was an American pianist and poet. Taylor was classically trained and was one of the pioneers of free jazz. His music is characterized by an energetic, physical approach, resulting in complex ...

and drummer

Tony Oxley Tony Oxley (born 15 June 1938) is an English free improvising drummer and one of the founders of Incus Records. Biography Oxley was born in Sheffield, England. A self-taught pianist by the age of eight, he first began playing the drums at s ...

. It was recorded at the Chamber Music Hall of the

Berliner Philharmonie The Berliner Philharmonie () is a concert hall in Berlin, Germany, and home to the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. The Philharmonie lies on the south edge of the city's Tiergarten and just west of the former Berlin Wall. The Philharmonie is o ...

in Berlin, Germany in February 2008, and was released in 2018 by Jazzwerkstatt.

Reception

In a review for ''Jazz Views'', Jack Kenny wrote: "The improvisation on this album is total from both players. This is listening music... the intensity varies, stretching both men as cymbal splashes complement notes from the higher reaches of the keyboard. Sometimes the music stops and all we can hear is silence before the momentum gathers again. This is exciting music that demands complete attention, your absorption, and is rewarding in a way that is quite rare." Writing for ''

The New York City Jazz Record ''The New York City Jazz Record'' is a monthly New York City based publication that includes features, reviews and concert announcements regarding jazz music. It is available in print form (black and white hardcopy) as well as online at www.nycjaz ...

'', Duck Baker commented: "When the two musicians are in sync the music seems to flow through them both from a source beyond either. Clearly Taylor generally leads and the drummer follows, but so quick are Oxley's instincts that his responses often lead perfectly in the direction the pianist was aiming to take, so that they seem to move in unison... those who love Taylor will definitely want ''Conversations''." Martin Schray of ''The Free Jazz Collective'' stated that the music is "about the exchange of cultural experiences and the sensitivity of sound – different musical languages, but mutually inspiring. Oxley often anticipates what Taylor plans (particularly as to dynamics) and is able to react immediately."

Track listing

# "Berlin Conversations 1" – 37:18 # "Berlin Conversations 2" – 18:53 # "Berlin Conversations 3" – 17:04 # "Berlin Conversations 4" – 4:50

Personnel

– piano *

– drums

References

{{Tony Oxley 2018 live albums Cecil Taylor live albums Tony Oxley live albums