Music Review

Olu Iwa (1994)

EW's GRADE
B

Details Lead Performance: Cecil Taylor; Genre: Jazz

Because avant-garde piano genius Cecil Taylor is one of the most original jazz players, any effort by him compels attention. There are occasional moments of great felicity on this new work, Olu Iwa. Midway through the title track, his fingers scamper at a wondrously improbable velocity across the keyboard. (Think of spiders on speed.) But on the much longer ''B Ee Ba Nganga Ban'a Eee!''-one of his least accessible offerings in ages-the mood grows surly and the cacophony quotient high. B

Originally posted May 27, 1994 Published in issue #224 May 27, 1994 Order article reprints

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