Born in Long Island, Taylor started playing piano aged six and graduated from the New England Conservatory. His debut album “Jazz Advance” in 1956 set the stage for the development of his atonal percussive style which would turn out to be influential in the development of free jazz. Taylor collaborated with John Coltrane on the album “Coltrane Time'', and in 1966 he recorded his landmark album “Unit Structures”, which saw him unfold his distinct style in full. He also performed and produced music for theatre and dance, and in the late 1980s performed with many of Europe’s free improvisation elite. His life has been the subject of several documentaries, and he continued to work right up until his death, aged 89.
Photo: Francis Wolff
