One of the proponents of “free jazz” was pianist Cecil Taylor, whose albums always defied description and pigeon holing. These eight albums were like gauntlets thrown at the time, and still challenge the boundaries of modern classical and jazz. His 1956 debut with Steve Lacy/ss, Buell Neidlinger/b and Dennis Charles/dr dazzles, with a prismatic “Sweet and Lovely” and bopping read of Thelonious Monk’s “Bemsha Swing” with a jarring “Nona Blues” thrown in. In 1958, Taylor is fairly accessible with Earl Griffith/vib, Denis Charles/dr and Neidlilnger, with Taylor wailing on “Excursions On A Wobbly Rail” and sparkling on “Of What”. The same year, Taylor drives hard with tenor giant John Coltrane in a fierce quartet setting on “Just Friends” and “Shifting Down”. In 1959 Taylor releases his arguably most approachable album with Charles and Neidlinger, producing a poppish “I Love Paris” and other Cole Porter compositions. The following year, Taylor brings in tenor titan Archie Shepp for some fiery things like “Air” and “Lazy Afternoon” while the standard “This Was Nearly Mine” is simply jaw dropping. Finally, 1961 produces a session with Shepp, Lacy, Clark Terry/tp, Charles Davis/bs, Roswell Rudd/tb and drummer Billy Higgins for some futuristic readings of “Things Ain’t What They Used To Be” as well as some abstract directions on “Cindy’s Main Mood” and “Cell Walk For Celest”. Ahead of and beyond time.