Cecil Taylor, whose intense, lengthy and complex piano improvisations have redefined jazz and redesigned his instrument, has been awarded the
2013 Kyoto Prize for “Arts and Philosophy: Music”. Prizes for individuals who have “contributed significantly to the progress of science, the advancement of civilization, and the enrichment and elevation of the human spirit” have also been announced in the fields of Advanced Technology and Basic Science.
Taylor has previously been honored with Guggenheim and MacArthur Fellowships, and named an NEA Jazz Master among other awards and prizes.
The Kyoto Prize was established by Kazuo Inamori in 1984; Dr. Inamori is also the founder of the Kyocera Corporation.
