Cecil Taylor, U.S. pioneer of jazz improvisation, earns Kyoto Prize KYOTO, Japan, June 22 (UPI) -- New York jazz pianist Cecil Taylor was among the recipients of the annual Kyoto Prize announced in Japan this week. Taylor is known for his improvisational, avante garde work at the keyboard, which has been critically acclaimed as pioneering and influential, The New York Times said Saturday. The 84-year-old Taylor will receive his award, which includes a cash prize of 50 million yen ($510,000) at a ceremony in Kyoto in November. The other laureates for 2013 were biologist Masatoshi Nei and electronics engineer Robert Dennard.