Jazz / Bop, Hard Bop
Recorded in New York City, 1960
Billy Taylor (p)
Henry Grimes (b)
Ray Mosca (d)
Billy Taylor has long been an engaging pianist, and this 1960 studio date, originally done for Sesac Repertory, is no exception. His dozen originals nicely showcase his abilities in a trio setting, which also includes bassist Henry Grimes and drummer Ray Mosca. Highlights include his swinging opener, "Warming Up," the gospel-flavored "That's Were It Is," the upbeat blues "Don't Bug Me," and the subtle closer, "No After Taste." Although none of them caught on well enough to remain in his repertoire for the long haul, this CD is worth your consideration if you enjoy potent bop piano in a variety of moods, even though it is kind of short by LP standards. ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
Billy Taylor
Active Decades: '40s, '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s and '00s
Born: Jul 24, 1921 in Greenville, NC
Genre: Jazz
Styles: Bop, Ballads, Hard Bop, Mainstream Jazz, Standards
Billy Taylor has been such an articulate spokesman for jazz, and his profiles on CBS' Sunday Morning television program (where he has been a regular since 1981) are so successful at introducing jazz to a wider audience, that sometimes one can forget how talented a pianist he has been for the past half-century. While not an innovator, Taylor has been flexible enough to play swing, bop, and more advanced styles while always retaining his own musical personality. After graduating from Virginia State College in 1942, he moved to New York and played with such major musicians as Ben Webster, Eddie South, Stuff Smith (with whom he recorded in 1944), and Slam Stewart, among others. In 1951, he was the house pianist at Birdland and soon afterward Taylor formed his first of many trios. He helped found the Jazzmobile in 1965; in 1969, became the first black band director for a network television series (The David Frost Show); in 1975, he earned his doctorate at the University of Massachusetts; and he both founded and served as director for the popular radio program Jazz Alive. But despite his activities in jazz education, Taylor has rarely gone long between performances and recordings, always keeping his bop-based style consistently swinging and fresh.
---Scott Yanow, All Music Guide |
