Classics 1952-1953

The third volume in the complete recordings of pianist Billy Taylor opens with five selections from a live trio session recorded at the Storyville Club in Boston during the autumn of 1952 and subsequently released on the Roost record label. The powerful presence of bassist Charles Mingus brought out the best in Billy Taylor and his drummer Marquis Foster. Taylor's wonderfully facile improvisations are stunning on this live date. Beginning with the Prestige studio session of November 18, 1952, he alternately bubbles or simmers in the company of bassist Earl May and drummer Charlie Smith. Four mambos recorded on May 7, 1953 find Taylor and May surrounded by congas, bongos, maracas and timbale. Billy Taylor's style owed something to Bud Powell and Art Tatum; he was operating in a set of grooves that paralleled those being used by Al Haig, Erroll Garner, Sir Charles Thompson, Oscar Peterson, Ahmad Jamal, and, at times, even Lennie Tristano and Herbie Nichols. This excellent compilation is highly recommended, especially on account of the extended bass solos of Charles Mingus. ~ arwulf arwulf|