marcello Posted February 10, 2006 Report Posted February 10, 2006 I never liked Billy Taylor until I saw him at a couple Jazzmobile concerts. Maybe when he isn't constrained by commercial recordings or appearances, where he has to play for a paying public, he lets his hair down. Both times he was great. The first band included Jimmy Owens, Victor Gaskin, Frank Wess and Freddie Waits. The second band included Charles Sullivan and John Stubblefield. Quote
Christiern Posted February 10, 2006 Report Posted February 10, 2006 He can play but--much like Dick Hyman--his is a generic style that usually ends up boring me. Still, I'd rather listen to him than Hyman. We were at the same dinner party ten days ago and he looked like the work of a taxidermist, with an orange/gold wig and exceedingly unbecoming, oversized glasses. Funny, Primack's puff piece made no mention of Billy's time at WNEW, nor his CBS Sunday Morning work. I always disliked the latter, because he sounded so damn condescending. He was good on WNEW, however, and that's where I first met him, some 42 years ago. I will forever be thankful for the Ornette Coleman Town Hall concert tickets he gave me (because he didn't like Ornette's music) and he deserves our thanks for the Jazzmobile concept. Other than that, let me echo Chuck's words: "no comment." Quote
clifford_thornton Posted February 10, 2006 Report Posted February 10, 2006 We were at the same dinner party ten days ago and he looked like the work of a taxidermist, with an orange/gold wig and exceedingly unbecoming, oversized glasses. They ain't Bill Dixon glasses, that's for sure... Quote
jlhoots Posted February 10, 2006 Report Posted February 10, 2006 He can play but--much like Dick Hyman--his is a generic style that usually ends up boring me. Still, I'd rather listen to him than Hyman. We were at the same dinner party ten days ago and he looked like the work of a taxidermist, with an orange/gold wig and exceedingly unbecoming, oversized glasses. Funny, Primack's puff piece made no mention of Billy's time at WNEW, nor his CBS Sunday Morning work. I always disliked the latter, because he sounded so damn condescending. He was good on WNEW, however, and that's where I first met him, some 42 years ago. I will forever be thankful for the Ornette Coleman Town Hall concert tickets he gave me (because he didn't like Ornette's music) and he deserves our thanks for the Jazzmobile concept. Other than that, let me echo Chuck's words: "no comment." That was a long "no comment". Please post a photo of yourself so we can compare. Quote
Christiern Posted February 10, 2006 Report Posted February 10, 2006 jlhoots: "Please post a photo of yourself so we can compare." Please note: homegrown hair. Quote
catesta Posted February 10, 2006 Report Posted February 10, 2006 "Please note: homegrown hair." It would be impossible not to. Quote
AllenLowe Posted February 10, 2006 Report Posted February 10, 2006 I've had my issues with him, based on public persona, but I spent a few days with him at a conference several years ago and he was a genuinely nice man. And I recently heard him with his trio on BET, and I thought he played extremely well - though I do not like his playing on his earlier recordings - Quote
skeith Posted February 10, 2006 Report Posted February 10, 2006 Actually I thought his CBS Sunday Morning jazz segments were pretty good. I taped a lot of them and still watch them. THis was about the only regular serious presentation of jazz on TV that I am aware of. Quote
Randy Twizzle Posted February 10, 2006 Report Posted February 10, 2006 We were at the same dinner party ten days ago and he looked like the work of a taxidermist, with an orange/gold wig and exceedingly unbecoming, oversized glasses. They ain't Bill Dixon glasses, that's for sure... They're Lew Wasserman glasses Quote
Robert J Posted February 10, 2006 Report Posted February 10, 2006 His book on Jazz Piano made an impression on me in high school. Quote
frank m Posted February 10, 2006 Report Posted February 10, 2006 Years ago, in the fifties, my date and I attended a jazz concert with friends, who knew some of the jazz musicians. After the concert. friends, my date and I and one of the musicians wanted to go the Lou Terrassi's club on the west side of Manhattan, so we piled into a cab and went there, where Billy Taylor and his trio were playing. Billy sat and talked with us thru all of his breaks and was extremely nice to us. My wife and I will always remember him for spending so much time with us. Once again, a VERY nice guy. Quote
fasstrack Posted February 11, 2006 Report Posted February 11, 2006 (edited) He can play but--much like Dick Hyman--his is a generic style that usually ends up boring me. Still, I'd rather listen to him than Hyman. We were at the same dinner party ten days ago and he looked like the work of a taxidermist, with an orange/gold wig and exceedingly unbecoming, oversized glasses. Funny, Primack's puff piece made no mention of Billy's time at WNEW, nor his CBS Sunday Morning work. I always disliked the latter, because he sounded so damn condescending. He was good on WNEW, however, and that's where I first met him, some 42 years ago. I will forever be thankful for the Ornette Coleman Town Hall concert tickets he gave me (because he didn't like Ornette's music) and he deserves our thanks for the Jazzmobile concept. Other than that, let me echo Chuck's words: "no comment." That was a long "no comment". Please post a photo of yourself so we can compare. Good one. Ditto. A little sarcasm goes a long way. Sorry Christiern, but I found much of that that none too funny and not a little mean-spirited (survive a stroke at 76 and come back to full form in looks and activity, then we'll talk. We'll also see how you take to people talking shit about you). The pure opinion stuff is cool, though just that, opinion. As for my own opinion, I have met Dr. Billy not through the music business, but because (like Louis Hayes and a few of my musician friends/peers) he lives in my neighborhood, Riverdale, NY. Not only has he been approachable and friendly when I did meet him (though not knowing me from Adam and fully within his rights to tell me to screw off) on one occasion when I ran into in a local restaurant he did the following: Not only helped guide me to a way to get a lifetime achievement plaque for my friend and mentor Bill Finegan, he (again not knowing me from Adam) specified that I could mention his name. Well, Bill ultimately got his plaque (from ASCAP, not the Kennedy Center, whom I had in mind when approaching him and got his blessing to contact). But I thought that was a beautiful gesture. And that's my one and only Billy Taylor story. Edited February 11, 2006 by fasstrack Quote
Christiern Posted February 11, 2006 Report Posted February 11, 2006 No sarcasm intended, just observation and opinion. Sorry that you misconstrued. Nice story you had to tell, but no surprise there, because Billy is, indeed, a very likable, thoughtful guy and I can only hope that I will have his energy when/if I reach his age (in ten years). Quote
fasstrack Posted February 11, 2006 Report Posted February 11, 2006 Sorry that you misconstrued. If you say so. Quote
fasstrack Posted February 11, 2006 Report Posted February 11, 2006 BTW Christiern: (and this is my last comment on this. Definitely no interest in Internet beefs)To be candid, my sarcasm reference seems to have shot over your head. it was a response not to you, but JHoots' on-the-money take on your post. Best, though. Quote
_forumlogo.png.a607ef20a6e0c299ab2aa6443aa1f32e.png)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.