Billy Taylor has passed

[Free For All]

Sad news.

Obit

[sidewinder]

Weird, as I was just watching his interview on the Jackie Paris 'Tis Autumn' DVD only half an hour ago. So sorry to hear this - RIP.

[mikeweil]

Goodbye Dr. Taylor, and thanks for the music.

Will spin some of his records later tonight ....

[AllenLowe]

I only met him once, and I had certain preconceived notions - and he turned out to be one of the nicest, most genuine, sincere, and open people I've met in the jazz biz. Good guy.

[mr jazz]

One of the greats is gone. I'm just glad I saw him perform several times, always at the highest level.

[JSngry]

I had certain preconceived notions -

Me too, musically, but his three-part Cadence interview turned out to be one of the most entertaining and historically interesting oral histories I've ever read in that magazine. Plus, his playing on the Dizzy/Trane live bootlegs is pretty damn impressive. Be-bop Tatum is the only ready description that comes to mind...

My question is this - will the family have to pay extra to find a coffin with a lid that will accommodate those jumbotron eyeglasses?

RIP, Doctor.

[Teasing the Korean]

I only met him once, and I had certain preconceived notions - and he turned out to be one of the nicest, most genuine, sincere, and open people I've met in the jazz biz. Good guy.

Allen, why don't you pass the time by playing a little solitaire?

[J.A.W.]

Sad news. Sorry to hear this.

[save0904]

Goodbye Mr. Taylor

[clifford_thornton]

Whoa.

RIP.

[Mark Stryker]

New York Times obituary: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/30/arts/music/30taylor.html?hp

[six string]

I came to know his music late in life but I've come to really appreciate his style and sound. He certainly did a lot for the music, that's for sure. I'll be spinning some of his music today in his honor.

[Dan Gould]

Sad news. I'd be very interested to read that Cadence interview.

[six string]

All I have by him is Midnight Piano, The Billy Taylor Touch and Dr. T. Any recomendations beyond those would be appreciated!

[medjuck]

I'm just reading Brian Priestley's bio of Mingus where he says how important Taylor was for Mingus when Mingus first arrived in New York. I saw him perform once with Herbie Mann as his guest soloist. Good concert.

[Dave James]

I'm sure many people were introduced to jazz via his pieces on CBS' Sunday Morning. As a musician and an educator, he'll certainly be missed.

[Alexander]

Yeah, Jason Moran posted about this on Facebook earlier today. Very sad...

[PHILLYQ]

He did a LOT to bring jazz to the public, via Jazzmobile in NYC, his spots on CBS, etc etc. RIP, he was a huge friend to the music.

[Teasing the Korean]

I dig his Prestige album with Candido. RIP.

[king ubu]

Thank you for all the music!

r.i.p.

[Hardbopjazz]

Man, not another one.

Rest in peace Billy. You brought jazz to the people that couldn't afford to go to clubs through Jazzmobile. You will be missed.

[flat5]

Billy Taylor - Uptown Live 1960

Billy Taylor, piano

Henry Grimes, bass

Ray Mosca, drums

Pianist Billy Taylor's regular trio of 1960 (which also includes bassist Henry

Grimes and drummer Ray Mosca) sounds quite tight on this live set, even though

they had only been together a brief time. Taylor performs a wide-ranging

program within the modern mainstream of the early '60s, including pieces by

Erroll Garner ("La Petite Mambo"), Duke Jordan and Bobby Timmons (a heartfelt

rendition of "Moanin"), four of his originals (highlighted by the boppish

"Biddy's Beat") and a driving version of "'S Wonderful." Although Taylor's

activities as a highly articulate spokesman for jazz have sometimes

overshadowed his playing, he shows throughout this fine CD reissue that he has

long ranked among the best.

---

This is a GOOD record!

Goodbye, Doctor Taylor.

[mjzee]

An appreciation by Will Friedwald in WSJ

[Peter Friedman]

Billy Taylor made a number of important contributions to jazz. Not only as a piano player, but as a commentator on the Sunday Morning television program, and as a key person

behind the Jazz Mobile Program that took jazz to the people and provided great music at no cost to the listener. I recall seeing free Jazz Mobile Concerts in Rochester,New york a number

of times and they all featured top level musicians from (primarily) New York City.

i will play one of his CDs to honor him.

[John L]

RIP