The great John Taylor

Bev Stapleton · May 4th, 2004, 07:31 AM

Apologies but I'm still on a Cheltenham high at present.

This years artist in residence was John Taylor, a player I've been listening to since I first took to jazz in the mid-70s (and he was over ten years into his career at that point!).

He did a wonderful big band gig with fresh arrangements of tunes from across his career and then the following day a chamber like quartet gig with Chris Laurence, John Abercrombie and Mark Feldman - beautiful, beautiful stuff. Very low key but perfect for a late Sunday afternoon.

But the real stunner was the solo gig he did on the last evening. A 15 minute interview where he talked about his background, his classical influences and the European dimension in his playing. And recalled his first gig as Ronnie Scott's house pianist backing Joe Henderson for three weeks.

He then performed four exquisite solo pieces that had me transfixed for their brief duration. Here was a voice coming from the same place as Elgar, Vaughan Williams and Finzi yet through a different style. The lark was certainly ascending for that twenty minutes.

What is really good is how much more we're seeing him on record. His new disc with Charlie Haden, though mainly tunes we know well, is gorgeous.

He announced he's just done a duet disc with Kenny Wheeler. A partnership made in heaven.

yawuh · May 4th, 2004, 08:55 AM

I love his work with Peter Erskine's trio, and his own Rosslyn (from last year) is quite nice.

Munch · May 4th, 2004, 12:42 PM

The last concert I attended featured the splendid piano playing of John Taylor.
With the Tommy Smith, 'Evolution' group that night and in the presence of such notables as Joe Lovano and John Scofield, he was the star of the show for me.

Lovano was sorta second tenor to Smith and seemed just to get room to play around the edges.

bubber · May 5th, 2004, 01:45 AM

Taylor did a solo concert at Molde Jazz Festival last year - excellent!

Bev Stapleton · May 5th, 2004, 08:19 AM

Nice to hear those reactions from different countries.

Listening to him on Monday I was wondering if his relatively low profile might be connected with his very 'English' approach to playing. He rarely touches on blues sequences and much of what he writes has a clear link to English classical music...something he put has hands up to at the talk. He even used the 'pastoral' word to describe his music, often a term of censure!

Fanciful, I know, but I hear the English countryside in many of his compositions as a do with VW and Delius. It made me wonder if a listener not very familiar with such reference points might not pick up on what leads his admirers to adore his music.

I know I've seen his recordings referred to as 'cold', 'abstract' and....insult of insult...typically ECM!

I played the first three Azimuth recordings through consecutively last night and found them as warm and engaging as any of the other music I love.

sidewinder · May 8th, 2004, 10:49 AM

For some 'hot' Taylor I always put on Surman's 'Tales Of The Algonquin' and Harry Beckett's 'Flare Up'. 'Rollie's Theme' on the latter has some pretty funky electric keyboard work from the maestro, albeit at a very early stage of his career.

jazzdude · May 16th, 2004, 10:20 PM

I have a few John Taylor albums, including last year's "Rossyln." They're OK. He tends to sound like the other pianists on ECM who in turn sound like Keith Jarrett, the quintessential ECM pianist. I would like to see him live, though.

RogerFarbey · May 17th, 2004, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sidewinder

For some 'hot' Taylor I always put on Surman's 'Tales Of The Algonquin' and Harry Beckett's 'Flare Up'. 'Rollie's Theme' on the latter has some pretty funky electric keyboard work from the maestro, albeit at a very early stage of his career.

Another one from his early period is the Jazz Poll Winners 1968 album which definitely needs to be re-issued on CD. Some stunning musicianship from Taylor plus Oxley, Skidmore, Beckett, Osborne, Miller and Surman. Also, each of the tracks is excellent particularly Surman's little known gem 'Winter Song'.

kdd · May 26th, 2004, 11:51 PM

I like Surman's "Tales Of The Algonquin" and Harry Beckett's "Flare Up" as well but isn't there a John Taylor record with Kenny Wheeler and others (sextet I think) that he made in the '70s? I think it's call "Pause and Think Again" or something like that. Anyone know it?

RogerFarbey · May 27th, 2004, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kdd

I like Surman's "Tales Of The Algonquin" and Harry Beckett's "Flare Up" as well but isn't there a John Taylor record with Kenny Wheeler and others (sextet I think) that he made in the '70s? I think it's call "Pause and Think Again" or something like that. Anyone know it?

"Pause and Think Again" was reissued on the FMR label and should still be available - excellent album too

The Touch · June 2nd, 2004, 02:51 PM

I first heard JT with Alan Skidmore on the latter's TCB album in 1970.
I later bought "Jazz in Britain 68-69". This is related to Miles' ESP and "Miles Smiles" of some 5 years before. Taylor's facility at all tempos, and especially with shifting tempos, was stunning even then. I was a Skidmore fan, and went to a live performance of Surman/Warren's "Tales of The Algonquin" in '71 - specifically to hear Alan Skidmore. I left the concert stunned with the work of both Kenny Wheeler and John Taylor. I have been real JT enthusiast ever since.
I agree about a CD release of the "68-69" session - it's beautiful - especially the Skidmore Quintet tracks with Taylor. I later heard the previously issued tracks from this session: "Once Upon A Time" (which I'd missed - I was just too young!). The whole session should be made available. I don't think there was any better jazz produced in Europe (or anywhere else!) at the time.
- I've always felt it was the next step on from the Rendell-Carr work of the previous 5 years, and represented the pinnacle of ("non-free jazz") European
jazz improvisation.
It didn't last; British record companies lost interest and the players became involved in a variety of European free jazz and "jazz rock" sessions - which presumably paid better!
Still, JT has provided some stunning work in a variety of contexts since, especially in the last 15 years, with more releases under his own name in the last 3 years than the previous 30 or so.
He is currently enjoying his position at the pinnacle of European jazz piano playing, and the number of younger pianists, especially form Germany, Italy and The Netherlands, who pay tribute to both John's influence, and often also support, is growing daily.
- John of course, with typical modesty, would deny this!

The Touch · June 3rd, 2004, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munch

The last concert I attended featured the splendid piano playing of John Taylor.
With the Tommy Smith, 'Evolution' group that night and in the presence of such notables as Joe Lovano and John Scofield, he was the star of the show for me.

Lovano was sorta second tenor to Smith and seemed just to get room to play around the edges.

- Totally agree!
I went to the St Andrew's concert with my son (decidedly NOT a jazz fan!).
- The only thing he liked was JT's playing, and I must say I agreed. He held the whole thing together and provided most of the invention and subtlety.

Bev Stapleton · November 1st, 2004, 01:10 PM

Just noticed John now has a website:

http://www.johntaylorjazz.com/pages/biography.html

peter rh · November 3rd, 2004, 01:19 PM

on HMV UK new releases : Where Do We Go From Here
Wheeler,Kenny: John Taylor - Release date: 10-10-2004 / CAMJAZZ

Bev Stapleton · November 3rd, 2004, 01:32 PM

I've had this on order from Amazon for a month and they've just told me it will take another 4-6 weeks. Think I'll do what I should have done in the first place...order it from jazzos.

May 4th, 2004, 07:31 AM	#1
Bev Stapleton Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 7,317	The great John Taylor Apologies but I'm still on a Cheltenham high at present. This years artist in residence was John Taylor, a player I've been listening to since I first took to jazz in the mid-70s (and he was over ten years into his career at that point!). He did a wonderful big band gig with fresh arrangements of tunes from across his career and then the following day a chamber like quartet gig with Chris Laurence, John Abercrombie and Mark Feldman - beautiful, beautiful stuff. Very low key but perfect for a late Sunday afternoon. But the real stunner was the solo gig he did on the last evening. A 15 minute interview where he talked about his background, his classical influences and the European dimension in his playing. And recalled his first gig as Ronnie Scott's house pianist backing Joe Henderson for three weeks. He then performed four exquisite solo pieces that had me transfixed for their brief duration. Here was a voice coming from the same place as Elgar, Vaughan Williams and Finzi yet through a different style. The lark was certainly ascending for that twenty minutes. What is really good is how much more we're seeing him on record. His new disc with Charlie Haden, though mainly tunes we know well, is gorgeous. He announced he's just done a duet disc with Kenny Wheeler. A partnership made in heaven.

May 16th, 2004, 10:20 PM	#7
jazzdude Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 708	From sunny Southern Calif. here I have a few John Taylor albums, including last year's "Rossyln." They're OK. He tends to sound like the other pianists on ECM who in turn sound like Keith Jarrett, the quintessential ECM pianist. I would like to see him live, though.

June 2nd, 2004, 02:51 PM	#11
The Touch Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Central Scotland Posts: 13	My Favourite Pianist I first heard JT with Alan Skidmore on the latter's TCB album in 1970. I later bought "Jazz in Britain 68-69". This is related to Miles' ESP and "Miles Smiles" of some 5 years before. Taylor's facility at all tempos, and especially with shifting tempos, was stunning even then. I was a Skidmore fan, and went to a live performance of Surman/Warren's "Tales of The Algonquin" in '71 - specifically to hear Alan Skidmore. I left the concert stunned with the work of both Kenny Wheeler and John Taylor. I have been real JT enthusiast ever since. I agree about a CD release of the "68-69" session - it's beautiful - especially the Skidmore Quintet tracks with Taylor. I later heard the previously issued tracks from this session: "Once Upon A Time" (which I'd missed - I was just too young!). The whole session should be made available. I don't think there was any better jazz produced in Europe (or anywhere else!) at the time. - I've always felt it was the next step on from the Rendell-Carr work of the previous 5 years, and represented the pinnacle of ("non-free jazz") European jazz improvisation. It didn't last; British record companies lost interest and the players became involved in a variety of European free jazz and "jazz rock" sessions - which presumably paid better! Still, JT has provided some stunning work in a variety of contexts since, especially in the last 15 years, with more releases under his own name in the last 3 years than the previous 30 or so. He is currently enjoying his position at the pinnacle of European jazz piano playing, and the number of younger pianists, especially form Germany, Italy and The Netherlands, who pay tribute to both John's influence, and often also support, is growing daily. - John of course, with typical modesty, would deny this!

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May 4th, 2004, 08:55 AM	#2
yawuh Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: USA Posts: 550	I love his work with Peter Erskine's trio, and his own Rosslyn (from last year) is quite nice.

May 4th, 2004, 12:42 PM	#3
Munch Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Scotland Posts: 231	The last concert I attended featured the splendid piano playing of John Taylor. With the Tommy Smith, 'Evolution' group that night and in the presence of such notables as Joe Lovano and John Scofield, he was the star of the show for me. Lovano was sorta second tenor to Smith and seemed just to get room to play around the edges.

May 5th, 2004, 01:45 AM	#4
bubber Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: norway Posts: 1,815	Taylor did a solo concert at Molde Jazz Festival last year - excellent!

May 5th, 2004, 08:19 AM	#5
Bev Stapleton Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 7,317	Nice to hear those reactions from different countries. Listening to him on Monday I was wondering if his relatively low profile might be connected with his very 'English' approach to playing. He rarely touches on blues sequences and much of what he writes has a clear link to English classical music...something he put has hands up to at the talk. He even used the 'pastoral' word to describe his music, often a term of censure! Fanciful, I know, but I hear the English countryside in many of his compositions as a do with VW and Delius. It made me wonder if a listener not very familiar with such reference points might not pick up on what leads his admirers to adore his music. I know I've seen his recordings referred to as 'cold', 'abstract' and....insult of insult...typically ECM! I played the first three Azimuth recordings through consecutively last night and found them as warm and engaging as any of the other music I love.

May 8th, 2004, 10:49 AM	#6
sidewinder Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 236	For some 'hot' Taylor I always put on Surman's 'Tales Of The Algonquin' and Harry Beckett's 'Flare Up'. 'Rollie's Theme' on the latter has some pretty funky electric keyboard work from the maestro, albeit at a very early stage of his career.

May 26th, 2004, 11:51 PM	#9
kdd Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Purchase, NY Posts: 124	I like Surman's "Tales Of The Algonquin" and Harry Beckett's "Flare Up" as well but isn't there a John Taylor record with Kenny Wheeler and others (sextet I think) that he made in the '70s? I think it's call "Pause and Think Again" or something like that. Anyone know it?

November 1st, 2004, 01:10 PM	#13
Bev Stapleton Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 7,317	Just noticed John now has a website: http://www.johntaylorjazz.com/pages/biography.html

November 3rd, 2004, 01:19 PM	#14
peter rh Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: UK Posts: 2,112	on HMV UK new releases : Where Do We Go From Here Wheeler,Kenny: John Taylor - Release date: 10-10-2004 / CAMJAZZ

November 3rd, 2004, 01:32 PM	#15
Bev Stapleton Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 7,317	I've had this on order from Amazon for a month and they've just told me it will take another 4-6 weeks. Think I'll do what I should have done in the first place...order it from jazzos.