Search - Art Taylor :: At's Delight

Five anyway

Jazzcat | Genoa, Italy Italy | 08/19/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A very beautiful session from 1960. The leader, Art Taylor one of the greatest drummers of the period in his only leader date for Blue Note. The line up is very well assembled with Turrentine and Dave Burns as the horns and a fantastic rhythmn section with Wynton Kelly and Paul Chambers. No record could sound less than amazing with these musicians. The program is very nice indeed, with a Coltrane tune "Syeeda's Song Flute", "Move" the bebop anthem by Denzil Best (another drummer), Monk's "Epistrophy", an original by Taylor and two by the trumpeter kenny Dorham (the author of the famous Blue Bossa). One of Kenny's tunes, tha closing number is a beautiful minor blues. In the end a very very beautiful session. Just one thing I don't like, but maybe it's only my taste. I think that without the Patato Valdes Congas the album would not lose anything of its beauty, on the contrary. I would have preferred the music without the congas parts but ... it's a drummer's date so I guess they would liked to underline the percussions parts. Anyway Valdes is heard extensively only in Epistropy, Move and Cooko and Fungi ... but if he decided to stay at home that day, I would have appreciate ... five stars anyway."

A Delight Indeed!

JoeyD | los gatos, ca | 02/14/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wow! What a recording! All six pieces are excellent, not a bad one in the bunch. Always have been a big fan of the great Art Taylor (Art Blakey Lite) and his sessions as a leader, rarely ever disappoint. Dave Burns on trumpet might be the biggest suprise here, as he just tears it up and his symmetry with Stanley Turrentine (tenor) is a marvel to the ears. I have never personally been a big fan of the congas (Patato Valdes) but I do dig the way he and Taylor work together, especially on Denzil Best's "Move" (which also features a great muted jam by Burns) and Taylor's "Cookoo & Fungi" (Valdes really stands out on this one).



This 1960 session is definitely worth turning on. Rudy Van G. and Alfred Lion sure did produce some classics and this one truly does fall into that sleeper classic category. Also along for the ride in this sensational sextet are Wynton Kelly on the keys and Paul Chambers on bass. Seriously, with this line-up, how can you go wrong? Again, I was greatly impressed by the work of Burns on trumpet, I could have sworn I was listening to Kenny Dorham on "High Seas".



So add this one to your list folks of great Be-Bop from the golden era of jazz!"

Short and sweet

Steven D. wheeler | LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK United States | 01/23/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album swings hard.The late great patato was a comsumate conguero.Big Paul,ART, and the rest of the gang bangs too"