Search - Billy Taylor :: Warming Up

The Best Billy Taylor Yet

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 12/19/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Previously a neglected figure in my jazz collection, I have purchased a half-dozen Billy Taylor CDs in the past year, several of which I have recently reviewed on Amazon, including With Earl May & Ed Thigpen, Billy Taylor Trio With Earl May & Percy Brice and Cross Section. "The Billy Taylor Trio Warming Up!" is another one of my Fantasy/OJC warehouse clearance sale finds on the Oldies/Collectables website. This Milestone two-fer couples the original "Warming Up!" album, a March 26, 1960 session for Riverside, with "Interlude," a Prestige/Moodsville date from January 3, 1961. Taylor is joined by drummer Ray Mosca on both recordings, and by bassists Henry Grimes and Doug Watkins respectively. "Warming Up!" is a nice record, particularly as an early chance to hear Grimes, who would go on to play memorably with another pianist named Taylor, that being Cecil. But "Interlude" is where things really start to warm up! Another Bill, Mr. Evans, has clearly made an impression on Taylor, and the structure and feeling of these tunes are a departure from the his usual straightforward stylings. "Warming Up!" is clearly the Billy Taylor CD to warm up to -- get it hot while you can."