You may not have heard of Mr Taylor and his chaps before, but I’m sure you’ll be hearing more from them in future. Taylor seamlessly mixes mainstream tenor with a modest Rollins influence and, given his admirable rhythm section, has produced an inspired album without blemish.
His faster tempos make use of the Rollins bounce, whilst his ballads, notably Prisoner Of Love, deal in mainstream that from time to time echoes Webster or Gonsalves.
Prisoner was recorded as an afterthought to the session with just tenor, bass and drums (which Taylor claims as his favourite line-up). Taylor originally heard the version by Ben and Hawk on the Blue Saxophones album and that track inspired this warm and graceful reworking of what is showing signs of becoming a jazz favourite.
Angel Face also had classic inspiration, from the ground-breaking Hawkins version of Angel Face done in December 1947. The Gonsalves-like flow distinguishes the tenor in Gettin’ Together. Wherever Stafford appears his clear-toned trumpet asserts his authority. He’s a fine player who is little heard from these days.
The numbers are well chosen, with none of them hackneyed – it’s hard to get more obscure than You’re Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile from the musical Annie. It works well for Taylor’s little band of young Philadelphians.
Discography
Luminescence; Let Go; Angel Face; Gettin’ Together; Out Of The Past; Prisoner Of Love; Here’s That Rainy Day; Philly New York Junction; You’re Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile; Bye Bye Baby (56.08)
Taylor (ts); Terell Stafford (t); Jeb Patton (p); Neal Miner (b); Willie Jones III (d). New Jersey, 31 January 2022.
Cellar 20 CM013122
