SAM 'THE MAN' TAYLOR - Plays The Bad and the Beautiful
Phono 870260
Tracks 1 to 8
Sam “The Man” Taylor ( tnr ) Lloyd Mayers ( pno ) Wally Richardson ( gtr ) Art Davis ( bass ) Ed Shaughnessy ( drs )
Arrangements by Oliver Nelson.
Recorded New Jersey, 20 February 1962
Tracks 9 to 18
Jazz For Commuters and salute to the Saxes
Collective personnel
Sam “The Man” Taylor ( tnr ) Georgie Auld ( tnr ) Charlie Shavers ( tpt ) Thad Jones ( tpt ) Frank Rehak ( tmb ) Barry Galbraith ( gtr ) Billy Bauer ( gtr ) Hank Jones ( pno ) Milt Hinton ( bass ) Osie Johnson ( drs ) among others
Arrangements by Budd Johnson
Recorded New York, 15 & 22 October 1958
In the early Forties Sam ‘The Man’ Taylor was a member of the orchestras of Cootie Williams, Lucky Millinder and Cab Calloway after which in 1952 he became a session musician working for Atlantic, Savoy and Apollo Records.
In 1960 he began working with small combos and became well known in that field but he made these two albums during that period which demonstrated he had not lost touch with his jazz roots. He is best known for his big toned ballads but was also capable of swinging on tempo number when called for.
The titled album “The Bad and the Beautiful” has it share of ballads but they are interspersed with some lightly swinging numbers. The two David Raksin ballads, “The Bad and the Beautiful” and “Laura” are outstanding examples of his style along with “Gloria” and “Ruby”, on slightly more upbeat numbers he tends to revert somewhat to his R & B roots.
It is the ballads that make this album along with some particularly fine guitar work both in his backing and solo spots by Wally Richardson.
It is the bonus album ”Jazz for Commuters & Salute to the Saxes which provide the most interest on this release with its changing personnel and it’s depth of solo capacity.
Thad Jones fluent solo on “Long Island Railroad Blues” is a gem but Jimmy Cleveland and the leader have outstanding contributions as well.
Budd Johnson’s original “Rockland County Round Trip” is a battle between the tenors of Georgie Auld and the leader Sam Taylor with both coming out on top. It is the turn of Budd Johnson and Sam Taylor on leader’s own composition “Westport Wail” but it lacks the excitement of the previous pairing.
The final five tracks are dedicated to various major tenor players. The stand out track is Ellington’s “All Too Soon” for Ben Webster where Sam Taylor takes on some of the characteristics of Webster’s style and Thad Jones and Jimmy Cleveland are not taking a back seat in the solo honours.
This release turns out to be an unexpected find and deserves a wide hearing with its variety of sounds and not to be forgotten the fine contributions of trombonist Frank Rehak.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
Phono 870260
Tracks 1 to 8
Sam “The Man” Taylor ( tnr ) Lloyd Mayers ( pno ) Wally Richardson ( gtr ) Art Davis ( bass ) Ed Shaughnessy ( drs )
Arrangements by Oliver Nelson.
Recorded New Jersey, 20 February 1962
Tracks 9 to 18
Jazz For Commuters and salute to the Saxes
Collective personnel
Sam “The Man” Taylor ( tnr ) Georgie Auld ( tnr ) Charlie Shavers ( tpt ) Thad Jones ( tpt ) Frank Rehak ( tmb ) Barry Galbraith ( gtr ) Billy Bauer ( gtr ) Hank Jones ( pno ) Milt Hinton ( bass ) Osie Johnson ( drs ) among others
Arrangements by Budd Johnson
Recorded New York, 15 & 22 October 1958
In the early Forties Sam ‘The Man’ Taylor was a member of the orchestras of Cootie Williams, Lucky Millinder and Cab Calloway after which in 1952 he became a session musician working for Atlantic, Savoy and Apollo Records.
In 1960 he began working with small combos and became well known in that field but he made these two albums during that period which demonstrated he had not lost touch with his jazz roots. He is best known for his big toned ballads but was also capable of swinging on tempo number when called for.
The titled album “The Bad and the Beautiful” has it share of ballads but they are interspersed with some lightly swinging numbers. The two David Raksin ballads, “The Bad and the Beautiful” and “Laura” are outstanding examples of his style along with “Gloria” and “Ruby”, on slightly more upbeat numbers he tends to revert somewhat to his R & B roots.
It is the ballads that make this album along with some particularly fine guitar work both in his backing and solo spots by Wally Richardson.
It is the bonus album ”Jazz for Commuters & Salute to the Saxes which provide the most interest on this release with its changing personnel and it’s depth of solo capacity.
Thad Jones fluent solo on “Long Island Railroad Blues” is a gem but Jimmy Cleveland and the leader have outstanding contributions as well.
Budd Johnson’s original “Rockland County Round Trip” is a battle between the tenors of Georgie Auld and the leader Sam Taylor with both coming out on top. It is the turn of Budd Johnson and Sam Taylor on leader’s own composition “Westport Wail” but it lacks the excitement of the previous pairing.
The final five tracks are dedicated to various major tenor players. The stand out track is Ellington’s “All Too Soon” for Ben Webster where Sam Taylor takes on some of the characteristics of Webster’s style and Thad Jones and Jimmy Cleveland are not taking a back seat in the solo honours.
This release turns out to be an unexpected find and deserves a wide hearing with its variety of sounds and not to be forgotten the fine contributions of trombonist Frank Rehak.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
