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ART TAYLOR

Biography

Arthur S. Taylor Jr. (April 6, 1929 – February 6, 1995) was an American jazz drummer who helped define the sound of modern jazz drumming during the 1950s and 1960s. Born and raised in New York City, Taylor's musical journey began as a teenager after hearing drummer Big Sid Catlett perform at a jam session at what is now the Lincoln Center. He quickly immersed himself in the New York bebop scene, playing with fellow teenagers Sonny Rollins, Jackie McLean, and Kenny Drew. His first professional gig came in 1948 with Howard McGhee, launching a career that would see him collaborate with virtually every major figure in modern jazz, including Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, and Coleman Hawkins.

Taylor's career took a significant turn in 1956 when he formed his own group, Taylor's Wailers, recording their debut album in 1957 at Van Gelder Studio with an all-star lineup including Donald Byrd, Jackie McLean, and Charlie Rouse. In 1963, disillusioned with the racial and political climate in the United States, Taylor moved to Europe where he spent 17 years living primarily in France and Belgium. During this period, he performed with both European musicians and visiting American expatriates like Dexter Gordon and Johnny Griffin, while also studying drums with Kenny Clarke in Paris. Taylor's 1977 book "Notes and Tones" became a groundbreaking work in jazz literature, featuring candid interviews with major musicians that addressed social, political, and economic issues rarely discussed in mainstream jazz coverage.

Taylor returned to the United States in the 1980s to care for his ill mother and continued performing, organizing a second iteration of Taylor's Wailers in 1991. His final recordings included the 1992 live album "Wailin' At The Vanguard" and a 1995 session with Jimmy Smith on the album "Damn!" which was dedicated to his memory after his death on February 6, 1995. Throughout his career, Taylor was known for his reliability, professionalism, and his role as a mentor to younger musicians, helping establish the fundamental sound and approach of modern jazz drumming alongside contemporaries Art Blakey, Max Roach, and Philly Joe Jones.

Fun Facts

  • Taylor was a professional musician for over 10 years before he learned to read music, relying entirely on his ear and natural talent during his early career.
  • He was self-proclaimed as 'the most prolific drummer in modern jazz history' and proudly stated 'I NEVER was late!' emphasizing his legendary reliability and professionalism.
  • After publishing 'Notes and Tones' in 1977, people assumed Taylor could no longer play drums well, which only motivated him to play better than ever before in his life.
  • Taylor used Gretsch Broadkaster drums from 1958 through 1963, and was later featured as a Gretsch artist, with the New York Times describing him as the jazz drummer 'who inspired young musicians.'

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

  • Big Sid Catlett - Hearing Catlett play at a jam session inspired Taylor to become a drummer (Live performance at Lincoln Center site) [1940s]
  • Kenny Clarke - Studied drums with Clarke during his time in Paris (Drum lessons and mentorship) [1963-1980]
  • Chick Webb - Early influence; Taylor's father took him to hear Webb perform (Live performances) [1930s-1940s]

Key Collaborators

  • Bud Powell - Long-term collaboration as Powell's drummer (Multiple Blue Note sessions, 'The Invisible Cage' album) [1953-1958, 1961, 1964]
  • John Coltrane - Recorded landmark album as Coltrane's drummer (Giant Steps album) [1959]
  • Miles Davis - Toured and recorded with Davis (Miles Ahead album) [1957-1963]
  • Thelonious Monk - Performed and recorded with Monk (Town Hall recordings) [1959]
  • Donald Byrd - Member of Taylor's Wailers and toured together (Taylor's Wailers debut album) [1956-1963]
  • Jackie McLean - Early collaborator from Harlem band, later in Taylor's Wailers (Taylor's Wailers album) [1940s-1957]
  • Sonny Rollins - Early collaborator from teenage years in Harlem (Local Harlem band performances) [1940s-1950s]
  • Jimmy Smith - Final recording session collaboration (Damn! album (dedicated to Taylor's memory)) [1995]

Artists Influenced

  • Younger jazz musicians in general - In later years, Taylor hired and performed with younger musicians, giving them valuable lessons in establishing rapport with audiences (Various performances and mentorship) [1980s-1995]

Connection Network

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Discography

Albums

Title Release Date Type
Red Garland's Piano 1957 Album
The Greatest Jazz Albums of 1956, Vol. 1 2019-02-01 Album
A.T.'s Delight (Remastered 2006 / Rudy Van Gelder Edition) 1960-01-01 Album

Top Tracks

  1. Almost Like Being In Love (Red Garland's Piano)
  2. I Know Why (And So Do You) (Red Garland's Piano)
  3. The Very Thought Of You (Red Garland's Piano)
  4. Please Send Me Someone To Love (Red Garland's Piano)
  5. Stompin' At The Savoy (Red Garland's Piano)
  6. But Not For Me (Red Garland's Piano)
  7. I Can't Give You Anything But Love (Red Garland's Piano)
  8. I See Your Face Before Me - RVG Remaster (Settin' The Pace [RVG Edition])
  9. If I Were A Bell (Red Garland's Piano)
  10. By The Numbers - RVG Remaster (Settin' The Pace [RVG Edition])

References

  1. allsolos.com
  2. gretschdrums.com
  3. flophousemagazine.com

Heard on WWOZ

ART TAYLOR has been played 6 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.

DateTimeTitleShowSpotify
Dec 25, 202507:29My Funny Valentinefrom PortraitsThe Morning Setw/ Scott Borne
Dec 24, 202506:30My Funny Valentinefrom PortraitsThe Morning Setw/ Breaux Bridges
Nov 19, 202508:20My Funny Valentinefrom PortraitsThe Morning Setw/ Breaux Bridges
Nov 4, 202506:25I Know Why (And So Do You)from Red Garland's PianoThe Morning Setw/ Fox Duhon or Mark LaMaire
Oct 27, 202516:43BLUE INTERLUDE (A.T.'S DELIGHT)from FOUR CLASSIC ALBUMSJazz from Jax Breweryw/ Maryse Dejean
Sep 17, 202506:57My Funny Valentinefrom PortraitsThe Morning Setw/ Breaux Bridges