egroj world: Art Taylor • A.T.'s Delight

Friday, February 2, 2024

Art Taylor • A.T.'s Delight

Review
by Steve Leggett
Although Art Taylor was one of the busiest modern second-generation jazz drummers, working in the studio with Coleman Hawkins, Donald Byrd, John Coltrane and many others, he only released five albums under his own name, of which A.T.'s Delight was the third. And a delight it is indeed, bright and percussive, and when conga player Carlos "Patato" Valdes joins Taylor and pianist Wynton Kelly and bassist Paul Chambers on three cuts (Thelonious Monk's "Epistrophy," "Move" and a Taylor calypso-inflected original called "Cookoo and Fungi"), the rhythm pocket opens into a deep blue sea for the horn men (Stanley Turrentine on tenor sax and Dave Burns on trumpet). "Move" does exactly that, it moves, and at a blistering pace. Monk's "Epistrophy," thanks in part to Valdes, reveals its rumba roots, and has never sounded brighter. The seldom-covered Coltrane composition "Syeeda's Song Flute" seems likewise refreshed and revived. The lone Taylor original, the driving "Cookoo and Fungi," is as sharp and alert is a kitten waking from a nap in the spring sun, and Taylor's drum solo is crisp, efficient and slides seamlessly into the calypso-informed main theme. A.T.'s Delight is a solid outing, with a wonderfully nervous but completely focused energy.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/ats-delight-mw0000201263

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Reseña
por Steve Leggett
Aunque Art Taylor fue uno de los bateristas modernos de segunda generación más activos, trabajando en el estudio con Coleman Hawkins, Donald Byrd, John Coltrane y muchos otros, sólo publicó cinco álbumes bajo su propio nombre, de los cuales A.T.'s Delight fue el tercero. Y es una delicia, brillante y percusiva, y cuando el conguero Carlos "Patato" Valdés se une a Taylor y al pianista Wynton Kelly y al bajista Paul Chambers en tres cortes ("Epistrophy" de Thelonious Monk, "Move" y un original de Taylor con influencias calipso llamado "Cookoo and Fungi"), la bolsa rítmica se abre en un profundo mar azul para los hombres de las trompas (Stanley Turrentine al saxo tenor y Dave Burns a la trompeta). "Move" hace exactamente eso, moverse, y a un ritmo vertiginoso. Epistrophy" de Monk, gracias en parte a Valdés, revela sus raíces rumberas, y nunca ha sonado más brillante. La composición de Coltrane "Syeeda's Song Flute", rara vez cubierta, parece igualmente refrescada y revivida. El único original de Taylor, "Cookoo and Fungi", es tan agudo y alerta como un gatito despertando de una siesta bajo el sol de primavera, y el solo de batería de Taylor es nítido, eficiente y se desliza sin problemas en el tema principal informado por el calipso. A.T.'s Delight es una salida sólida, con una energía maravillosamente nerviosa pero completamente centrada.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/ats-delight-mw0000201263

Tracks:
1 - Syeeda`s Song Flute
2 - Epistrophy
3 - Move
4 - High Seas
5 - Cookoo And Fungi
6 - Blue Interlude

Credits:
    Bass – Paul Chambers
    Congas – "Potato" Valdes*
    Design [Cover] – Reid Miles
    Drums – Art Taylor
    Liner Notes – Ira Gitler
    Photography By [Cover Photo] – Francis Wolff
    Piano – Wynton Kelly
    Producer – Alfred Lion
    Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
    Reissue Producer [Produced For Release] – Michael Cuscuna
    Tenor Saxophone – Stanley Turrentine
    Transferred By [Digital Transfers] – Ron McMaster
    Trumpet – Dave Burns

Recorded on August 6, 1960.
Recorded At – Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Label:    Blue Note – CDP 7 84047 2
Released:    1988
Genre:    Jazz
Style:    Hard Bop
https://www.discogs.com/release/4388536-Art-Taylor-ATs-Delight