John Taylor RIP

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

"It has been announced that the very great
pianist John Taylor , a towering figure in
European jazz, died last night, Friday 17th July,
He had a sudden heart attack while performing
in Stephane Kerecki's band at the French
Saveurs Jazz Festival . He was resuscitated on
the spot but died later in hospital. He has been
a respected, loved, hugely influential figure over
half a century, both as player and teacher. He
has recently been playing as well as ever, and
had a busy schedule planned for the autumn.
He will be sorely missed. In sadness."

- London Jazz News

BN.

[Alyn_Shipton]

Very sad news indeed. He was playing brilliantly when I last heard him. And he did a rather good account of his life for Radio 3 here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0112crt

[Ian Thumwood]

I'm really shocked by this as I saw John Taylor perform only a couple of weeks ago.

I think that there is a tendency to over-praise British jazz talent or to over-play a musician's importance. In the case of John Taylor, I think that he was genuinely World Class and in the context of jazz in the 1980's and 90's, probably the most original voice on his instrument irrespective of nationalities. The trio with Palle Daniesson under the leadership of Peter Erskine was easily one of the best trios around and arguably one of the last great groups in this format since Keith Jarrett's classic trio. Only Jason Moran's Bandwagon has genuinely taken the music of the piano trio on to something equally interesting. "Time being" is a record that should be in everybody's collection.

I have lost count of the number of times I have seen him perform either with Kenny wheeler, John Surman , Steve Arguelles or Mike Gibbs. For me, it is these kind of players who define the very best of British jazz and made the UK jazz scene extremely compelling at the point at which I was getting in to the music. All of these musicians had a unique voice and John Taylor's frequent visits to Southampton ensured that it was possible to hear the very highest level of jazz produced by someone who shared the quality of the likes of Dave Holland, John Surman, Kenny Wheeler and Mike Gibbs which gave you a sense of national pride in the UK's jazz scene.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

He was also very versatile....I remember him stepping in at very short notice after Art Pepper and Milcho Leviev came to screams and blows on the 1982 tour. A "wired" Art at Cardiff's Chapter Arts.

I've been listening to the Charlie Haden/John Taylor "Nightfall" duo album this morning. A moving way to remember him.

RIP.

BN.

[Serial_Apologist]

The jazz world will be deeply shocked - he was no great age, and a thoroughly nice bloke.

Arguably the greatest jazz pianist Britain has had to offer.

[burning dog]

Brilliant player who was very versatile the best of his generation certainly, a truly POST bop pianist

. A brilliant 70's trio album DECIPHER I may have on cassette somewhere, its hard to find now (second hand CD £27 vinyl £62), which reveals the depth of his harmonic language IMO

[charles t]

Not so very long ago, Trevor Taylor - of FMR Recordings, threw in a complimentary CD with my order, of John Taylor and Kenny Wheeler. Which led to my catching-up of much other stuff by this fine keyboardist.
Ironically...Requiem For A Dreamer...just this week.

[Alyn_Shipton]

My somewhat off the cuff obit here: http://www.jazzwisemagazine.com/brea...-rip-1942-2015

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

My somewhat off the cuff obit here: http://www.jazzwisemagazine.com/brea...-rip-1942-2015

Really fitting Alyn. I was just about to post on that Griffin encounter where there really was a mid way meeting of minds, Taylor being surprisingly (to me anyway) bluesy at times. R3 also later broadcast it with, I think, Geoff Smith doing the intro. The tapes, the tapes...

Sad day. But that Haden/Taylor Nightfall album is gorgeously reflective and spacious.

BN.

[Serial_Apologist]

Burning Dog's "versatile" is certainly an apt description of JT - I remember seeing him at the Colston Hall or Hippiedrome in Bristol on piano for one of those later Dizzy Gillespie extravaganzas, me thinking he would be totally unsuitable for the boppier stuff. How wrong could I be?

No one at the Vortex knew of John's death this afternoon - George (who does a lot of the announcing) mentioned something about an upcoming week-long project at the venue for which JT had been charged with selecting suitable personnel among his students.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Playing the Griffin/JT @Cheltenham 97 tapes now. Still in good nick and really lovely committed stuff from all. JT well to the fore, surprising me again! Almost "Wyntonesque" at times with Griff. Great stuff with a Shirez which I think Alyn said Johnny G was fueled and flying by.

BN.

Gorgeous version of Body and Soul after which Griffin says in appreciation of all, "Jazz music, jazz music, damn I feel good!"

[Alyn_Shipton]

It was a bottle of Mouton Rothschild claret, which I bought for JG because he liked his (French) wine...I also listened again to that concert. I was there to interview JG and Jackie Mac. What an evening...

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

It was a bottle of Mouton Rothschild claret, which I bought for JG because he liked his (French) wine...I also listened again to that concert. I was there to interview JG and Jackie Mac. What an evening...

Smashing concerts by Griff and Jackie, and a nod for Dave Green who was magic on the JG set. Like the way they almost scuffed an ending and Griff laughs, "professionals"!

Shame that gig (and Jackie's great one with Cedar) wasn't released. Still...the tapes...

BN.

[wenotsoira]

Very sad news. A great loss to the Jazz world. A fine musician.

[Beef Oven!]

So sad - a great loss. Our own Bill Evans. I am currently listening to 'Nightfall - The CalArts Sessions' with Charlie Haden on Apple Music.
RIP