Jazz Articles about John Taylor

John Taylor: Requiem for a Dreamer

by John Kelman
June 24, 2011

It's been three years since John Taylor's last trio disc, but this time the British pianist takes a small detour, rather than continue the winning streak of Angel of the Presence (Cam Jazz, 2006) and Whirlpool (Cam Jazz, 2008). Requiem for a Dreamer reunites Taylor with his longstanding trio--Swedish bassist Palle Danielsson and British drummer Martin France--but with the addition of saxophonist Julian Argüelles., he makes an inspired choice, capitalizing on the chemistry of the trio while adding a fourth ...

John Taylor and John Geggie: Ottawa, Canada October 9, 2010

by John Kelman
October 16, 2010

John Taylor/John GeggieNational Arts Centre Fourth Stage Ottawa, Canada October 9, 2010 After an impressive start to its 2010 Fall/Winter Series, the TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival kept the momentum up by bringing another of modern jazz's finest pianists to town, less than a week after Chick Corea and his latest trio, with bassist Christian McBride and drummer Brian Blade, delivered a well-received show at Dominion Chalmers Church the previous Sunday. John Taylor so rarely makes ...

John Taylor: Phases

by AAJ Italy Staff
July 27, 2009

In oltre quaranta anni di attività - spesso al fianco di alcuni tra i più grossi nomi della scena jazz internazionale (soprattutto europei) - non sono molti gli album incisi a proprio nome dal pianista John Taylor, che ha sempre privilegiato le collaborazioni. Negli ultimi anni, però, la tendenza sembra essersi invertita, grazie anche alla nostra CamJazz che prodotto diversi suoi progetti, sia in trio che in solo (oltre alle partecipazioni ad alcuni lavori dell'amico Kenny Wheeler, con il quale ...

John Taylor: Phases

by John Kelman
March 4, 2009

As much as he's become a major proponent of the piano trio tradition, John Taylor is gradually building a solo piano discography that may not be as voluminous or popularly acclaimed as those of Keith Jarrett's, but certainly bears comparison as much for its substantial differences as for any perceived similarities. While Taylor himself would cite Jarrett as being an influence alongside Bill Evans and Chick Corea, Phases further distances him from his roots, demonstrating ongoing growth from previous solo ...

Whirpool: John Taylor

by AAJ Italy Staff
March 25, 2008

Sul disco aleggia la pesante eredità della lezione evansiana, affrontata con buon piglio ma senza grande creatività. È una insidiosa ragnatela armonica, ritmica e timbrica, in cui questo trio è rimasto imprigionato, senza possibilità di fuga. Competenza, adesione al modello, sincerità di intenti, limpida sonorità del pianoforte. Sono tutte qualità che si percepiscono senza ombra di dubbio in queste otto tracce. Quello che invece sembra mancare è quel sacro furore che talora trasforma una seduta d’incisione routiniera in qualcosa di ...

John Taylor: Whirlpool

by John Kelman
January 7, 2008

For his follow-up to the remarkable Angel of the Presence (Cam Jazz, 2006), John Taylor continues to mine the strong chemistry between himself, bassist Palle Danielsson and drummer Martin France. It's a more balanced set this time around, with three of the pianist's own compositions alongside three by longtime musical compatriot Kenny Wheeler, one jazz standard and a surprising reinvention of a classical piece by Gustav Holst.

Quietly, and without much fuss, Taylor has gradually emerged ...

John Taylor: Whirlpool

by Martin Gladu
January 1, 2008

John Taylor is the pianist of weightlessness. Although overly simple, this aphoristic description of the English virtuoso's dense yet liberated musical discourse renders justice not only to its inherent quality, but to the effect it imparts to listeners. Suspended above an evanescent pulse, swift, jolted rhythms loose their grip; upwardly clouting modulating, mellifluous aural jaunts of texturally multifarious phrases and voicings. Tones, pristine and silvery, jump out like garish colors on a De Kooning canvas. Projects featuring his playing have ...