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  | MIKE TAYLOR ~ PREPARATION
SUNBEAM 1101 ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1965 Released: 2021
This is an archival album by British Jazz pianist / composer Mike TaylorFind albums by this artist recorded in a quartet setting with saxophonist Dave TomlinFind albums by this artist, bassist Tony ReevesFind albums by this artist and drummer Jon HisemanFind albums by this artist. The album, taken from a rehearsal tape recorded by Reeves shortly before the recording of Taylor’s debut album “PendulumFind albums with this title”, presents five tracks in the same running order as the studio album, preceded by two tracks that do not appear on the album, together seven tracks, five of which are Taylor’s originals and two are standards. The album includes an extensive thirty-two pages long booklet, written by Richard Morton JackFind albums by this artist, which describes in great detail the sad story of Taylor’s life, his mental illness and tragically premature death. The tape, incidentally found by Reeves fifty-five years after it was recorded, is a mono recording, but the sound quality is not as poor as some people claim and the music can be heard loud and clear.
British Jazz enthusiasts will most probably have a copy of “Pendulum” already in their collection, so this album does not offer a great historical added value, but on the other hand, considering how little music Taylor managed to record during his lifetime, every note on this album becomes invaluable.
The music is of course a wonderful glimpse at the birth of modern British Jazz, influenced by the Free Jazz explosion in American Jazz at the time, but reshaped and domesticated into the proto-modernistic British experience, which eventually emancipated British Jazz from the American bondage. The performances are somewhat more spontaneous than those on the studio album and all showcase the great talents of the four musicians involved.
Overall, this is a most welcome addition to Mike Taylor’s limited recorded legacy and British Jazz fans surely will appreciate the fortunate incidents behind this release. Thank God for the invention of sound recording, which allows us to immortalize the music we all love so much. Wholeheartedly recommended!
| | Updated: 12/01/2022Posted: 12/01/2022 | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
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