Billy Taylor

Billy Taylor became so well-known as a low-key television personality and jazz educator that sometimes it feels like his piano playing has gotten lost in the shuffle. For this intimate 1999 set, Taylor recorded ten solo numbers in celebration of his 75th birthday. Many of the tunes come from Taylor's youth (an unparalleled period in jazz history), while his up-tempo original, "Early Bird," celebrates the great Charlie Parker. Another Taylor original, "Can You Tell by Looking at Me," is almost as beautiful as his reading of Ellington's timeless "In a Sentimental Mood."