A.T.'s Delight

by Art Taylor

Overview

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. ~ Steve Leggett

Product Details

Release Date:	03/13/2020
Label:	Blue Note
UPC:	0602508454585
Rank:	38594

Tracks

1. Syeeda's Song Flute
2. Epistrophy
3. Move
4. High Seas
5. Cookoo and Fungi
6. Blue Interlude

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Art Taylor   Primary Artist,Drums
Carlos "Patato" Valdes   Guest Artist,Congas
Paul Chambers   Guest Artist,Bass
Wynton Kelly   Guest Artist,Piano
Stanley Turrentine   Guest Artist,Sax (Tenor)
Dave Burns   Guest Artist,Trumpet

Technical Credits

Steve Hoffman   Mastering
Bob Blumenthal   Liner Notes
Kenny Clarke   Composer
Ira Gitler   Liner Notes
Irving Mills   Composer
John Coltrane   Composer
Francis Wolff   Cover Photo,Photography
Denzil Best   Composer
Rudy Van Gelder   Engineer,Remastering
Michael Cuscuna   Reissue Producer
Thelonious Monk   Composer
Art Taylor   Composer
Alfred Lion   Producer
Kenny Dorham   Composer
Benny Carter   Composer
Manny Kurtz   Composer
Randy Taylor   Composer
Reid Miles   Cover Design
Amanda Wray   Reissue Design
Kevin Michael Gray   Mastering
Gordon H. Jee   Creative Director