On this edition of Improvised Thoughts with Beegie Adair we spend an hour with another member of America's jazz royalty, Dr. Billy Taylor, in a program first heard in the spring of 1994. Though he left us in 2010, how wonderful it is to hear that warm, soothing, immediately identifiable voice again - that of perhaps the greatest advocate/ambassador modern jazz has ever had.
We'll talk about a well-received project for GRP - It's A Matter of Pride - recorded in 1993 and released the following year. It's A Matter of Pride is a nine song collection of Billy Taylor tunes (we'll hear 4 of them) including three pieces taken from a more extended work in tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr. He gathered a talented group of musicians for this album: a 21 year old Christian McBride (bass), Marvin "Smitty" Smith (drums), Ray Mantilla (congas), Stanley Turrentine (tenor saxophone) and Grady Tate (vocals), with Dr. Taylor on piano.
Stop by WMOT 89.5FM or at www.wmot.org for a visit with Dr. Billy Taylor on Improvised Thoughts with Beegie Adair.