Billboard : 03/10/1956
Score of 76

Some earlier Taylors have been sound-enhanced and remastered on 12-inch. New cover will also give this a new lease on life, as will the fact that Taylor’s reputation has grown in the past few years. The brilliant jazz pianist, who also has plenty of pop appeal, includes here such smart stuff as Lover, Little Girl Blue and Ellington‘s All Too Soon. A salable piano set.

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Liner Notes by Ira Gitler

When Prestige began its 12 inch series, one of the objectives was to bring up to date, through remastering processes, some of its best older sides. This has been carried out in part and has been met with a warm reception from everyone. Not only is there better sound but there is more music.

In these two volumes there is just about the most definitive collection of Billy Taylor to be found anywhere. It is music of many moods; for listening, dancing, relaxing and romancing. Billy has been recognized by fans and critics alike as one of the most facile, heart-warming pianists in jazz today. He hwas a way with a ballad that soothes as it permeates your psyche. When he moves to upper tempos, there is a happy lilting drive that would get the grouchiest person up and off merrily on a stormy Monday. Between Billy, Earl May and Charlie Smith there is a wonderful rapport, which makes the other rapport, between the trio and anyone who listens, the puissant thing that it is.