Art Taylor

Drums · born 6 April 1929 – died 6 February 1995

▸ Click for Richard Cook Bio

'A' was another in the seemingly endless line of great New York drummers. He debuted on record behind Coleman Hawkins in 1951, and from that point onwards he was constantly busy. Some of his 50s gigs included spells with Buddy DeFranco, Bud Powell, George Wallington, Miles Davis, Donald Byrd and Thelonious Monk. He ran his own Taylor's Wailers for a time in 1956 and went to Europe with Byrd in 1958; finding the Old World much to his taste, he settled in France and Belgium and only went back to the US to tour. While in Europe he also began interviewing fellow musicians, the results being published in 1977 as Notes And Tones, a candid and revealing series of conversations. He finally returned home in 1984 and began bandleading again. The new Taylor's Wailers began to look like replacing Blakey's Jazz Messengers as a hard-bop academy, but AT himself became ill with cancer and he was forced to call time on his playing. If Blakey was the more powerful drummer, Taylor was nevertheless a master of the kit, and a creatively swinging force in every group he played for: he is on hundreds of hard-bop dates, and they all benefit from his presence.

Biography from Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia (2005).

If you'd like more information, check out The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz (2002) or The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz (2007), both of which are still in print.

As leader

  • Art Taylor – Taylor’s WailersArt Taylor – Taylor’s Wailers

Plays on

  • Lennie Tristano – Lennie TristanoLennie Tristano – Lennie Tristano
  • Bud Powell – The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume TwoBud Powell – The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume Two
  • Bud Powell – Piano InterpretationsBud Powell – Piano Interpretations
  • Elmo Hope – Hope Meets FosterElmo Hope – Hope Meets Foster
  • George Wallington – Jazz for the Carriage TradeGeorge Wallington – Jazz for the Carriage Trade
  • Gene Ammons – Hi Fidelity Jam SessionGene Ammons – Hi Fidelity Jam Session
  • Miles Davis – Collectors’ ItemsMiles Davis – Collectors’ Items
  • Jackie McLean – 4, 5, and 6Jackie McLean – 4, 5, and 6
  • Gene Ammons All-Stars – Jammin’ With GeneGene Ammons All-Stars – Jammin’ With Gene
  • Hank Mobley – Mobley’s MessageHank Mobley – Mobley’s Message
  • Lou Donaldson – Quartet Quintet SextetLou Donaldson – Quartet Quintet Sextet
  • Lou Donaldson Quintet – Wailing With LouLou Donaldson Quintet – Wailing With Lou
  • Art Blakey – Orgy in Rhythm, Volume OneArt Blakey – Orgy in Rhythm, Volume One
  • Art Blakey – Orgy In Rhythm, Volume TwoArt Blakey – Orgy In Rhythm, Volume Two
  • Curtis Fuller – The OpenerCurtis Fuller – The Opener
  • Paul Chambers – Bass On TopPaul Chambers – Bass On Top
  • Bud Powell – Bud! The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume ThreeBud Powell – Bud! The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume Three
  • Don Byrd / Gigi Gryce – Jazz LabDon Byrd / Gigi Gryce – Jazz Lab
  • Miles Davis – Miles AheadMiles Davis – Miles Ahead
  • Horace Silver – Silver’s BlueHorace Silver – Silver’s Blue
  • Sonny Rollins – Moving OutSonny Rollins – Moving Out
  • Art Farmer / Donald Byrd – Two TrumpetsArt Farmer / Donald Byrd – Two Trumpets
  • Red Garland Trio – A Garland of RedRed Garland Trio – A Garland of Red
  • Prestige All-Stars – All Night LongPrestige All-Stars – All Night Long
  • Hank Mobley / Al Cohn / John Coltrane / Zoot Sims – Tenor ConclaveHank Mobley / Al Cohn / John Coltrane / Zoot Sims – Tenor Conclave
  • Thelonious Monk / Sonny Rollins – Thelonious Monk and Sonny RollinsThelonious Monk / Sonny Rollins – Thelonious Monk and Sonny Rollins
  • Prestige All-Stars – All Day LongPrestige All-Stars – All Day Long
  • Hank Mobley Quintet – Mobley’s 2nd MessageHank Mobley Quintet – Mobley’s 2nd Message
  • Gene Ammons – FunkyGene Ammons – Funky
  • Art Farmer – When Farmer Met GryceArt Farmer – When Farmer Met Gryce
  • Red Garland Trio – Red Garland’s PianoRed Garland Trio – Red Garland’s Piano
  • Jackie McLean – Jackie McLean & Co.Jackie McLean – Jackie McLean & Co.
  • Gene Ammons – Jammin’ In Hi FiGene Ammons – Jammin’ In Hi Fi
  • Mal Waldron – Mal/2Mal Waldron – Mal/2
  • Idrees Sulieman / Webster Young / John Coltrane / Bobby Jaspar – Interplay for 2 Trumpets and 2 TenorsIdrees Sulieman / Webster Young / John Coltrane / Bobby Jaspar – Interplay for 2 Trumpets and 2 Tenors
  • Red Garland – GroovyRed Garland – Groovy
  • Prestige All-Stars – After HoursPrestige All-Stars – After Hours
  • Bud Powell Trio – Strictly PowellBud Powell Trio – Strictly Powell
  • Matthew Gee – Jazz by GeeMatthew Gee – Jazz by Gee
  • Ernie Henry – Presenting Ernie HenryErnie Henry – Presenting Ernie Henry
  • Gigi Gryce – Jazz Lab QuintetGigi Gryce – Jazz Lab Quintet
  • Hank Mobley Quintet – Introducing Lee MorganHank Mobley Quintet – Introducing Lee Morgan
  • Hank Mobley – Jazz Message #2Hank Mobley – Jazz Message #2
  • Cecil Payne – Cecil PayneCecil Payne – Cecil Payne
  • Cliff Jordan – Cliff JordanCliff Jordan – Cliff Jordan
  • Hank Mobley – Hank MobleyHank Mobley – Hank Mobley
  • Curtis Fuller – Bone & BariCurtis Fuller – Bone & Bari
  • Lee Morgan – City LightsLee Morgan – City Lights
  • Sonny Clark – Sonny’s CribSonny Clark – Sonny’s Crib
  • Louis Smith – Here Comes Louis SmithLouis Smith – Here Comes Louis Smith
  • Lee Morgan – CandyLee Morgan – Candy
  • Lou Donaldson – Lou Takes OffLou Donaldson – Lou Takes Off
  • Louis Smith – SmithvilleLouis Smith – Smithville
  • Jackie McLean / John Jenkins – Alto MadnessJackie McLean / John Jenkins – Alto Madness
  • Kenny Burrell / Jimmy Raney – 2 GuitarsKenny Burrell / Jimmy Raney – 2 Guitars
  • John Coltrane – Traneing InJohn Coltrane – Traneing In
  • Red Garland Quintet – All Mornin’ LongRed Garland Quintet – All Mornin’ Long
  • Frank Wess – Wheelin’ & Dealin’Frank Wess – Wheelin’ & Dealin’
  • Gene Ammons – The Big SoundGene Ammons – The Big Sound
  • Art Blakey – Holiday for Skins, Volume 1Art Blakey – Holiday for Skins, Volume 1
  • Art Blakey – Holiday for Skins, Volume 2Art Blakey – Holiday for Skins, Volume 2
  • Dizzy Reece – Blues in TrinityDizzy Reece – Blues in Trinity
  • Donald Byrd – Off to the RacesDonald Byrd – Off to the Races
  • Bud Powell – The Scene ChangesBud Powell – The Scene Changes
  • John Coltrane – SoultraneJohn Coltrane – Soultrane
  • Walter Davis, Jr. – Davis CupWalter Davis, Jr. – Davis Cup
  • Donald Byrd – Byrd in HandDonald Byrd – Byrd in Hand
  • Dizzy Reece – Star BrightDizzy Reece – Star Bright
  • Jackie McLean – Swing Swang Swingin’Jackie McLean – Swing Swang Swingin’
  • Dizzy Reece – Soundin’ OffDizzy Reece – Soundin’ Off
  • Jackie McLean – Capuchin SwingJackie McLean – Capuchin Swing
  • Tina Brooks – True BlueTina Brooks – True Blue
  • Jackie McLean – Makin’ the ChangesJackie McLean – Makin’ the Changes
  • John Coltrane – Giant StepsJohn Coltrane – Giant Steps
  • Benny Bailey – Big BrassBenny Bailey – Big Brass
  • J.J. Johnson / Kai Winding – The Great Kai & J.J.J.J. Johnson / Kai Winding – The Great Kai & J.J.
  • Dexter Gordon – One Flight UpDexter Gordon – One Flight Up

Mentioned in text

  • Jackie McLean Quintet – Lights Out!Jackie McLean Quintet – Lights Out!
  • Horace Silver – 6 Pieces of SilverHorace Silver – 6 Pieces of Silver
  • Phil Woods / Gene Quill / Sahib Shihab / Hal Stein – Four AltosPhil Woods / Gene Quill / Sahib Shihab / Hal Stein – Four Altos
  • Kenny Drew – Kenny Drew TrioKenny Drew – Kenny Drew Trio
  • Sonny Clark – Dial “S” For SonnySonny Clark – Dial “S” For Sonny
  • John Coltrane – Blue TrainJohn Coltrane – Blue Train
  • Sonny Clark – Sonny Clark TrioSonny Clark – Sonny Clark Trio
  • Sonny Clark – Cool Struttin’Sonny Clark – Cool Struttin’
  • Miles Davis Quintet – Relaxin’Miles Davis Quintet – Relaxin’
  • Red Garland Trio – MantecaRed Garland Trio – Manteca
  • Dorothy Ashby – Hip HarpDorothy Ashby – Hip Harp
  • Max Roach – Deeds, Not WordsMax Roach – Deeds, Not Words
  • Lou Donaldson – Blues WalkLou Donaldson – Blues Walk
  • Gene Ammons – Blue GeneGene Ammons – Blue Gene
  • Donald Byrd – FuegoDonald Byrd – Fuego