Der am 25. September 1942 in Manchester geborene britische Jazz-Pianist und Komponist John Taylor (Bild) ist am 17. Juli 2015 im französischen Angers gestorben.
Bild: John Taylor, 2008 – Foto: Richard Kaby – CC-Lizenz: Attribution 2.0 Generic – Zur Datei: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_Taylor.jpg
Der Pianist war, was man unter Jazzern einen «Musician’s Musician» nennt: einer, der als Begleiter in Kleinformationen geschätzt wird, aber nie im grellen Scheinwerferlicht steht. Taylor führte das harmonische Vokabular eines Bill Evans weiter und entwickelte seinen persönlichen Stil aufgrund der gesamten Jazztradition und Einflüssen aus der klassischen Musik. Auffallend war seine Arbeit mit ungeraden Metren.
Peter Bürli
http://www.srf.ch/kultur/musik/john-taylor-der-britische-gentleman-des-jazz-ist-gestorben
One of the great jazz pianists and composers of his generation, he was a co-founder of the Azimuth trio
Taylor emerged as one of the most promising newcomers in the British jazz generation of the late 1960s that included the saxophonists John Surman and Alan Skidmore, the composers Mike Westbrook and Mike Gibbs, and the vocalist Norma Winstone. He quickly became close to established older artists including John Dankworth and Cleo Laine, and the trumpeter Kenny Wheeler. As one of the house pianists at Ronnie Scott’s in the 70s, backing star American guests, he inventively drew on the methods of Evans and Hancock. But it was his involvement as co-founder of the trio Azimuth (with Wheeler and Winstone) from 1977 that nurtured an original composer’s voice and one that would be as widely acclaimed as his playing.
John Fordham
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jul/19/john-taylor
Over the years, I was privileged to have the opportunity to work with JT on a number of BBC broadcasts, and he was always the most generous of interviewees, with a real depth of thought about his comments and a sincere passion for the music that stayed with him throughout. Few experiences can compare to his glee at experimenting on the mighty organ at Salisbury Cathedral for the broadcast that became the ECM album Proverbs and Songs, with John Surman and the Salisbury Festival Choir. He was chuckling with delight at the power of the 64-foot stop producing a bass sound so strong that it seemed like an earth tremor.
Alyn Shipton
http://www.jazzwisemagazine.com/breaking-news/13674-john-taylor-rip-1942-2015
During his career Taylor played with saxophonists Jan Garbarek, Lee Konitz and Julian Argüelles. He later re-kindled his music partnership with John Surman in the 1990s. He recorded with bassists Charlie Haden and Miroslav Vitous and many more.
Taylor was a keen and excited supporter of new jazz from young players. He was professor of Jazz Piano at the Cologne College of Music since 1993.
http://www.jazzfm.com/news/music-news/tributes-to-pianist-john-taylor/
Videos:
John Taylor – Between Moons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-M2F0rzXZI
John Taylor Solo – Pure & Simple
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygSJLzLzpi4
John Taylor Trio – (1) – may 2011, Hamburg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG7OToWQ82U
Hören
Azimuth ’85
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiBIm_1_V_0
Mehr:
http://www.johntaylorjazz.com/
Kommentare von Daniel Leutenegger