JAZZ REVIEW : CBS’ Taylor Good on Stage Too

Jazz has no more valuable propagandist than Dr. Billy Taylor, the eloquent teacher and spokesman who for six years has been interviewing musicians on the CBS-TV show “Sunday Morning.”

Last week he was in town for three days of clinics at El Camino College. A concert there Friday offered a potent reminder that he remains an exceptionally fluent and compelling pianist, and an articulate speaker who doubles the interest in his recital by chatting, analyzing and reminiscing.

In his program were a delightful, slow-tempo version of “Take the A Train” with stealthily moving four-to-the-bar left-hand chords; “Tom Voegli,” a medium tempo blues; “Morning,” Clare Fischer’s charming Latin piece; a long workout on “Caravan” highlighting his drummer Bobby Thomas, and several of his own works--including a three-movement suite originally commissioned by the Utah Symphony.

The second half of the show began with three waltzes, each with its own character: an explosive Taylor original, a tender reading of Thad Jones’ “A Child Is Born,” and an emotional version of the Miles Davis “All Blues,” with a long-held tremolo that kept the audience in suspense.

The trio shifted gears into Horace Silver’s “Juicy Lucy.” It seemed fitting that a concert by an artist who is in town all too seldom should end by offering an encore even to the encore.