Billy Taylor w/ Oliver Nelson - Right Here, Right Now!

Billy Taylor - Right Here, Right Now! - Capitol T 2039 - Mono [two hundredth post: Yeah!!]

Billy Taylor - Piano
Ben Tucker - Bass
Grady Tate - Drums
[see sleeve] - Orchestra

Arranged and Conducted by Oliver Nelson

Recorded - November 12, 15 & 16, 1963, Capitol Studios, NewYork

Produced by Dave Cavanaugh
Recording Engineer -Frank Abbey
Cover Photo - Ken Veeder

Released - June 13, 1964

Here's more Billy Taylor and Oliver Nelson with their earlier 1963 big band collaboration on Capitol: Right Here, Right Now!  On the whole this is a much more satisfying side than 'Midnight Piano' posted overleaf; choice of material is stronger (learning towards a mix of originals and straight ahead standards including a take on Nelson's legendary 'Stolen Moments'), and Nelson's arrangements/charts are much more dynamic and expressive. There's also a joyful and bouncing atmosphere here which belies the fact that it was recorded the week before JFK's assassination - end of an era indeed!

Billy Taylor w/ Oliver Nelson - Midnight Piano

Billy Taylor - Midnight Piano; Lush, Light and Swinging Backgrounds - Capitol T 2302 - Mono

Billy Taylor - Piano
Ben Tucker - Bass
Grady Tate - Drums
[see sleeve] - Orchestra

Arranged and Conducted by Oliver Nelson

Recorded - October 12, 13, 14, 1964 - Capitol New York Studios, New York

Produced by Ben Cavanagh
Recording Engineer - Frank Abbey
Cover - [uncredited]

Released - April 3, 1965

Here's something a bit different from what I'm normally into -e.g bit less on the 'soul' side -  a rather forgotten Billy Taylor big band side on Capitol that I spotted recently at a local record show.  

Taylor has a rather nice, appealing swinging  touch on the piano and  there's some killer arrangements by the great Oliver Nelson which keeps the side bouncing. Material is however, a bit less interesting and a bit too 'commercial' (in a mid 1960s sense).