Dr. Billy Taylor's Online Video Archive

March 6, 2008. Posted by Joshua Jackson.

Add new comment | Filed under: 1950s, billy taylor, broadcaster, cbs sunday morning, correspondent, duke ellington, gems, good doctor, half a century, Interviews, Jazz Education, jazz message, jazz musicians, kennedy center, Masters, npr programs, param name, platforms, radio program, seven years, Video, web presence, willie the lion smith, www youtube

Dr. Billy Taylor, at 86, is still a great broadcaster. The good doctor has been spreading the jazz message on multiple broadcast platforms for more than half a century. In the 1950s, he was one of the first jazz musicians to have a daily radio program. He also hosted a weekly television show, The Subject is Jazz. He was the jazz correspondent on CBS Sunday Morning. He hosted two NPR programs, Jazz Alive and Jazz at the Kennedy Center. He founded Jazzmobile. And he's had a web presence for the last seven years. Dr. Billy Taylor's website now includes many classic videos culled from an extraordinary life in jazz. Here's one of the many gems you'll discover - a performance with Billy Taylor, Duke Ellington and Willie "The Lion" Smith:

While you're here, dig this interview with Dr. Taylor and WBGO's Gary Walker.
-Josh

© 2008 WBGO

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Digging on Dexter

February 27, 2008. Posted by Joshua Jackson.

Add new comment | Filed under: 4am, basie band, Birthdays, copenhagen, daniel humair, dexter gordon, drummer, Encounters, george gruntz, guy pederson, loose walk, Masters, montmartre, musicians, param name, piano guy, rahsaan roland kirk, Real Life Stories, saxophonist, sonny stitt, time off, tivoli gardens, wbgo, www youtube

It's the birthday of saxophonist Dexter Gordon, who holds a special place in the hearts of many people at WBGO. Perhaps no one here knew him better than our station mother, Dorthaan Kirk. Here's a story she just told me:

I met Dexter when I was touring Europe with Rahsaan Roland Kirk's band. Rahsaan loved Dexter, so I knew the name and the music before I ever met him. Anyway, we had some time off, so we went to Copenhagen. We saw an early concert at Tivoli Gardens with the Basie Band, then we joined some of Basie's guys and headed for the Club Montmartre. Copenhagen was Dexter's home, and he played that club all the time.
I remember so much about that evening. Dexter was wearing a blue jean suit. It was definitely the 70s! At the end of the night, it's 3 or 4am, and all of the musicians are at the bar. I'm keeping to myself, mostly, while all the guys are carrying on. Long, tall, and handsome as can be, Dexter walks out of the kitchen, comes right up to me, and says, "Who are you?" I was practically speechless, which you know never happens...
From that night on, Dexter always called me "Miss Rahsaan." I sure do miss him.

Here's Dexter playing Sonny Stitt's "Loose Walk" in Amsterdam, with a Swiss trio - George Gruntz piano, Guy Pederson bass and drummer Daniel Humair:

© 2008 WBGO

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