For this CD (put out by the Japanese Denon label), there are six selections apiece from pianists
Erroll Garner and
Billy Taylor. The
Garner titles (which are also available elsewhere) are rhapsodic ballads that are both melodic and whimsical. The
Taylor sides include the four songs that he cut at his very first session as a leader (March 20, 1945) plus two cuts made with a quintet (comprised of tenor saxophonist
Jon Hardee, organist Milt Page, bassist
John Simmons and drummer
Shadow Wilson) in 1949. Despite the brief playing time (just 36 minutes) and lazy packaging (which includes three major misspellings on the back cover), the music is enjoyable and worth picking up if it can be found at a budget price. ~ Scott Yanow