Billy Taylor Is 88

Dr. Taylor's regular segments on CBS Sunday Morning were always enlightening and a tremendous influence on me as I learned about the music as a teenager in the early '80's. He did thoughtful profiles/interviews of great jazz figures - some well-known, some "deserving of wider recognition," as the old phrase went. I first learned about Michel Petrucciani and many others through these features. I just wish they could be collected on DVD, or at least posted somewhere on-line as a group. They would be a formidable document on a par with Marian McPartland's radio shows (some of which can be found on CD) or Ben Sidran's interviews (which he released as a CD collection a few years back).

Billy Taylor was a great inspiration to me as a teenager; and still is I should add. I bought all his piano books and studied them assiduously especially the the way he voiced the chords for both hands.

Long live the masters.

Not only is Billy Taylor turning 88 today, but a half dozen jazz pianists are now or soon will be 88, namely....

Hank Jones, 91 next Friday; George Shearing turns 90 in August; Marian McPartland is 89 or 91 (sources differ), Dave Brubeck turned 88 last December and John Bunch turns 88 later this year.

Not many other jazz legends are over 90 -- only Gerald Wilson to my knowledge. Anyone else know some jazz legends still swinging at 90? Or do piano players win the longevity lottery?