A recent documentary on pianist Billy Taylor is now available on his website. The program Billy Taylor: American Hero premiered at the International Association of Jazz Education Conference last month. The conference also featured a round table discussion with Taylor on his thoughts of the state of the jazz industry.
After collaborating with Taylor on his website and other online projects, producer and director Bret Primack began compiling interviews from Jon Faddis, Kim Taylor Thompson and Alan Bergman, as well as Taylor. The film also includes performance footage of Taylor with Duke Ellington and Willie “The Lion” Smith on the David Frost Show and footage from a 1952 episode of See It Now, in which Taylor portrayed Jelly Roll Morton.
The documentary, and other footage of Taylor, can be downloaded at his website: http://www.billytaylorjazz.com.
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