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Some of his best known works integrate jazz and symphony orchestra. Peaceful Warrior, dedicated to Martin Luther King, was commissioned by the Atlanta Symphony and its premiere featured the Billy Taylor trio and a choir of a hundred voices. Taylor's six movement suite, Let Us Make a Joyful Noise a jazz worship service, was originally commissioned by Tufts University. The piece, premiered by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, was inspired by the 97th psalm and is in the tradition of Ellington Sacred Concerts. His Suite ForJazz Piano and Orchestra, was commissioned by Maurice Abravenal and was premiered, with Taylor at the piano, in Mormon Tabernacle. Conversations, comissioned by the Ronoake Symphony Orchestra, featured Billy's Trio and violinist Joe Kennedy. Homage was written for, and performed with the Juilliard String Quartet  Impromptu, an earlier work that featured soloist Gerry Mulligan, often appears on Billy's symphonic programs. For Rachel, a dance suite, was collaborative effort with choreographer Rachel Lampert, and was commissioned by the University of New Hampshire. He also composed the musical score and lyrics for an off-Broadway production of Wole Soyinka's The Lion and The Jewel, and some dance music for the original production of Your Arms Are Too Short To Box With God. Now in his 80s, Billy Taylor remains vigorously dedicated to nurturing jazz and creating new forums and opportunities for the artists who perform it. He encompasses that rare combination of creativity, intelligence, vision, commitment and leadership, all qualities that make him one of our most cherished national treasures. One measure of his success was the award of the 1988 Jazz Masters Fellowship, from the national Endowment for the Arts. This is presented to jazz masters whose careers have made a significant contribution to the art form in the African-American tradition and whose influence has been felt throughout the world, especially by young artists. This sentiment was reiterated by the editors of Downbeat magazine who presented Dr. Billy Taylor with their Lifetime Achievement Award in 1984. Billy was cited for “striving to better the plight of jazz musicians everywhere, for helping to enlarge the audience for jazz and to educate that audience. And in 1988, Billy was named an NEA Jazz Master, along with Art Blakey and Lionel Hampton. Since then, the NEA has elevated its Jazz Masters Awards to be on a par with the Pulitzer Prize as the highest award our nation can bestow for someone in Jazz. Between concert dates, television, and radio engagements, writing music and lecturing, Billy finds time to enjoy his family. He has been married to Teddi since 1946. Their son, Duane, an artist, passed away in 1988. Their daughter Kim, and her husband Anthony, are Professors of Law at New York University. Back | |
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