Song:Indiana Avenue Stomp
Album:Montana Taylor
Boogie woogie pianist Montana Taylor had the talent to be a star like James P. Johnson. But he didn't make enough money for his liking. So he quit after recording in 1929 until he was rediscovered in 1946. Then he quit again. He was born Arthur Taylor 1903 in Butte, MT. where his father owned a club. The family moved to Chicago and then Indianapolis. By his late teens, Taylor played piano well enough to play at rent parties and in clubs. His playing style has been described as "barrelhouse" or "low down". When a blues musician is described as dirty, nasty or low down, that's a good thing. He recorded four songs for Vocalion Records in 1929. Two of them were instrumental, including Indiana Avenue Stomp, and the other two backed a vocal group called Jazoo Boys who were apparently pretty terrible. When Taylor wasn't happy with the money he wasn't going to make, he quit recording. He wanted royalties and contracts in those days were not lucrative. He moved to Cleveland where he continued to play part time while working full time. In 1946, jazz critic Rudi Blesh convinced Taylor to record for his label Circle Recordings as a solo artist and backing up singer Chippie Hill. Those are the recordings on this CD. It appears Taylor still wasn't impressed by the music business. He quit in 1948 and died in 1954. Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman created new interest in Taylor when he credited him as an influence and included Taylor on his 2001 CD, DVD and book Bill Wyman's Blues Odyssey. Montana Taylor is recommended to boogie woogie fans. Here's a video for Indiana Avenue Stomp by Montana Taylor.
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