Renowned for his solid, consistently imaginative timekeeping and riveting solo work, Arthur Taylor was the drummer of choice for Prestige record dates between 1954 and ’62. The company also featured him as the leader of a couple of hard-blowing sessions. The New York-born percussionist was a member of the Thelonious Monk Quintet at the time of this, the second of the two albums, and brought along Monk bandmate Charlie Rouse. Joining Rouse on tenor saxophone was another formidable bebopper, Basieite Frank Foster. Among the six bristling selections are compelling treatments of two of Monk’s most famous compositions: “Rhythm-a-ning” and “Straight, No Chaser.”

with Charlie Rouse, Frank Foster, Walter Davis, Sam Jones