The Mike Taylor Trio

The long-overlooked brilliance of pianist and composer Mike Taylor comes back into the spotlight with the reissue of Trio, the seminal 1967 recording from the Mike Taylor Trio. Originally released on Columbia, this album represents one of the most adventurous statements in British jazz of the 1960s—a work of striking originality that still resonates powerfully today.  

Featuring Mike Taylor on piano, Jackie Dougan on drums, and Dave Tomlin on bass, Trio captured an incendiary moment of creativity, blending the improvisational fire of American modern jazz with the intellectual curiosity and fearless experimentation of the UK’s burgeoning avant-garde scene. With only a handful of recordings under his name before his untimely passing, Taylor nonetheless carved out a reputation as one of the most visionary yet tragically underappreciated figures of British jazz.  

Half a century later, Trio still astounds for its daring harmonic language, its rhythmic drive, and its unflinching embrace of the unknown. Mike Taylor’s open-ended compositions leave space for both sharp-edged interplay and lyrical reflection, all richly brought to life by his trio’s dynamic collective voice.  Critically acclaimed on its original release yet soon out of print, the album has since become a sought-after collector’s item. This new edition not only reintroduces a landmark British jazz recording but also restores the legacy of a unique artist whose influence—though often hidden—echoes through generations of musicians.