Urban Griot

The album was recorded at Manhattan Center Studios, New York, on November 13 and December 9, 2000.[1] Pianist Taylor's trio for the recording contained bassist Chip Jackson and drummer Winard Harper.[2] The ten pieces were written as pedagogical material for the Wharton Center for Performing Arts at Michigan State University.[3] Some have melodies that use fourths; others are based on rhythms that would be familiar to students.[3] "Local Color / Can You Dig It?" uses rhythms similar to those found in hip hop; "Reclamation" is a waltz; and "Gracias Chucho" contains Latin rhythms.[3] One track, "Spoken", is a spoken-word dedication to a dead child.[2][4]

Taylor said that he regarded his role as an educator to be like that of a griot, explaining the album's title: "I am like an urban griot, bringing a sense of history and continuity to teaching music."[3]

Urban Griot was released by Soundpost on August 28, 2001.[3] The AllMusic reviewer concluded that, of the albums in Taylor's catalog, "this recording should be one of the first acquired".[4] The JazzTimes reviewer expressed admiration for Taylor's piano playing, but wrote that the spoken-word track "comes out like an awkward public-service announcement and breaks the vibe".[2]

All compositions by Billy Taylor.

1. "Local Color / Can You Dig It?" – 4:25
2. "Reclamation" – 5:49
3. "Gracias Chucho" – 2:54
4. "Etude" – 4:06
5. "Conversion" – 4:44
6. "Spoken" – 1:38
7. "In Loving Memory" – 6:13
8. "Like a Heartbeat" – 4:16
9. "Invention / Looking for Another Theme" – 5:35
10. "Transformation" – 8:30
11. "A Duke-ish Blues" – 5:52

• Billy Taylor – piano
• Chip Jackson – bass
• Winard Harper – drums