A sorely neglected and underrated pianist during his lifetime, Albert Dailey's skill and verve as a soloist were greatly appreciated and eulogized following his death. An often hypnotic stylist, his shimmering harmonies and phrases were particularly admired by Stan Getz, with whom he worked in the mid-'70s. Dailey began piano studies at an early age, then played in the Baltimore Royal Theater's house band in the early and mid-'50s. He attended Morgan State and Peabody Conservatory in the late '50s. Dailey toured with vocalist Damita Jo from 1960 to 1963, then led a trio at the Bohemia Caverns in Washington, D.C., before moving to New York in 1964. Dailey played with Dexter Gordon, Roy Haynes, Sarah Vaughan, and Charles Mingus while recording with Freddie Hubbard. He performed and recorded with Woody Herman at the 1967 Monterey Jazz Festival, and was in Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers during the late '60s and again in the mid-'70s. Dailey played periodically with Sonny Rollins, toured and recorded with Stan Getz, and also cut sessions with Elvin Jones and Archie Shepp in the '70s. He performed at Carnegie Hall and in the Mobil Summerpier Concerts series in the '80s, while also playing in the Upper Manhattan Jazz Society with Charlie Rouse, Benny Bailey, and Buster Williams. He recorded for Columbia, Steeplechase, Muse, and Elektra, with his 1972 debut The Day After the Dawn getting widespread critical praises but not enough sales to keep Columbia from dropping him after that one date. He has only one session available on CD. ~ Ron Wynn, Rovi