Although
trumpeter CURTIS TAYLOR has performed with some of the top names
in jazz and has been a sideman on two dozen recordings as well as
recording two EPs as a leader, he has been flying under the radar far
too long. But that may well change with his debut full-length album, TAYLOR
MADE, a showcase for his considerable playing, writing, and
arranging talents. TAYLOR MADE follows #Hashtagged (2017)
and Snapshot (2019), recorded live at the World Stage in Los
Angeles.
Taylor’s
core group of musicians are from the Midwest, including MARCUS
ELLIOT (tenor sax), THERON BROWN (piano), JONATHON
MUIR-COTTON (acoustic and electric bass) and ALEX WHITE (drums).
San Diego-based percussionist DAVID CASTAÑEDA joins the group on
the second track.
The
Ohio native made a name for himself early on in his career when he
performed on Gregory Porter’s Grammy-winning 2013 CD, Liquid Spirit.
He also appeared on Porter’s debut CD, Water, and in his
documentary, Don’t Forget Your Music. Taylor has extensive
performing and recording credits that include Patrice Rushen, Billy
Childs, Gary Novak, Bob Sheppard, Ed Motta, Marvin "Smitty' Smith,
Rodney Whitaker, Antonio Hart, and gospel luminaries Karen
Clark-Sheard, Kierra Sheard and the Singletons. Taylor’s stint with
jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut included a notable concert performance at
the Kennedy Center, which was recorded for NPR’s JazzSet with Dee Dee
Bridgewater, an appearance at the Spoleto Jazz Festival, and a
week-long engagement at Dizzy’s Club in NYC. Taylor also toured
extensively around Europe and the U.S. with saxophonist James Carter’s
quintet.
Although
Taylor is a superb trumpet player, in his youth he aspired to learn the
saxophone. However, financial constraints led his mother to steer him
to the trumpet. Taylor relates, “We had just moved to Bedford, Ohio,
and money was tight. My mother told me ‘You're going to play the
trumpet.’ At the time, the cost of a saxophone was around 3,000
dollars, while a trumpet was only 300 dollars, making it a more
feasible option.” From that point on, Taylor committed himself to
mastering the trumpet and never looked back.
At
the age of 11, Taylor experienced the loss of his father. Fortunately,
during this time, caring and generous music teachers became his
mentors. A couple of years later, the school’s band director, Shawn
Nichols, saw Taylor’s potential and encouraged him to get involved in
the jazz ensemble. He also took Taylor to several concerts around the
city where he got his first real taste of jazz. One night after seeing
a great concert featuring trumpeters Jon Faddis and Steve Enos, Taylor
was so inspired that he decided, at the age of thirteen, that he wanted
a career in music. Taylor continued his music education throughout high
school and went on to receive a BA in Jazz Studies at Michigan State
University in 2007. He then received a master's degree at Rutgers
University, where had studied with the late William "Prof"
Fielder, a legendary educator who taught many jazz notables like Wynton
Marsalis, Terence Blanchard, and Sean Jones, among others. After graduating,
he spent time in New York trying to kick off his career when he got a
call from Kamau Kenyatta, Gregory Porter’s producer. Taylor had met
Kenyatta several years earlier at a jam session in Detroit, and
Kenyatta invited Taylor to come out to San Diego to play on Porter’s
debut album, Water. He subsequently tapped Taylor’s talents to
play on Porter’s sophomore release, Liquid Spirit, along with
other projects he produced.
Taylor
liked Southern California, especially the mild winters, and decided to
relocate there. He quickly became a sought-after performer in the SoCal
jazz scene as well as a guest lecturer at Cal State San Marcos. Taylor
has performed with his quartet across the US at many top venues and
festivals, most recently at Font Festival (2020), Detroit Jazz Festival
(2020), Los Angeles County Museum of Art (2021), Bechtler Museum of
Modern Art (2021) and the Blue Llama Jazz Club (2021). Taylor moved
back to the Midwest in 2021 to become a lecturer at the University of
Iowa’s Jazz department, where he teaches jazz history, jazz theory and
directs the JRE Big Band.
Taylor’s
compositions swing but all have a fresh, modern perspective. His
playing is a fluid blend of soul, blues, gospel, and bebop with
expressive, lyrical solos. For TAYLOR MADE, he carefully
selected songs that he had crafted over the years and perfected through
numerous captivating performances.
Taylor
opens the album with “Kham’s Dilemma,” a tribute to his son Khamari,
who was born in 2018. The title was inspired by Wynton Marsalis’
popular “Delfeayo’s Dilemma.” “After the Rain” is a happy, upbeat tune.
Taylor recalls, “I wrote this song during a visit to my mother’s house.
I sat at the piano and this melody started to come to me while it was
raining. I was having trouble coming up with the bridge of the song,
which I finally finished right after the rain ended, so I decided to
call the song ‘After the Rain.’” The tune is very popular in
Taylor’s live performances, and he often uses it to close his shows.
Taylor
set out to represent the feeling of nervous energy with “Heightened
Awareness,” a driving composition with a post-bop attitude featuring
smoking solos by Taylor, Elliot, and Brown. “For Her” was inspired by a
past relationship with a woman who was a dancer. Written in 3/4 time,
Taylor wanted to capture the expression of a dancer’s graceful, elegant
movements.
“Indomitable”
is about the will to prevail, which is represented with recurring
musical figures that create an undercurrent that keeps pulling you back
in. Taylor revisited and expanded “Hashtagged,” initially recorded on
his EPs #Hashtagged and Snapshot. The 7/4 meter
composition was inspired by Robert Glasper’s “Jelly's Da Beener.”
Taylor closes the album with “Journey,” a number with a Maiden Voyage
vibe written during a transitional period of his life.
Although
Taylor is teaching at the School of Music at the University of Iowa, he
maintains a busy touring schedule. Admired by his numerous fans who
have been lucky enough to hear him play live, with the wide release of TAYLOR
MADE, jazz enthusiasts across the country will be able to enjoy
his hip, soulful, contemporary originals.
# # #
TAYLOR
MADE is set
for release on April 12, 2024 and will be available at Bandcamp and at Curtistaylor.net,
as well as on all streaming platforms.
Online:
Curtistaylor.net
Facebook.com/curtis.taylor.73744
Instagram.com/curtisdtaylor
@curtisdtaylor
Youtube.com/user/curtistaylormusic/videos
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