TBJ169: David Taylor
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On This Episode of The Brass Junkies:
His start on tuba in middle school and then the gradual move to trombone
Why he doesn’t think about music as in different styles - just climb into the sound around you
Showing up every morning when Juilliard opened its doors to teach himself how to read every morning via the left hand of piano books, saxophone and trumpet books
The one phone call that opened up the entire New York City musical world outside of orchestral and brass quintet music
Playing with Watrous early in his big band career
How feeling like an outsider in everything led him to develop his own sense of style
Why he’s always gone by gut in his career and always gone where he’s loved
That time when as a 24-year-old he asked Bud Herseth to record a Bach duet album
The all-Ewald album that’s been recorded over the last 10 years that is finally seeing the light of day this summer
The trio he played in with Julie Landsman and Mark Gould and a brand new trio he just launched
The trio that Eric Ewazen wrote for him 40 years ago that he recently found in a storage bin
What’s next for the Manhattan Brass Quintet
Getting the mental and physical stamina to perform difficult works
His realization when he was 24 that he needed a more concise conception of articulation to be able to sound like he needed to in big bands and settings other than orchestras and brass quintets
He didn’t have a record player until he was about 16 and why that made him struggle with style early in his career
Why articulation is the basis of style and interpretation
His decades long collaboration with composer Daniel Schnyder that continues to this day
What it’s like being an old guy on the scene and why he’s always developing, even today
Why the Washington Trombone Ensemble has always had a special place in his heart
The curiosity that drives people like David, Mark Gould and Sam Pilafian
That time when he got thrown out of a restaurant at Gil Evans’ kid’s 21st birthday party in Venice
Bio:
Receiving B.S. and M.S. degrees from the Julliard School of Music, David Taylor started his playing career as a member of Leopold Stowkowski's American Symphony Orchestra, and by appearing with the New York Philharmonic under Pierre Boulez Almost simultaneously, he was a member of the Thad Jones Mel Lewis jazz band, and recorded with Duke Ellington (The New Orleans Suite), The Rolling Stones, and Blood, Sweat, and Tears. Mr. Taylor has recorded four solo albums (Koch, New World, and DMP) and has presented numerous recitals throughout the world (including Carnegie Recital Hall, Kaufman Auditorium at the Y at 92nd Street, and Merkin Hall).
He has appeared as a soloist with the St. Lukes Chamber Orchestra , The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, The Caramoor Festival Orchestra, The NY Chamber Symphony, The Basil Sinfonietta, The Adelaide Philharmonic, and The Group for Contemporary Music among others. He has been involved in dozens of commissioning projects for the Bass Trombone in solo and chamber idioms; collaborating with composers including Alan Hovhaness, Charles Wuorinen, George Perle, Frederic Rzewski, Lucia Dlugoszchewski, Eric Ewazen, David Liebman, and Daniel Schnyder. He has appeared and recorded chamber music with Yo Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, and Wynton Marsalis. Throughout his career, David Taylor has appeared and recorded with many major jazz and popular artists including Barbara Streisand, Miles Davis, Quincey Jones, Frank Sinatra, and Aretha Franklin. Mr. Taylor has won the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Most Valuable Player Award for five consecutive years, the most it could be awarded and has been awarded the NARAS Most Valuable Player Virtuoso Award, an honor accorded no other bass trombonist. He has been a member of the Gil Evans Band, Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Band, George Russell's Band, the George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band, and the Chuck Israel Band to name a few. Although he has performed on numerous Grammy Award winning recordings, 1998 was special. In 1998 Taylor performed on four Grammy nominated CD's: The J.J. Johnson Big Band, Dave Grusin's West Side Story, the Joe Henderson Big Band, and the Randy Brecker Band. The latter two CD's were chosen for Grammys.
David Taylor currently performs with The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, The Charles Mingus Big Band, Eos Orchestra, The NY Chamber Symphony, The Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, The Michelle Camillo Band, Areopagitica (a brass trio in residence at Mannes College), The Bob Mintzer Band, the Daniel Schnyder, David Taylor, and the Kenny Drew Jr Trio. He appears frequently with Orpheus, and the St. Lukes Chamber Orchestra, and he is on the faculties of the Manhattan School of Music and Mannes College.
Some upcoming events include appearances with the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Chamber Music Northwest, and master classes and recitals in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. David has appeared with the Absolute Ensemble under the direction of Kristian Jarvi (this project was broadcasted on European TV and recorded for Enja Records), The Niederoesterreichische Tonkuenstlerochester, and The Tiroler Symphonie Orchestra Innsbruck.
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With Thanks
The brass program at The Mary Pappert School of Music at Duquesne University
Parker Mouthpieces (including the Andrew Hitz and Lance LaDuke models.)
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Expertly produced by Will Houchin with love, care, and enthusiasm.
