David
Taylor
b.
June 06, 1944, Brooklyn, New York - USA
David with his lovely wife Ronnie (photo Rene
Laanen)
Receiving B.S. and M.S. degrees from the Juilliard School of Music,
David Taylor started his playing career
as a member of 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 Joe
Henderson Big Band, 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 Aud. at the Y at 92nd St., and Merkin Hall).
He has appeared as a soloist
with the St.
Lukes Chamber Orchestra, The
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, The Adelaide Philharmonic,
and The Group for Contemporary Music among others.
David with George Roberts (Photo Joshua Brown
ITA)
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, Quincy 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, the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis jazz 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, and the Daniel Schnyder, David Taylor, 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, Mannes
College, and SUNY Purchase.
The Getzen
instrument Co. sponsors David Taylor, and has a David Taylor model
bass trombone in its catalog.
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. The
Mannes College will schedule its Third
Annual Trombone Day with David Taylor (1998). In 1999 Taylor
will be performing four conserti written for him. Two of
these will be world premieres by Daniel Schnyder and Franz Hackl.
David will be appearing with the Absolute Ensemble under the direction
of Kristian Jarvi (this project will be broadcast on European
TV and recorded for Enja Records),
The Niederoestereichische Tonkuenstler Orchester, and The Tiroler
Symphonie Orchester Innsbruck.
- "Mr. Taylor is a terrific player - with agility, sure intonation, personal piazzazz and some wondrous mute effects." (NY Times)
- "...left every brass player in the packed house shaking his head in disbelief." (Chicago Tribune)
- "...a bass trombonist with a marvelously dark cavernous sound and an attack that is as vividly dramatic as it is virtuosic." (NY Times)
- "David Taylor's trombone virtuosity...was astounding." (Gannett Westchester Newspaper)
- "For the past decade his name is always mentioned among the most original bass trombonists of the 20th century. His unbelievably facile technique and his versatile musical knowledge make him a veritable musical chameleon.David Taylor has never ceased pursuing ever higher standards in the development of personal style. Jealously guarding his independence, he has been in the best big bands, in classical orchestras, in the most diverse kinds of chamber music groups. His journey is a profession of faith and reveals a clear and cultivated sprit, spurred on by a rich imagination." (Brass Bulletin)
"...Jazz made direct
contact with Friday's concert, first in the playing by Wynton
Marsalis and David Taylor of the trumpet and trombone parts ("L'histoire
du Soldat"), and then in Mr. Marsalis's gloss on the Stravinsky
piece called "A Fiddler's Tale." Stravinsky gives both brass players
very difficult parts, and they realized them here with splendid
articulation and gorgeous sound. Indeed, so beautiful were the
timbres, so rich and quivering....." (NY Times)
David
Taylor with his good friend bass trombonist René Laanen
-
this
site is made by René
Laanen
