Birth name Dylan Taylor Instruments Bass, Cello Genre Afro-Cuban jazz | Occupation(s) Musician, composer Years active 1985-present Music director Takao Dancer | |
Born March 29, 1960 (age 56)
Philadelphia, PA, U.S. ( 1960-03-29 ) Genres Jazz
Jazz Fusion
Afro Cuban Albums Sweeter for the Struggle, Heartbreak Circus, Wanted, Dylan Taylor, G.R.A.V.E.S. Record labels Dylan Taylor, Next Century Music, Dylan Taylor Music, LLC Similar Larry Coryell, Khan Jamal, The Ready Set, Mike Clark, Odean Pope | ||
Dylan Taylor is an American Bassist / Cellist / Composer and Arranger is currently residing in, and is known as a great veteran of, the Philadelphia area Jazz scene.
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During his busy career Dylan has provided the bottom anchor for name artists such as Lee Konitz, Freddie Hubbard, Mose Allison and Larry Coryell, and taken part in steady local Jazz engagements in Center City's better hotels with pianist Tom Lawton's trio at the Four Seasons and saxophonist Tony Williams quartet at the Ritz Carlton.
Taylor has recorded extensively for the C.I.M.P. label on respective releases with saxophonist Bobby Zankel, vibraphonist Khan Jamal and vocalist Kelly Meashey, and was a longtime member of Bobby Zankel's "little big band," The Warriors of the Wonderful Sound, with recordings on Dreambox Media.
Early career
Dylan studied bass with Al Stauffer, Dennis Sandole, Buster Williams (under an NEA Jazz study Fellowship) and John Pattitucci at City College of New York, where he also studied composition with Mike Holober. In 2013 Taylor's musical score for the feature film Takao Dancer was premiered at the Tokyo International Film Festival.
Debut Album
Taylor's first self-produced project as leader, 2013's Sweeter for the Struggle, features his friend Larry Coryell and three of Dylan's original compositions. On both the recording and at the CD release concert, the legendary guitarist joined top Philadelphia Jazz talents including the aforementioned Tom Lawton and Bobby Zankel; one of the tunes, Art the Messenger (inspired by drummer Art Blakey), encapsulates Taylor's spiritual feelings regarding both his music making/ band leading approach and his overall worldview: Specifically, that positive hope combined with the musical diversity displayed in his compositions weaving together Afro-Cuban, fusion, straight ahead, blues and avant-garde can play a part in a larger message of connecting us all individually to something bigger than ourselves, a sum truly greater than its parts. As Dylan Taylor states, "I hope that my music can contribute in some way to this process."
Discography
As a Leader
with Larry Coryell- Guitar; Mike Clark (jazz musician)- Drums
As a sidemen
with Butch Ballard-Drums; Sam Dockery-Piano
with Khan Jamal; Edgar Bateman
Songs
Lost HeartsGRAVES · 2016
House of the Rising SunSweeter for the Struggle · 2013
HurricaneGRAVES · 2016