Curtis Taylor Grammy Award winning trumpeter and NE Ohio native returns to area by way of San Diego in a celebration of his original music & arrangements of standard jazz, R&B and neo-soul repertoire! Featuring Curtis Taylor, Phillip K. Jones II, Dean Hulett, Robert Hubbard.

Grammy Award winning trumpeter Curtis Taylor’s lyrical and melodic improvisational style displays a level of maturity far beyond his counterparts. His unique blend of soulfulness, harmonic sensibilities and rhythm melt together for an unforgettable sound that directly connects with the soul of the listener. According to Taylor, “When played honestly, music is the ultimate conveyer of truth and beauty.”

Taylor grew up in Bedford, Ohio, where his interest in music was piqued. At 10 years old, he took up the trumpet and got involved with the school’s band program. Two years later Taylor really started showing promise on his instrument. Shawn Nichols, the school’s band director, took notice and encouraged him to get involved in the jazz ensemble. In addition, Nichols 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 then and there that he wanted a career in music.

Soon after that experience the accolades began piling up for the budding young musician – no doubt it’s because the talented trumpeter has studied and performed with some of the most renowned jazz musicians and educators. In 2007, Taylor completed his B.A. in Jazz Studies at Michigan State University, where he studied with Derrick Gardner, Wess Anderson and Rodney Whitaker. Two years later he went on to attain his Master’s at Rutgers University where he studied with the late William “Prof” Fielder. Fielder was a legendary educator who taught many jazz notables such as Wynton Marsalis, Terence Blanchard, Sean Jones and Terrell Stafford.

Taylor has shared the stage with jazz luminaries Winard Harper, Rodney Whitaker, Antonio Hart and great gospel luminaries Karen Clark-Sheard, Kierra Sheard and the Singletons. More extensively Taylor’s stint with jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut included a notable concert performance at Kennedy Center recorded for NPR’s Jazzset, an appearance at the Spoleto Jazz Festival, and a week long engagement at Dizzy’s Club in NYC. In addition, Taylor had the great opportunity to tour internationally with virtuosic saxophonist James Carter’s Quintet, performing in: Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Canada, and Austria. Rounding out the experience, was a week long stint at Yoshi’s in California again with the James Carter Quintet.

In more recent years, Taylor has had the wonderful opportunity to perform and record with rising jazz star, Gregory Porter. Taylor’s trumpet can be heard on Gregory Porter’s debut album Water and on his junior release (Blue Note records) Liquid Spirit. Both albums were nominated for Grammy Awards. Liquid Spirit won the Grammy in the Best Jazz Vocal Album category for 2013.

Join us for this very special opportunity to hear this wonderfully talented musician and his band in a rare appearance in NE Ohio – get your tickets today!

$12