Russell Allen Taylor

Southern Standard Time is the inaugural CD recording by Rusty and Friends jazz band, a quartet with Tom Chadwick on keyboards (he also composes some really groovy arrangements of popular songs in the jazz style); Mark Parker on drums; Jeff Smith on bass; and Rusty Taylor who provides the vocals.

We have known each other for many years, primarily through supporting our local jazz club, the Columbus Jazz Society: Columbus... Georgia, that is. (Check out their website listed in our links section.) About a year ago, Rusty approached Tom Chadwick with a request to record some vocal jazz standards. Mark and Jeff dug the idea, and the quartet started practicing. Along the way they had fun; the synergy created was addictive, so they decided to play. On December 21, 2009, they gigged at Carriage and Horses restaurant in Pine Mountain, Georgia, and the response was really positive. (Check out the restaurant's website at www.ComeToDagher.com — Dagher, by the way, is the owner's name.)

We were asked back on January 30, 2010 to reservations of over two hundred... Dagher had to turn down some potential customers. Of course, Dagher sponsored a wine tasting event, which attracts many patons, but quite a few came to hear the band, and the atmosphere was electric.

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