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Chad Taylor

Chad Taylor (b. 1973) is a composer, educator, percussionist and scholar who is a co-founder of the Chicago Underground ensembles. Originally from Tempe, AZ, Chad grew up in Chicago where he started performing professionally at the age of 16. Chad has performed with Fred Anderson, Derek Bailey, Cooper-Moore, Pharoah Sanders, Marc Ribot, Peter Brotzmann, Malachi Favors and many others. Chad leads his own band Circle down which debut recording was given a 5 star review by All music:

"What is remarkable is that there is no wasted motion, no histrionics or grandstanding, as pure emotion is translated to superlative music making on this most highly recommended recording, one for the ages." Allmusic.com

Chad has a BFA from the New School in Jazz Performance and a MFA in Jazz Research and History from Rutgers University.

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16
Album Review

James Brandon Lewis: For Mahalia With Love (Expanded Edition)

Read "For Mahalia With Love (Expanded Edition)" reviewed by Chris May


Not since Oded Tzur's Isabela (ECM, 2022) has a comparably exalted tenor saxophone-led album come along, not until For Mahalia, With Love. Vaultingly great jazz and deep solace for the soul, For Mahalia, With Love was released in late 2023. An annual cycle for albums of this quality is actually a sufficiency, for there is enough in both these, and those that preceded them, to last a listener a lifetime. File next to John Coltrane's Crescent (Impulse!, 1964) and Albert ...

15
Album Review

James Brandon Lewis / Red Lily Quintet: For Mahalia, With Love

Read "For Mahalia, With Love" reviewed by Pat Youngspiel


Moving on chronologically from George Washington Carver--the African-American musician and influential agricultural scientist to whom James Brandon Lewis' previous recording with the Red Lily Quintet, Jesup Wagon (Tao Forms 2021), was dedicated--For Mahalia, With Love continues the pattern of paying homage to influential Afro-Americans who, in their own way, changed the course of history. This album's dedicatee is the early gospel queen Mahalia Jackson, whose seminal performances lit a spark in the saxophonist's grandmother; she in turn carried the spark ...

10
Album Review

James Brandon Lewis: For Mahalia With Love

Read "For Mahalia With Love" reviewed by Jerome Wilson


Tenor saxophonist James Brandon Lewis has been establishing himself in various contexts for the last few years, but his main focus lately has been on his Red Lily Quintet. Their first album, Jesup Wagon, (TAO Forms, 2021), was dedicated to African-American scientist, George Washington Carver. On their 2023 release, the group's music focuses on the work of the legendary gospel singer, Mahalia Jackson. This tribute takes the form of interpretations of familiar spirituals Jackson often sang. The gospel-derived ...

20
Album Review

James Brandon Lewis Red Lily Quintet: For Mahalia With Love

Read "For Mahalia With Love" reviewed by John Sharpe


The combination of James Brandon Lewis' impassioned tenor saxophone and songs associated with gospel singer and Civil Rights activist Mahalia Jackson is a match made in heaven. On For Mahalia, With Love by his Red Lily Quintet, Lewis retains the crack squad which made Jesup Wagon (Tao Forms, 2021) a success. Even though Lewis has a proven knack for crafting an affecting melody, he has chosen well as this repertoire has not only stood the test of time, but is ...

10
Album Review

Jaimie Branch: Fly Or Die Fly Or Die Fly Or Die ((World War))

Read "Fly Or Die Fly Or Die Fly Or Die ((World War))" reviewed by Chris May


As the malign forces of Amerikkka gather for their 2024 assault on truth, justice and democracy, an assault from which, if it is successful, there may be no peaceable reversal available four years down the line, the American jazz world should hang its head in shame. Denunciations of and opposition to the rise of domestic neo-fascism have been mostly confined to rock and hip hop. In jazz, with some noble exceptions, it has been business as usual. Now, in autumn ...

9
Album Review

Avram Fefer Quartet: Juba Lee

Read "Juba Lee" reviewed by Mark Corroto


Avram Fefer comes out swinging on Juba Lee, the second release from his quartet,. It must have certainly been fated, as the opener “Showtime" hits hard with its muscular sound. Fefer's tenor saxophone blows out any existing cobwebs before handing off to guitarist Marc Ribot. The music continues the rich sound heard on the quartet's critically acclaimed previous release Testament (Clean Feed, 2019). Fefer built this sound first in trio with bassist Eric Revis, and drummer Chad Taylor heard the ...

2
Radio & Podcasts

Steve Tintweiss, Chad Taylor Trio & Dan Rosenboom

Read "Steve Tintweiss, Chad Taylor Trio & Dan Rosenboom" reviewed by Maurice Hogue


This episode touches on current releases from artists like Chad Taylor, Dan Rosenboom, English drummer Tom Skinner, French free jazz saxophonist Roland Devocelle, Swiss saxophonist Christoph Irniger with the Swiss Jazz Orchestra and Germany's AAAPUZ, but it also takes a look back to the earlier free jazz scene of the 70s in New York with music from bassist Steve Tintweiss. Playlist Aurora “Ghosts" from Aurora (Denon) 00:00 Aurora “Round Midnight" from Aurora (Denon) 06:33 Host speaks 11:49 Tom ...

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11

Event

James Brandon Lewis & Chad Taylor Launch 2018 Season In Beacon, NY

James Brandon Lewis & Chad Taylor Launch 2018 Season In Beacon, NY

Source: James Keepnews

“James Brandon Lewis, a jazz saxophonist in his 30s, raw-toned but measured, doesn't sound steeped in current jazz-academy values and isn't really coming from a free-improvising perspective. There's an independence about him.” —The New York Times “With an insatiable appetite for music on the fringe, drummer Chad Taylor has been an active participant in the creative music environments of both Chicago and New York. Not confined to any particular style, Taylor threads an array of astounding patterns and cadences.” —All ...

44

Performance / Tour

Avram Fefer Trio CD Release Show May 9th featuring Michael Bisio and Chad Taylor

Avram Fefer Trio CD Release Show May 9th featuring Michael Bisio and Chad Taylor

Source: Avram Fefer

Celebrating the release of Eliyahu (NotTwo Records), Avram's tenth recording as a leader. A trio recording featuring long-time collaborators, bassist Eric Revis and drummer Chad Taylor—Eliyahu picks up where their last recording, Ritual (Clean Feed Records) left off.... with killer grooves, memorable tunes, and potent improvisations. For this performance, the bass chair will be filled by bassist exrtraordinaire Michael Bisio. Monday, May 9th @ 9pm (one set only)—$10 CSV Cultural Center 107 Suffolk St # 312 ...

102

Radio

The Jazz Session #147: Chad Taylor

The Jazz Session #147: Chad Taylor

Source: Michael Ricci


253

Event

Henry Grimes Trio w/ Charles Gayle & Chad Taylor, "Churching!," 12/17/O4, NYC!

Henry Grimes Trio w/ Charles Gayle & Chad Taylor, "Churching!," 12/17/O4, NYC!

Source: All About Jazz

As practically everybody who loves music has heard by now, master bassist HENRY GRIMES, missing from the music world since the late '6O's, has made an unprecedented comeback after receiving the gift of a bass (a green one called Olive Oil!) from William Parker in December, 'O2 to replace the instrument Henry had been forced to give up some 3O years earlier. Between the mid-'5O's and the mid-'6O's, the Philadelphia-born, Juilliard-educated Henry Grimes played brilliantly on some 5O albums with ...

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

A Monster Is Just An...

Intakt Records
2024

buy

Fly Or Die Fly Or Die...

International Anthem Recording Company
2023

buy

Molecular Systemic...

Intakt Records
2022

buy

Juba Lee

Clean Feed Records
2022

buy

The Fountain

From: Afrika Love
By Chad Taylor

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