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Curtis Taylor
Curtis Taylor: Taylor Made
by Nicholas F. Mondello
Taylor Made, from trumpeter, Curtis Taylor, presents seven tracks of fine post hard bop jazz. The music here is intelligent, inviting, and, lathered with superb solos. Taylor composed and arranged all seven tracks. “Kham's Dilemma" opens with a lyrical, yet exotic statement with Taylor's trumpet and Marcus Elliot's sax in unison over an energized rhythm bed before it breaks out swinging hard and meaning business. Fine solos follow from Taylor, Marcus Elliot and pianist Theron Brown. “After ...
read moreCurtis Taylor: Taylor Made
by Troy Dostert
From the classic Blue Note-inspired cover design to the wide range of bop-based jazz influences found within, trumpeter Curtis Taylor leaves no doubt about the vibe he is aiming for with his debut full-length release, Taylor Made. Taylor has been a frequently used sideman by artists such as Gregory Porter, Billy Childs, and Cyrus Chestnut, so it is a welcome occurrence that he is now able to step out on his own more convincingly. Seven well-designed compositions, and accomplished performances ...
read moreDerrick Gardner & The Big dig! Band: Still I Rise
by Jack Bowers
Trumpeter Derrick Gardner, a Chicagoan who has performed around the world with a who's who of jazz luminaries from Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie and Frank Foster to Nancy Wilson, Tony Bennett and Harry Connick Jr., to name only a few, traveled to Winnipeg, Canada, to assemble and record his Big Dig! Band, several sizes removed from Gardner's sextet, The Jazz Prophets, a working group since it was formed in New York City in 1991. Gardner not only shines as trumpet ...
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