Chad Taylor (born March 19, 1973) is an American drummer, percussionist, and composer. Taylor leads both the Chad Taylor Trio with Brian Settles and Neil Podgurski and Circle Down with Angelica Sanchez and

Chris Lightcap Chris Lightcap is an American double bassist, bass guitarist and composer born in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Career In addition to his work as a bassist he has led a variety of bands since 2000 and has produced six albums of original music. Lightcap' ...

. He is a founding member of the Chicago Underground along with Jeff Parker and

Rob Mazurek Rob Mazurek (born 1965) is an American composer, cornetist, improviser and visual artist living in Chicago, Illinois. Biography Rob Mazurek is an American electro-acoustic composer, cornetist, improviser and visual artist living in Chicago, Il ...

Early life

Taylor was born in Tempe, Arizona and was brought up in a musical household. His father, once an aspiring concert pianist, exposed his young son to Duke Ellington,

Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his orchestral music such as the ''Brandenburg Concertos''; instrumental compositions such as the Cello Suites; keyboard wor ...

Thelonious Monk Thelonious Sphere Monk (, October 10, 1917 – February 17, 1982) was an American jazz pianist and composer. He had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including " 'Round Midnight", ...

, and Mozart. By age 8, Taylor started taking guitar lessons. At 10, he relocated with his mother and sister to Chicago where he continued his studies on guitar as well as starting snare drum lessons. In 1988 Taylor began studying jazz drumming and classical percussion in High School and took ensemble classes at The Bloom School of Jazz. Through the help and encouragement of bassist Dennis Carrol, Taylor started performing in Chicago with Rob Mazurek. Upon graduating from Lane Tech in 1991, Chad received a full scholarship to study classical guitar at

Millikin University Millikin University is a private university in Decatur, Illinois. It was founded in 1901 by prominent Decatur businessman James Millikin and is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). Media Decaturian The ''Decaturian'', also known as ...

. After attending his freshman year he decided to focus on jazz drumming and the following year transferred to the School of Jazz division of

The New School The New School is a private research university in New York City. It was founded in 1919 as The New School for Social Research with an original mission dedicated to academic freedom and intellectual inquiry and a home for progressive thinkers. ...

in New York City.

Career

In 1997 Taylor moved back to Chicago into an apartment with bassist Joshua Abrams. Abrams introduced Taylor to Fred Anderson who Taylor started performing with regularly at The Velvet Lounge and also to David Boykin who asked Taylor to join his ensemble the Outet with Nicole Mitchell. In addition, Abrams and Taylor started the collective Sticks and Stones with Matana Roberts that hosted the weekly jam session at The Velvet Lounge. Taylor also reconnected with Rob Mazurek. Rob Mazurek invited him along with Jeff Parker to perform at a weekly composers workshop at The Green Mill which eventually developed into The Chicago Underground ensemble. In 1998 the first Chicago Underground Duo recording, ''12 Degrees of Freedom'' was released on the

Thrill Jockey Thrill Jockey is an American independent record label established by former Atlantic Records A&R representative Bettina Richards and based in Chicago. History Richards started the label in 1992 with $35,000 of family and personal capital, while ...

label. Taylor was the drummer on

Sam Prekop Sam Prekop (born October 18, 1964) is an American musician in the band The Sea and Cake. He also has released five solo albums. Early life Prekop was born in London, but grew up in Chicago. He studied at the Kansas City Art Institute. Career ...

's 1999 self titled release ''Sam Prekop'' as well as the 2005 release ''Who’s Your New Professor''. In 2001 Taylor moved back to New York where bassist Tom Abbs introduced him to Cooper-Moore. The core ensemble consisted of Jemeel Moondoc, Tom Abbs and

Steve Swell Steve Swell (born in Newark, New Jersey, December 6, 1954) is an American free jazz trombonist, composer, and educator. Music career Swell studied at Jersey City State Teachers College before moving to New York City in 1975 where he began his m ...

. The same year Taylor started working with Jeff Parker's Trio with Chris Lopes on bass, releasing ''Like-Coping'' in 2003. In 2002, Taylor recorded ''Titration'', his debut as a leader for

Delmark Records Delmark Records is an American jazz and blues independent record label. It was founded in 1958 and is based in Chicago, Illinois. The label originated in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1953 when then owner, and founder, Bob Koester released a record ...

. The core ensemble consisted of Jemeel Moondoc, Tom Abbs and

. The same year Taylor started working with Jeff Parker's Trio with Chris Lopes on bass, releasing ''Like-Coping'' in 2003 and ''The Relatives'' in 2005. In 2004 Taylor started working with guitarist

Marc Ribot Marc Ribot (; born May 21, 1954) is an American guitarist and composer. His work has touched on many styles, including no wave, free jazz, rock, and Cuban music. Ribot is also known for collaborating with other musicians, most notably Tom Wai ...

in his band Spiritual Unity with Roy Campbell and

Henry Grimes Henry Grimes (November 3, 1935 – April 15, 2020) was an American jazz double bassist and violinist. After more than a decade of activity and performance, notably as a leading bassist in free jazz, Grimes completely disappeared from the music s ...

. Taylor produced Ribot's 2014 album ''Live At The Vanguard''. In 2009 Taylor started working with the folk/rock band Iron & Wine and was the toured with the band from 2010 to 2012. Taylor was the drummer on the 2011 release '' Kiss Each Other Clean''. In 2011 Taylor began the master's program in Jazz History and Research at

Rutgers University Rutgers University (; RU), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a public land-grant research university consisting of four campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's College, and was ...

under the direction of

Lewis Porter Lewis Robert Porter (born May 14, 1951) is an American jazz pianist, composer, author, and educator. Education and career Porter was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, but raised primarily in the Bronx in New York City. Porter decided at age 10 that ...

. His master thesis was an examination of form and process in the music of

Henry Threadgill Henry Threadgill (born February 15, 1944) is an American composer, saxophonist and flautist. He came to prominence in the 1970s leading ensembles rooted in jazz but with unusual instrumentation and often incorporating other genres of music. He h ...

’s Zooid. In 2012 Taylor joined a collaboration with Darius Jones, Sean Conly and Alex Harding called

Grass Roots A grassroots movement is one that uses the people in a given district, region or community as the basis for a political or economic movement. Grassroots movements and organizations use collective action from the local level to effect change at t ...

, they recorded and released their self titled album on AUM Fidelity. In 2013 Taylor started working with bassist

Eric Revis Eric Revis (born May 31, 1967) is a jazz bassist and composer. Revis came to prominence as a bassist with singer Betty Carter in the mid-1990s. Since 1997 he has been a member of Branford Marsalis's ensemble. His debut album, ''Tales of the Stutt ...

in his Quartet which released ''Sing Me Some Cry''. After finishing the masters program at Rutgers University in 2015 Taylor started teaching adjunct classes in music theory, jazz history and music appreciation. He also taught music history at

Berkeley College Berkeley College is a private for-profit college with campuses in New York, New Jersey, and online. It was founded in 1931 and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificate programs. Berkeley College is accredited by the Middle ...

in NYC. Taylor produced a solo work called ''Myths and Morals''. Taylor started working with James Brandon Lewis in 2016 and the two started performing as a duo and released ''Radiant Imprints'' in 2018 and ''Live in Willisau'' in 2020. In addition, he joined Jaimie Branch's Fly or Die ensemble in 2016. In 2019, Taylor formed a new ensemble with tenor saxophonist Brian Settles and pianist Neil Podgurski, which released ''The Daily Biological'' for

Cuneiform Records Cuneiform Records is a record label in Silver Spring, Maryland. Founded in 1984, the label releases an mixture of musical styles, all with a Rock in Opposition aesthetic, including progressive jazz, jazz fusion, the Canterbury scene, and elec ...

in 2020.

Notable mentions

Taylor was included in the "Rising Star" category of DownBeat Magazine's 2020 Critics Poll. Taylor received the most votes in the 2020 El Intruso's International Poll for percussion. In 2020, ''The Daily Biological'' by the Chad Taylor Trio was selected in NPR's jazz critics poll and was also included in

JazzTimes ''JazzTimes'' is an American magazine devoted to jazz. Published 10 times a year, it was founded in Washington, D.C. in 1970 by Ira Sabin as the newsletter ''Radio Free Jazz'' to complement his record store. Coverage After a decade of growt ...

's Top 40 New Jazz Releases.

Discography

As a leader

* 2003 ''Active Ingredients, Titration'' (Delmark) * 2009 ''Circle Down'' (482 Music) * 2018 ''Myths and Morals'' (Ears and Eyes records) * 2020 The Chad Taylor Trio, ''The Daily Biological'' (Cuneiform) * 2022 The Chad Taylor Trio, ''The Reel'' (Astral Spirits)

with Chicago Underground

* 1998 Chicago Underground Duo, '' 12 Degrees of Freedom'' (Thrill Jockey) * 1998 Chicago Underground Orchestra, '' Playground'' (Thrill Jockey) * 1999 Chicago Underground Trip, '' Possible Cube'' (Delmark) * 2000 Chicago Underground Trio, '' Flame Thrower'' (Thrill Jockey) * 2000 Chicago Underground Duo, '' Synesthesia'' (Thrill Jockey) * 2001 Chicago Underground Quartet, '' Chicago Underground Quartet'' (Thrill Jockey) * 2002 Chicago Underground Duo, '' Axis and Alignment'' (Thrill Jockey) * 2004 Chicago Underground Trio, ''

Slon Slon may refer to: *Elephant in many Slavic languages *Slon, a village in Cerașu Commune, Prahova County, Romania * Slon.ru, a Russian magazine *Russian abbreviation of the Solovki prison camp (Соловецкий лагерь особого ...

'' (Thrill Jockey) * 2006 Chicago Underground Duo, '' In Praise of Shadows'' (Thrill Jockey) * 2007 Chicago Underground Trio, '' Chronicle'' (Delmark) * 2010 Chicago Underground Duo, ''

Boca Negra ''Boca Negra'' is an album by the Chicago Underground Duo, featuring multi-instrumentalists Rob Mazurek and Chad Taylor. It was recorded during May 2009 at El Rocha Studios in São Paulo, Brazil, and was released in 2010 by the Thrill Jockey lab ...

'', (Thrill Jockey) * 2012 Chicago Underground Duo, '' Age of Energy'' ( Northern Spy Records) * 2014 Pharaoh and the Underground, '' Spiral Mercury'' (

Clean Feed Records Clean Feed Records is a jazz record label founded in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2001. The label's roster includes Ray Anderson, Tim Berne, Carlos Bica, Anthony Braxton, Mark Dresser, Ellery Eskelin, Peter Evans, Scott Fields, Fight the Big Bull, ...

) * 2014 Pharaoh and the Underground, ''Primative Jupiter'' (Clean Feed Records) * 2014 Chicago Underground Duo, ''

Locus Locus (plural loci) is Latin for "place". It may refer to: Entertainment * Locus (comics), a Marvel Comics mutant villainess, a member of the Mutant Liberation Front * ''Locus'' (magazine), science fiction and fantasy magazine ** ''Locus Award' ...

'' (Northern Spy) * 2017 Chicago London Underground, ''

A Night Walking Through Mirrors ''A Night Walking Through Mirrors'' is a live album by the Chicago/London Underground, pairing two Americans, trumpeter Rob Mazurek and drummer Chad Taylor, with two British musicians, pianist Alexander Hawkins and bassist John Edwards. It was ...

'' (

) * 2020 Chicago Underground Quartet, ''

Good Days "Good Days" is a song by American singer SZA. It was released through Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA on December 25, 2020, as the lead single from her second studio album, ''SOS'' (2022). SZA wrote the song alongside Jacob Collier, who provides ...

'' (Astral Spirits)

with James Brandon Lewis

* 2019 James Brandon Lewis/ Chad Taylor, ''Radiant Imprints'' (Offrecords) * 2020 James Brandon Lewis/Chad Taylor, ''Live in Willisau'', (

Intakt Records Intakt Records is an independent record label, based in Zürich. History The label was founded in 1986 by Patrik Landolt.Margasak, Peter (September 2013) "Intakt's Landolt Takes Long-Term Approach to Avant-Garde". ''Down Beat''. p. 16. In the ea ...

) * 2020 ''Molecular'' (Intakt) * 2021 Red Lilly Quintet, ''Jesup Wagon'' (Tao Forms) * 2021 ''Code of Being'' (Intakt Records)

with Jaimie Branch

* 2017 ''Fly or Die'' ( International Anthem) * 2019 Fly or Die II, ''Bird Dogs of Paradise'' (International Anthem) * 2021 Fly or Die, ''Live in Zurich'' (International Anthem)

with
Eric Revis Eric Revis (born May 31, 1967) is a jazz bassist and composer. Revis came to prominence as a bassist with singer Betty Carter in the mid-1990s. Since 1997 he has been a member of Branford Marsalis's ensemble. His debut album, ''Tales of the Stutt ...

* 2014 ''In Memory of Things Not Seen'' (Clean Feed) * 2017 ''Sing Me some Cry'' (Clean Feed) * 2020 ''Slipknots Through the Looking Glass'' (Pyroclastic)

with Jeff Parker

* 2003 ''Like-Coping'' (Delmark) * 2005 ''The Relatives'' (Thrill Jockey) * 2012 ''A Bright Light in Winter'' (Delmark)

with Fred Anderson

* 1998 '' Fred Anderson Quartet Volume One'' (Asian Improv) * 1999 '' Fred Anderson Quartet Volume Two'' (Asian Improv) * 2003 ''

Back at the Velvet Lounge ''Back at the Velvet Lounge'' is an album by American jazz saxophonist Fred Anderson, which was recorded in 2002 and released on Delmark. This second installment on Bob Koester's label of live recordings made at Fred's own club, the Velvet Loun ...

'' (Delmark) * 2009 ''

21st Century Chase ''21st Century Chase'' is an album by American jazz saxophonist Fred Anderson (musician), Fred Anderson, which was recorded in 2009 and released on Delmark Records, Delmark. This fourth live recording on Bob Koester's label made at Fred's own club ...

'' (Delmark) * 2009 '' Birthday Live 2000'' (Asian Improv)

with
Marc Ribot Marc Ribot (; born May 21, 1954) is an American guitarist and composer. His work has touched on many styles, including no wave, free jazz, rock, and Cuban music. Ribot is also known for collaborating with other musicians, most notably Tom Wai ...

* 2005 ''

Spiritual Unity ''Spiritual Unity'' is a studio album by American free jazz saxophonist Albert Ayler. It was recorded on July 10, 1964 in New York City, and features bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Sunny Murray. It was the first album recorded for Bernard Stollm ...

'' (

Pi Recordings Pi Recordings is a jazz record label founded by Seth Rosner in 2001. He was soon joined as partner by Yulun Wang. Pi specializes in avant-garde jazz. Its first two albums were by Henry Threadgill. Pi's roster includes Amir ElSaffar, Anthony Braxt ...

) * 2014 '' Live at the Village Vanguard'' (Pi Recordings) * 2018 ''Songs of Resistance'' (Anti)

with Nicole Mitchell

* 2009 '' Emerald Hills'' ( RogueArt) * 2014 '' The Secret Escapades of Velvet Anderson'' (RogueArt)

with Digital Primitives

* 2007 ''Digital Primitives'' (HopScotch) * 2009 Digital Primitives, ''Hum Crackle Pop'' (HopScotch) * 2013 Digital Primitives, ''Lipsomuch/Soul Searching'' (Hopscotch)

with Triptych Myth

* 2003 ''Triptych Myth'' (Hopscotch) * 2005 ''The Beautiful'' ( AUM Fidelity) * 2018 ''Triptych Myth with Cale Brandley, Finding Fire'' (Birdwatcher Records)

with David Lord

* 2018 ''Forest Standards Vol 1'' (Big Ego) * 2020 ''Forest Standards Vol 2'' (Big Ego)

as co-leader

* 2002 ''Sticks and Stones'' (482 Music) * 2004 Sticks and Stones, ''Shed Grace'' (Thrill Jockey) * 2011 ''Grass Roots'' (AUM Fidelity) * 2013 ''Side A, A New Margin'' (Clean Feed) * 2014 ''Side A, In the Abstract'' (Clean Feed) * 2018 ''A Pride of Lions'' (The Bridge Sessions) * 2021 ''Time No Changes'' with Chris Schlarb (Astral Spirits) * 2021 ''Mind Maintenance'' with Joshua Abrams ( Drag City)

as sideman

* 1998 Loren Connors/Alan Licht Hoffman, ''Estates'' (Drag City) * 1998 Marya Lawrence, ''All the Way Back'' (Oxogen records) * 1998 David Boykin Outet, ''Evidence of Life on Other Planets Vol 1.'' (Thrill Jockey Records) * 1999 David Boykin Outet, ''Evidence of Life on Other Planets Vol 2'' (Box Media) * 1999

, ''

'' (Thrill Jockey) * 2001

Stereolab Stereolab are an Anglo- French avant-pop band formed in London in 1990. Led by the songwriting team of Tim Gane and Lætitia Sadier, the group's music combines influences from krautrock, lounge and 1960s pop music, often incorporating a repeti ...

, '' Sound-Dust'' ( Elektra Records) * 2002 Brokeback, ''Looks at the Bird'' (Thrill Jockey) * 2003 Tom Abbs and Frequency Response, ''Conscription'' (

CIMP Creative Improvised Music Projects, usually abbreviated CIMP or C.I.M.P., is an American jazz record company and label. It is associated with ''Cadence Magazine'' and Cadence Jazz Records. The label is noted for its minimal use of electronic proc ...

) * 2003 Jeff Chan, ''Jeff Chan In Chicago'' (Asian Improv) * 2005 Sam Prekop, ''

Who's Your New Professor ''Who's Your New Professor'' is an album by Sam Prekop. Track listing # "Something" – 3:49 # "Magic Step" – 2:41 # "Dot Eye" – 4:37 # "Two Dedications" – 4:28 # "Chicago People" – 2:44 # "Little Bridges" – 3:00 # "A Splendid Hollow" ...

'' (Thrill Jockey) * 2007

/ David Taylor, ''Double Diploid'' (

) * 2009 Avram Fefer Trio, ''Ritual'' (Clean Feed) * 2009

The Swell Season The Swell Season is a folk rock duo formed by Irish musician Glen Hansard and Czech singer and pianist Markéta Irglová. "The Swell Season" name is derived from Hansard's favourite novel by Josef Škvorecký from 1975 bearing the same title ...

, '' Strict Joy'' ( Anti-) * 2009 Tom Abbs, ''Lost and Found'' (Engine) * 2010 Jason Ajemian, ''Protest Heaven'' (482 Music) * 2011 Avram Fefer Trio, ''Eliyahu'' (Not Two Records) * 2011 Iron & Wine, '' Kiss Each Other Clean'' (

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...

) * 2012 David Liebman, ''Surreality'' (Yellowbird) * 2012 Jason Ajemian and Joy Mega, ''Forever Is Something Inside You'' (New Atlantis) * 2013 Taylor Ho Bynum, ''Navigation'' (FireHouse12) * 2013 Expoding Star Orchestra, ''Matter Anti-Matter'' (RogueArt) * 2014 Jason Ajemian, ''A Way A Land Of Life'' (NoBusiness) * 2015 Exploding Star Orchestra, ''Galactic Parables Vol 1''(Cuneiform) * 2016 Mara Rosembloom, ''Prairie Burn'' ( Fresh Sounds Records) * 2017 Psychic Temple, ''IV'' (

Joyful Noise Recordings Joyful Noise Recordings is an independent record label from Indianapolis, Indiana. The label was founded in 2003 in Bloomington, Indiana by Karl Hofstetter, who also played drums on many of the label's first releases. Joyful Noise maintains an a ...

) * 2017 Yoni Kretzmer, ''Five'' (Outlaw recordings) * 2018 Anthony Shadduck, ''Quartet and Double Quartet'' (Big Ego) * 2018 Steve Swell, ''Kende Dreams'' (

Silkheart Records Silkheart Records is a Swedish record company and label dedicated to improvised music and free jazz. Lars-Olof Gustavsson and Keith Knox founded Silkheart in 1985. In 1991, Jimmy Johnson of Forced Exposure suggested that Silkheart "could easily ...

) * 2018 Aruan Ortiz Trio, ''Live in Zurich'' (Intakt) * 2018 Tom Abbs and Frequency Response, ''Hawthorne'' (Engine) * 2018 Jason Stein with Hearts and Minds, ''Electroradiance'' (Astal Spirits) * 2019 Avram Fefer Quartet, ''Testament'' (Clean Feed) * 2019 Eamon Forgaty, ''Blue Values'' (Jealous Butcher) * 2019 Rob Brown, ''From Here to Hear'' (RogueArt) * 2019

, ''Desert Encrypts Vol 1'' (Astral Spirits) * 2020 Exploding Star Orchestra, ''Dimensional Stardust'' (International Anthem) * 2020 Mara Rosenbloom, ''Respiration'' (Fresh Sounds Records) * 2020 Warriors of the Wonderful Sound, ''Sound Path'' (Clean Feed) * 2020 Joshua Abrams, ''Represencing'' ( Eremite Records) * 2020 Psychic Temple, ''Houses of the Holy'' (

) * 2021 Rosa Barba, ''In a Perpetual Now of Instantaneous Visibility'' (Corbett/Dempsey) * 2021 Alchemy Sound Project, ''Afrika Love'' (ARC) * 2021 Giovanni Guidi, ''Ojos de Gato'' ( CAM Jazz)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Taylor, Chad American jazz composers American jazz drummers Living people 1973 births