Introduction
Dave Taylor is an American bass trombonist.
Background
David Michael Taylor was born on June 6, 1944, in New York City.
Taylor learned to play trumpet, tuba, and trombone in his youth, and while attending the Juilliard School picked up bass trombone, which became his primary instrument. He graduated with a master's degree from Juilliard in 1968.
Career
Taylor was a trombonist in the American Symphony Orchestra in the late 1960s under the direction of Leopold Stokowski, and began playing as a studio musician during this time. In jazz, he worked with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, Chuck Israels, George Russell, and Larry Elgart in the 1970s, and in the 1980s worked with George Gruntz, Bob Mintzer, Ray Anderson, Jim Pugh, and Gil Evans. He began teaching at the Manhattan School of Music in 1989 and the Mannes School of Music in 1991. Taylor worked in the 1990s with Frank Lacy, Paul Smoker, John Clark, Daniel Schnyder, and Kenny Drew Jr.. He has also played in formal music idioms, including a 1984 recital at Carnegie Hall and with the New York Chamber Orchestra and the Lincoln Center Chamber Society.
Discography
With Ray Anderson
- Big Band Record (Gramavision, 1994) with the George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band
With Gil Evans and the Monday Night Orchestra
- Bud and Bird (King, 1987)
With Jimmy McGriff
- Red Beans (Groove Merchant, 1976)
- Tailgunner (LRC, 1977)
With the Joe Roccisano Orchestra
- Leave Your Mind Behind (Landmark, 1995)
With Lonnie Smith
- Keep on Lovin' (Groove Merchant, 1976)
Legacy
A musical instrument manufacturer has designed a line of bass trombone mouthpieces for Taylor for "the sound and feel characteristics required by Dave to accomplish his craft."