Black Creative Music at Dartmouth

Taylor is the second official director of the Coast Jazz Orchestra, having picked up the mantle from Don in 2017. Prior to arriving at Dartmouth, Taylor worked closely with masters of the music, like Bill Lowe, Anthony Braxton, Bill Dixon, and Cecil Taylor. He can be heard on over twenty recordings as a bandleader and over a hundred as a sideperson. In his 8 years at the Coast’s helm, he has continued Don’s legacy of bringing up some of the biggest names in contemporary jazz, organizing workshops and residencies with Tomeka Reid, Patricia Brennan, Tomas Fujiwara, Anna Weber, Angela Morris, and many more. Like Don, Taylor recognizes that his role is not simply to direct music, but to also serve as a mentor and friend to the community. He has done that, and then-some. Paying homage to those who came before him, Taylor has played an integral role in researching and writing for this Black Creative Music at Dartmouth project. He continues to foster relationships with his predecessors today, most recently through playing in Bill Cole’s annual Front Porch Music Series, in addition to inviting Bill to play with the Coast Jazz Orchestra.