Dennis Taylor | |
---|---|
Born | November 13, 1953 Barton, Vermont, U.S. |
Died | October 17, 2010 (aged 56) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
Genres | Jazz |
Instruments | Alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, clarinet |
Dennis Taylor (November 13, 1953 – October 17, 2010) was an American musician, arranger, and author. Taylor had recording credits on saxophone (alto, tenor and baritone) as well as clarinet, and as an arranger.
Taylor was born in Barton, Vermont. He studied music at the Berklee College of Music. [1]
Taylor was best known for his recordings with Delbert McClinton, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Michelle Shocked, Buckwheat Zydeco and many others, and for writing a series of instructional books through Hal Leonard Publishing, in which he discussed blues playing, jazz playing and phrasing. [2] Taylor played on five Grammy nominated albums. He was a two-time nominee for the Nashville Music Awards, "Miscellaneous Wind Instrumentalist of the Year." He appeared on Austin City Limits, Country Music Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary Celebration, Texas Connection, In Concert, American Music Shop, and Crook & Chase. On April 30, 2010, Taylor appeared on Imus in the Morning.
A jazz educator, Taylor also analyzed other players' styles and offered tips for emulating and understanding work from the masters of the instrument. Some of the sax legends explained by Taylor include
King Curtis,
Stanley Turrentine and
Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis. The final part of "Jazz Saxophone" features 17 solos over classic jazz standards (including
Doxy,
Easy Living,
Maiden Voyage and
So What) and a wide variety of forms and styles (minor blues,
soul jazz,
3
4 time, and
bebop). The
theory lessons cover all the common
major scale,
minor scale, dominant,
pentatonic chords and scales plus modes, as well as altered dominant scales and diminished options. Taylor also wrote other three other instructional books: Amazing Phrasing, Blues Saxophone and Jazz Saxophone.
Taylor was also an educator who taught at Johnson State College in Vermont, and taught private saxophone lessons in Nashville until the time of his death. In addition, Taylor volunteer taught at W.O. Smith Music School in Nashville, which provides lessons for students who can not afford regular private lessons, for eighteen of his twenty years in Nashville. He is survived by both of his parents, as well as his wife, Nashville songwriter and publicist Karen Leipziger. [3]
Taylor's first solo recording, which received help from Kevin McKendree, also of McClinton's band, was completed shortly before his death. The recording featured saxophone, organ and drums, some of Taylor's original compositions, and also a guest appearance by Delbert McClinton. Details on the release of the recording have not yet been released. He appeared as a side-man on countless albums (see below for partial list).
Dennis Taylor | |
---|---|
Born | November 13, 1953 Barton, Vermont, U.S. |
Died | October 17, 2010 (aged 56) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
Genres | Jazz |
Instruments | Alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, clarinet |
Dennis Taylor (November 13, 1953 – October 17, 2010) was an American musician, arranger, and author. Taylor had recording credits on saxophone (alto, tenor and baritone) as well as clarinet, and as an arranger.
Taylor was born in Barton, Vermont. He studied music at the Berklee College of Music. [1]
Taylor was best known for his recordings with Delbert McClinton, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Michelle Shocked, Buckwheat Zydeco and many others, and for writing a series of instructional books through Hal Leonard Publishing, in which he discussed blues playing, jazz playing and phrasing. [2] Taylor played on five Grammy nominated albums. He was a two-time nominee for the Nashville Music Awards, "Miscellaneous Wind Instrumentalist of the Year." He appeared on Austin City Limits, Country Music Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary Celebration, Texas Connection, In Concert, American Music Shop, and Crook & Chase. On April 30, 2010, Taylor appeared on Imus in the Morning.
A jazz educator, Taylor also analyzed other players' styles and offered tips for emulating and understanding work from the masters of the instrument. Some of the sax legends explained by Taylor include
King Curtis,
Stanley Turrentine and
Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis. The final part of "Jazz Saxophone" features 17 solos over classic jazz standards (including
Doxy,
Easy Living,
Maiden Voyage and
So What) and a wide variety of forms and styles (minor blues,
soul jazz,
3
4 time, and
bebop). The
theory lessons cover all the common
major scale,
minor scale, dominant,
pentatonic chords and scales plus modes, as well as altered dominant scales and diminished options. Taylor also wrote other three other instructional books: Amazing Phrasing, Blues Saxophone and Jazz Saxophone.
Taylor was also an educator who taught at Johnson State College in Vermont, and taught private saxophone lessons in Nashville until the time of his death. In addition, Taylor volunteer taught at W.O. Smith Music School in Nashville, which provides lessons for students who can not afford regular private lessons, for eighteen of his twenty years in Nashville. He is survived by both of his parents, as well as his wife, Nashville songwriter and publicist Karen Leipziger. [3]
Taylor's first solo recording, which received help from Kevin McKendree, also of McClinton's band, was completed shortly before his death. The recording featured saxophone, organ and drums, some of Taylor's original compositions, and also a guest appearance by Delbert McClinton. Details on the release of the recording have not yet been released. He appeared as a side-man on countless albums (see below for partial list).