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Mysterious Traveler - Chad Taylor
Sep 18, 2017
Mysterious Traveler 4 Concert Series
October 30th, 2017 - 7PM | Chad Taylor
Parkway Central Library | Montgomery Auditorium
1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1189
All events in this series are FREE, but you must RSVP
Mysterious Travelers 4: Further Investigations - a collaboration between The Free Library of Philadelphia and Philadelphia Jazz Project. Back by overwhelming popular demand! FREE concerts every fourth Monday night from September 2016 through May 2017 audiences will hear from veteran, as well as up-and-coming musicians who are shaping the future sounds of Philadelphia with a sharp ear to the legacies of our past. This season our artists will continue to celebrate the massive and amazing collections of the Free Library by exploring them as a source of inspiration for the creation of new musical works.
Chad Taylor is a composer, educator, percussionist and scholar who is a co-founder of the Chicago Underground ensembles. Originally from Tempe, AZ, Chad grew up in Chicago where he started performing professionally at the age of 15. Chad has performed on over 75 cd's and has worked with artists as diverse as Pharoah Sanders, Marc Ribot, Eric Revis, Kurt Rosenwinkle, Matana Roberts, Darius Jones, Lou Donaldson and Roscoe Mitchell. Chad leads his own band, Circle Down whose debut recording received a 5 star review from All Music, which stated... "What is remarkable is that there is no wasted motion, no histrionics or grandstanding, as pure emotion is translated to superlative music making on this most highly recommended recording, one for the ages." Chad Taylor has a BFA from The New School in Jazz Performance and a MFA in Jazz Research and History from Rutgers University.
Drummer and composer, Chad Taylor will be our next guest artist in the Mysterious Traveler Concert Series.
PJP spoke with Chad Taylor, about his music, approach and the new project that he will reveal in the Mysterious Traveler Concert Series.
PJP: Can you briefly describe your musical direction
Chad Taylor: My music is influenced by my experience growing up in Chicago’s creative music scene in the 1990’s and then spending 20 years in NYC’s downtown music scene. I am now very proud to make Philadelphia my home.
PJP: What and whom are pivotal musical influences on your creative approach?
Chad Taylor: My influences are... Art Blakey, The Art Ensemble of Chicago, Fred Anderson, Sun Ra and Henry Threadgill.
PJP: What are you going to present at the Mysterious Traveler Concert Series?
Chad Taylor: I’m going to investigate how music is used in mourning, celebrating and communicating with loved ones after they have died. In addition to arranging some traditional songs from other cultures, I plan on composing my own music that is inspired by ancient and modern text about death.
PJP: Why is this theme/concept so important? Can you explain your process and the steps that led to this performance?
Chad Taylor: I feel that death is a subject that we are constantly running away from rather than embracing. I think that music can play an important role in helping us deal with death and dying.
PJP: How do you manage the task of creating and encouraging fresh, new, forwarding moving musical ideas while simultaneously exploring, celebrating and documenting the past?
Chad Taylor: The Art Ensemble of Chicago has a motto, 'Ancient to the Future.' This is something I try and celebrate in everything that I do.
PJP: When listening to your music what advice would you give the audience to assist with greater understanding and enjoyment?
Chad Taylor: While there is written music, I never write out any of my drum parts. Most of the rhythms that you hear me play are composed on the spot and are a reaction to what the ensemble is doing in the moment.
PJP: Why Jazz? When you could be doing anything else, Why this music?
Chad Taylor: For me, Jazz is not just a genre of music, but a process. It’s a process of combining different elements of things, that are known to create something that is new and un-known. We often fear the unknown, but the unknown has a limitless amount of possibilities.
To learn more about drummer Chad Taylor, visit his website by CLICKING HERE
Mysterious Traveler 4 Concert Series
October 30th, 2017 - 7PM | Chad Taylor
Parkway Central Library | Montgomery Auditorium
1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1189
All events in this series are FREE, but you must RSVP
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Mysterious Traveler 4 - Further Investigations Concert Series is produced by Philadelphia Jazz Project in collaboration with The Free Library of Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Jazz Project is a sponsored project of the Culture Trust | Greater Philadelphia, with funding provided by The Wyncote Foundation.
