ABOUT
Evan Taylor - Jazz & Roots Miami
James Strong - Indiana University Professor, African American and African Diaspora Studies
Meet Evan Taylor
Evan Taylor is a trumpet player from the small town of Ludington, Michigan. Early on, Taylor gained musical skills from playing weekly at his church. In 2014, he began studying at Michigan State University under Guggenheim-Fellow & Award Winning trumpeter Etienne Charles. In fall of 2018, Taylor began his Masters at the University of Utah under Grammy nominated trumpeter & arranger, Kris Johnson. Graduating with his Master’s degree in Jazz in Spring of 2020, Taylor outset to begin a career in music in Miami, FL where he is currently endorsed by Victory Musical Instruments.
As an educator, Taylor taught weekly with the non-profit Crescendo Detroit, a youth program designed to help young students of all skill levels grow quickly. In 2021, Taylor became the Jazz Trumpet Professor at Broward College, where he taught private lessons, music hall lectures, and coached ensembles. Since, he returned also to help engage with the Ludington High School band program.
Taylor’s arranging skills led him to an Assistant Instructorship at Indiana University. He was employed in 2022 at the African American Arts Institute under supervisor James Strong. They organize and direct the IU Soul Revue, an ensemble founded in 1971 to preserve and perform black popular music.
Taylor has created music for wind ensembles, jazz orchestras, and other live performances. Recording remotely from his home studio, he has worked and collaborated with named artists around the world. Having done several commissioned recordings for Warner/Chappell Music, his abilities have extended to: Jazz, R&B, Salsa, Gospel, Hip-Hop and Popular Music. Taylor has cooperated with industry producers to develop music for HGTV, BET, and other television programs. He has also been counted on with several corporate entertainment groups around the country.
Watch my performances.
