Jazz Articles about Chad Taylor

About Chad Taylor

Album Review

James Brandon Lewis Quartet: Omni

Read "Omni" reviewed by Kevin Poindexter

by Kevin Poindexter
June 26, 2026

James Brandon Lewis is on a remarkable run. Deface the Currency (Impulse!, 2026), his second collaborative album with the Messthetics, placed him at the cutting edge of the fiery fusion of punk and jazz. While that record proved he could invoke the power and fury of 60s Detroit band MC5's rock-and-roll testimonial Are You Ready to TESTIFY! (Sanctuary Records, 2007), on Omni, he is invoking a different kind of testimonial, one grounded in his upbringing as the son of a ...

Live Review

Chad Taylor Quartet at Solar Myth

by Carl Medsker
March 14, 2026

Chad Taylor Quartet Solar Myth Philadelphia, PA February 27, 2026 Don Cherry's and John Coltrane's trajectories intersected in the summer of 1960, an inflection point for both artists, yielding the historic The Avant-Garde (Atlantic, 1966). It was the only time they would record together. Cherry was the brass voice in Ornette Coleman's quartet from 1957 until his exit in 1961 and was fresh off the quartet's renowned, and to some, controversial run at the Five ...

In Pictures

Chad Taylor and Smoke Shifter at the Jazz Gallery

by Dave Kaufman
January 12, 2026

The most excellent album, Smoke Shifter (Otherly Love Records, 2025), places Chad Taylor in the foreground as a bandleader, but his enduring presence onstage is evidenced by a long career built on deep collaborations. He is widely recognized for his close musical bond with saxophonist James Brandon Lewis, an association that ranges from duo work to trios to their standout, acclaimed Molecular Systematic Music Quartet. That same responsive intelligence has shaped Taylor's roles across the various Chicago Underground projects and ...

Album Review

Chad Taylor: Smoke Shifter

Read "Smoke Shifter" reviewed by Carl Medsker

by Carl Medsker
December 24, 2025

Smoke Shifter leans toward tradition, which is perhaps a bit surprising given the exploratory, cutting-edge music previously produced by everyone in this quintet. Led by master percussionist Chad Taylor, the album is a diverse program of well-crafted, contemporary songs performed by an egalitarian collective. Taylor co-founded the Chicago Underground bands with Rob Mazurek, celebrated Albert Ayler with Marc Ribot and performs with the Exploding Star Orchestra. Prominent amongst his numerous collaborations is his essential work in James Brandon ...

Radio & Podcasts

Chad Taylor: He's Here, He's There, He's Everywhere!

by Ludovico Granvassu
October 14, 2025

Chad Taylor is so busy as leader, co-leader and special guest on countless new albums in 2025, that he--literally--seems to be here, and there, and everywhere (pretty much like Ted Lasso's Roy Kent!). Here is a quick guide to enjoy some of his current ubiquitousness.Happy listening!Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Chad Taylor Quintet “Broken Horse" Smoke Shifter (Otherly Love) 0:16 Host talks 7:48 Chicago Underground Duo “Hemiunu" Hyperglyph ...

Album Review

Mats Gustafsson / Ken Vandermark / Tomeka Reid / Chad Taylor: PIVOT

by Mark Corroto
September 25, 2025

Do not judge a friend for buying a lottery ticket when the jackpot climbs to some astronomical sum. The odds of hitting the winning combination may be just as astronomical, but the dollar spent buys something more valuable than probability: a few hours of dreaming, imagining another life. Speaking of combinations, the newly formed quartet Pivot feels very much like a winning ticket. Mats Gustafsson and Ken Vandermark are no strangers to collaboration, having crossed paths in Peter ...

Album Review

Chicago Underground Duo: Hyperglyph

Read "Hyperglyph" reviewed by James Taylor

by James Taylor
August 18, 2025

International Anthem is a fitting home for the first Chicago Underground Duo album after an 11-year hiatus. The Chicago-based and buzzworthy label has carried the torch for avant-garde sounds in the city since 2014, and trumpeter and composer Rob Mazurek and drummer Chad Taylor are no strangers to the label's catalog, performing together on multiple IARC releases. International Anthem is in many ways the progeny of a jazz and post-rock influenced sound pioneered by Chicago vets Tortoise (another recent addition ...