Alumni Spotlight: Jeff Taylor '86

Jeff Taylor is a multi-instrumentalist and received a Bachelor of Music with Academic Honors in Jazz Studies from the New England Conservatory of Music, after attending the University of Minnesota and Bennington College in Vermont.

He recently completed a U.S. tour with music icon Sir Van Morrison, where he played baritone, tenor, and soprano saxophones, clarinet, flute, guitar, and also sang background vocals. Together they played fourteen concerts across six different cities which also featured guest artists such as Van’s daughter Shana, Taj Mahal, jazz saxophonist Candy Dulfer, and The Unconditional Soul Ensemble.

Residing with his wife, Loa, in Texas' wine and hill country, Jeff is the owner of Tayst the Notes®, a wine and live music tasting experience that pairs different varieties of wine with equally unique musical performances in multiple genres.

Why did you choose NEC? 
NEC was recommended to me by Bill Dixon, an innovative trumpeter and composer, while I was studying at Bennington College. Bill felt that I needed exposure to more musicians than what could be provided in Vermont.

What have you been up to since graduating from NEC? What projects have you been working on? Do you have any goals you are looking to accomplish?
I continued to perform but also pursued my second passion as a career, Information Technology. I completed the Microsoft Certified Professional Program and started a small business, PC Guru. This opened up numerous opportunities for me and I later worked for eBay, Gap Inc., and Whole Foods/Amazon for the next 35 years.

Later, I moved to Austin, Texas, retired from IT, and made music my full-time job. I recently joined Van Morrison‘s band for his 2023 U.S. tour where I played saxophones, flute, clarinet, background vocals, and guitar with his 9-piece ensemble. Networking played a huge part in landing this role – I was connected with Van’s drummer after a few previous performance opportunities, and he then recommended me for the tour. Van and his band members, who have performed together for decades, accepted me right from the start and this has been an incredibly gratifying experience. 

What are some of your favorite memories from your time at NEC?
One of my favorite memories was playing in Mark Harvey's band, Aardvark. Mark was a positive force who gave us many performance opportunities in Boston and in other cities on the East Coast. I also had the opportunity to work for NEC’s Facilities department in-between semesters. 

Share a story about one of your favorite faculty or studio instructors.
NEC allowed me to study with many prestigious music professionals such as Jimmy Giuffre, George Garzone, Mick Goodrick, and Joe Allard. George Russell ’05 hon. DM was a significant mentor as he expressed the importance of having a great work ethic and encouraged me to create my own path. I also loved and appreciated how every instructor was willing to offer extra help. It was comforting to know they always had an open door. 

How have your NEC experiences shaped your artistic approach?
NEC provided the platform I needed to learn and perform in my pursuit of making excellent music. The institution always encouraged me to treat every performance engagement as an opportunity to gain expertise and practice my professionalism. This knowledge prepared me for the unexpected pivots and change of requests I encountered at each show.

Share any other stories about what has inspired you at NEC and beyond.
Miles Davis ’86 hon. DM, jazz musician and trumpeter, received an honorary Doctorate in my graduating class and it was an honor to walk past Miles while receiving my own diploma on graduation day.

I was recently able to visit NEC’s campus when we had a day off touring with Van Morrison. It was heart-warming to pay my respects to the institution that made me the musician I am today.

Do you have any advice for young musicians/current NEC students?
Take advantage of all the opportunities NEC offers. Every experience will benefit your career in some aspect. The opportunities that I had at NEC are what has shaped my career and allowed me to accomplish all that I have in the musical world.

Learn More About Jeff:

Current Job: Musician at Van Morrison
Major: Jazz Studies, Performance
Degree: Bachelor of Music
Class Year: 1986

Website: https://taystthenotes.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TaystTheNotes/

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