Grammy-winning trumpeter Taylor to perform at Troesh

  Arts+Culture  

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – La Sierra University will showcase the talents of acclaimed trumpeter Curtis Taylor in a concert at Troesh Conference Center.

Acclaimed trumpeter Curtis Taylor will bring his talents to La Sierra University on Oct. 25. (Top two photos: courtesy of Curtis Taylor)
Acclaimed trumpeter Curtis Taylor will bring his talents to La Sierra University on Oct. 25. (Top two photos: courtesy of Curtis Taylor)
Curtis Taylor performed on a Grammy-winning album released in 2013.
Curtis Taylor performed on a Grammy-winning album released in 2013.
Curtis Taylor performing for Pierce Street Jazz in July 2016 at Troesh Conference Center. (Photo: courtesy of Zapara School of Business)
Curtis Taylor performing for Pierce Street Jazz in July 2016 at Troesh Conference Center. (Photo: courtesy of Zapara School of Business)

Taylor will perform for the Pierce Street Jazz series at 7 p.m. on Wed., Oct. 25 backed by Henry “the Skipper” Franklin on bass, Theo Saunders on piano, and Ramon Banda on drums. Admission is free.

Taylor, a jazz studies graduate of Michigan State University and Rutgers University in New Jersey, is an accomplished jazz artist whose credits include performances on the Blue Note Records album “Liquid Spirit” by jazz vocalist Gregory Porter. In 2014, “Liquid Spirit” won the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album.

Taylor got his start in music early, taking up the trumpet at age 10 in his Bedford, Ohio school band and later playing with the school jazz ensemble. His attendance at an inspiring jazz concert while in 7th grade sparked his interest in a jazz music career.

Taylor’s performance and recording credits include work with notables Billy Childs, Gary Novak, Bob Sheppard, Rodney Whitaker, and gospel luminaries Karen Clark-Sheard, Kierra Sheard and the Singletons. He has appeared with acclaimed pianist Cyrus Chestnut at Washington D.C.’s John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in a recorded performance for NPR’s “Jazzset,” and with Chestnut at the Spoleto Jazz Festival. He has also toured internationally with saxophone virtuoso James Carter and his quintet.

Franklin has organized the Pierce Street Jazz concerts at La Sierra University since their inception as a summer jazz series in 2009. He has recorded and produced more than 150 albums and compact discs including gold releases. He has performed with many headline artists and was part of the legendary Hugh Masekela's band during the late 1960s.

Saunders has performed in many of the world’s most prestigious jazz festivals and concert halls with distinguished artists including Freddie Hubbard, Carla Bley, David “Fathead” Newman, Barbara Morrison, Gladys Knight, and many others. He has directed music for opera productions and international musical theatre. He also has numerous compositions to his credit as well as original scores for theatre, radio and multimedia production.

Banda performed 24 years with the Grammy award-winning Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band. Over the past two decades, he has performed on more than 22 recordings and recorded and played with such music greats as Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, Freddie Hubbard, Chick Corea, Arturo Sandoval, Diana Reeves and others.

The Troesh Conference Center is located at the Zapara School of Business, La Sierra University. For further information, call 951-785- 2148. La Sierra University is located at 4500 Riverwalk Parkway, Riverside. A campus map is available at https://lasierra.edu/campus-map/.

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