The Curtis Taylor Quintet feat Bob Reynolds

Award-winning trumpeter Curtis Taylor’s lyrical and melodic improvisational style displays a level of maturity far beyond his years. His unique blend of soulfulness, harmonic sensibilities and rhythm melt together for an unforgettable sound that directly connects with the soul of the listener. According to Taylor, “When played honestly, music is the ultimate conveyor of truth and beauty.”

Taylor has performed and recorded with Patrice Rushen, Billy Childs, Gary Novak, Bob Sheppard, Ed Motta, Marvin “Smitty’ Smith, Rodney Whitaker, Antonio Hart and great gospel luminaries Karen Clark-Sheard, Kierra Sheard and the Singletons. Taylor’s stint with jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut included a notable concert performance at Kennedy Center which was recorded for NPR’s Jazzset. In 2014, Taylor relocated to southern California where he worked with producer Kamau Kenyatta on Gregory Porter’s GRAMMY-winning album Liquid Spirit.

For this event, Taylor will be featured alongside his quintet of stellar musicians, including:

Bob Reynolds

Saxophonist Bob Reynolds is a 3x GRAMMY-winning member of the instrumental group Snarky Puppy, an award-winning composer, and a prolific recording artist with 10 top-selling solo albums to his credit.

Widely known for his work with both Snarky and John Mayer, he’s been a featured soloist with GRAMMY-winning instrumentalists like Larry Carlton, Chris Botti, and Jeff Lorber and worked with a host of pop artists including Michael Bublé, Idina Menzel, Josh Groban, The 1975, and USHER.

Theron Brown

Pianist Theron Brown is an Akron arts advocate and leader, adjunct professor of Jazz Piano at Kent State University, and the co-founder and director of Akron’s Rubber City Jazz & Blues Festival.

Theron has played with Dan Wilson, Sean Jones, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Chris Coles, Chris Anderson, Greg Banasak, Javon Jackson, Snarky Puppy, Peter White, Walter Beasley, Christian McBride, Ken Peplowski, Gary Smulyan, Warren Wolf, Nathan Davis, and many others.

Ben Williams

Bassist Ben Williams has become one of the most acclaimed and versatile bassists in modern jazz. He is the winner of the 2009 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Bass Competition Award, which landed him his first record deal with Concord Records.

He has performed/recorded with such giants as Pat Metheny, George Benson, Stefon Harris, David Sanborn, Lauryn Hill, Wynton Marsalis, Robert Glasper, Maxwell, and Nicholas Payton. In 2013 and 2015, Williams received the DownBeat Magazine Critics Poll Rising Star Award for Bass.

Alex White

Alex White is a multi-faceted drummer, vocalist, rapper, and producer. Early in his career, he developed his approach from trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, saxophonist Diego Rivera, and bassist Rodney Whitaker. His prolific performance and recording career includes James Carter’s Organ Trio’s internationally acclaimed album Live from the Newport Jazz Festival.

See what is coming up on our concerts and events page, or browse more past events at the Museum of Making Music.