Artist description .Highly skilled as a performer, composer, arranger and producer, Will Taylor’s credits include the Will Taylor Trio/Quartet/Jazz Menagerie, Eddie Harris, Turtle Island String Quartet, Austin Lyric Opera, and the symphonies of San Antonio, Austin, San Angelo, Corpus Christi, Brazos Valley, and many others. As a solo jazz artist, he has released three international recordings: Reel Life (1993 Amazing), Simple Gifts (1995 Igmod) and Live from Austin (1996 Cymekob, Inc.) all of which received significant national radio airplay on programs such as NPR's All Things Considered and New Sounds. A few of the diverse artists Taylor has worked with include 8 _ Souvenirs, Toni Price, Betty Elders, David Rice, Maryann Price, Julie Burrell, Mitch Watkins, Rez Abassi, Nora York, Austin Klezmorim, Suzi Stern, James Polk, Podunk, Doug Hall, Pam Miller, Shirley Dominguez, The Gypsies, Diana Jones, and Amy Atchley.Shawn Sanders’ performance experience spans three continents. He has been the principal cello for the Austin Lyric Opera, the Austin Symphony, the New Texas Festival and was a member of the Synfonieorkestern Norrkoping (Sweden), the Ibycus Chamber Ensemble (Thailand), and the Camilli Quartet. Sanders earned a doctorate in cello performance from UT, a master’s from The Eastman School, and bachelor’s degree from De Pauw University. A child prodigy, Javier Chaparro was playing classical violin in the National Symphony of Peru by age 12. Two years later, he had earned the equivalent of a doctorate from the National Conservatory of Lima and was asked to represent his country at the International Music Festival of Latin American countries. He has also played with Mexico’s Fine Arts Theater, the National Symphony of Mexico, the Austin Lyric Opera, and the Austin Symphony. In 1992, he became the Concertmaster for the Brazos Valley Symphony in College Station. He also leads several bands including Los Romanceros, which performs Latin American music flavored with Cajun, country bluegrass, and European gypsy. John Fremgen has played with a wide array of jazz, pop and world beat artists including Richard Smith, Jamie Findlay, Tony Guerrero, Paul Glasse, Cathy Segal-Garcia, Trevor Lawrence, PJ Olsson, Rachael Lee, Jeff Hellmer, Mosaic, Shelly Berg, and Tony Campise. Fremgen has appeared on national broadcasts such as "Morning Becomes Eclectic" and "Late Night with David Letterman." He recently recorded a solo project for Austin’s Viewpoint Records with Mitch Watkins and legendary drummer Peter Erskine.--more--Will Taylor With Strings Attached Guest ArtistsSara Hickman wraps perceptive lyrics and observations that find the wondrous and inexplicable in daily life around whimsical, intricate, acoustic pop arrangements. Hickman scored a #3 Adult Contemporary hit with "I Couldn't Help Myself," became a regular on VH-1 (hosting In Your Face and several countdown shows), and won first place at the USA Film Festival for Joy (a short film Sara directed). When Elektra Records refused to release her third album, she started a fund drive among fans, raising enough to buy the tapes and release them herself. Her latest cd Spiritual Appliances was released by Shanachie early this year. Billboard describes her music as, "Gorgeous, incandescent songs and a fiercely independent spirit." With his latest release and all the colors…, Ian Moore’s music inhabits a visceral world of erudite fantasies and bluesy melodies. The 1992 release of his first, self-titled album yielded three Top Twenty Modern Rock Hits, including "Harlem," with a music video directed by Ice Cube. The album’s success led to opening spots for the Rolling Stones, ZZ Top, and Bob Dylan. With each new album, Moore has explored a wider musical landscape, stretching his originality and flexibility as a songwriter and musician, at the same time incorporating a great variety of styles and instruments.

Music Style Jazz

Musical Influences Jazz,classical, brazilian, rock and roll, funk, ect

Similar Artists Turtle Island String Quartet, Joni Mitchell,Ian Moore,Sting,Kronos Quartet,sara hickman,string cheese incident

Group Members Javier Chaparro - Violin Shawn Sanders - Cello Will Taylor - Viola John Fremgen - bass Jason McKenzie - percussion

Instruments Violin, Viola, Cello, Guitar, Bass, Percussion, Guest Vocal Artists

Albums Will Taylor with Strings Attached

Press Reviews "[What] lifts Taylor beyond the novelty category is the originality of his music. [He] somehow manages to take some of the swing of Stephane Grappelli and the Hot Club of France into bracingly modern territory that avoids fusion and avant garde clichés."--Boston Globe"Austin's claim to being the live-music capital might be hyperbolic, but this finely nuanced, gorgeously recorded CD [Live from Austin] by violist Taylor speaks volumes for that city's scene."--Entertainment Weekly "As to the quality of the music and the professionalism, this production is far superior over the numerous recordings issued by the major record companies."--Esquire (Dutch Edition)"…Taylor takes compositional chances and explores unusual rhythmic and harmonic ideas, he's out on the cutting edge, making music that can't be easily defined or dismissed as contemporary jazz"--Austin Chronicle

Location Austin, TX - USA

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