#445 Thomas E. Taylor- Drummer, Educator, Author and More!
This week’s guest is Thomas E. Taylor. Born in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Drummer, Thomas Taylor Jr. got his start early. Being the only boy of 6 children to Thomas Sr. and Mazel, Thomas had to beat on things to keep himself entertained. It all started with pots and pans, shoeboxes and suitcases. Soon he started playing with the children's' choirs at his church (Samuel's Chapel Baptist). By the time he was 15 he was playing for all the choirs and even playing with men twice his age in a Gospel Vocal Quartet.
As Thomas entered high school, he became more fascinated with music and drumming, so he gave up his fantasy of being "The World's Greatest Athlete". The Northeastern High School Marching Band was the right thing at the right time for Thomas. He excelled in the band program becoming an outstanding soloist and student leader by his senior year.
Many percussion teachers at universities learned about Thomas' talent and potential as a drummer and musician, but Dr. Cort McClaren persuaded him to study Music Education and Percussion at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. There he learned how much music he didn't know. He discovered many styles and learned that his path would be one that was very different from the primary focus of study taught there. He didn't let his differences move him from their studies; he just let his passion for jazz grow in his spare time.
Before graduating from UNC-Greensboro in 1991, Thomas started "In the Black" a Jazz quartet with a talented young bassist, John Brown. Together, they have played jazz across the United States and Japan. From that musical collaboration, Thomas' drumming and composing abilities began to grow. Currently, Thomas is one of the most in-demand Jazz drummers in the southeast.
After graduation from UNC-Greensboro, Thomas was asked to teach privately at "The Music Academy of North Carolina", formerly "The Greensboro Music Academy". There he developed his teaching abilities and philosophy, passing on the passion of jazz to young drummers and jazz students. While teaching there, he met world-renowned Jazz educator, Jamey Aebersold. They began talking about Jazz education and the future of the music. Thomas was then asked to join the drumset faculty for "The Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Camps" where he taught with many of the most well know Jazz musicians and Jazz educators in the world.
During the summer of 1998, Thomas was asked to bring his knowledge and experiences of jazz drumset to North Carolina Central University as an adjunct faculty member, he currently is the full time percussion professor along with his jazz duties. Thomas was Adjunct Jazz faculty at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2001-2010. In 2005 he joined the Jazz faculty at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro where he teaches drumset and Hip Hop music appreciation classes. Thomas is continuing to learn and share information with all of his students in private and University settings.
Thomas is also continuing his growth as a musician by playing with local, regional, and national jazz musicians. Catch him at a local Jazz club or at one of the many Universities in Raleigh, Durham, or Greensboro, North Carolina.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to Rolando Morales-Matos! Rolando is a well sought after Latin, Jazz and Classical percussionist. He is a band leader/vibraphonist/composer of Latin Jazz group Rolando Morales-Matos & Forward. He has toured worldwide performing at the major jazz festivals and venues as a member of Ron Carter Foursight Quartet, as well as appearing with artists such as Paquito D’Rivera, Dave Samuels, Dave Valentine, Willie Colon, William Cepeda, to name a few. Rolando has recorded with Ron Carter, Celine Dion, Michael Bolton, Birdland Big Band, as well as numerous film soundtracks and classical works. In 2006, Rolando was the recipient of Drum Magazine's World Beat Percussionist of the Year Award. Since 1997, he has been the Percussionist and Assistant Conductor of the Tony Award- winning Broadway musical The Lion King. Rolando has developed unique vocabularies of playing melodies on non-pitched instruments such as drums, cowbells, cymbals and more. His published works include the textbook “Techniques and Basic Patterns for Congas, Timbales, and Bongos” and over 20 compositions for percussion ensemble. In 2008, Rolando released his solo album “From The Earth” featuring the Hang Drum, and most recently, his Latin Jazz group’s debut album “Forward”.
Happy Birthday to Vince Wallace! Vince Wallace is an active percussionist, composer, and music educator from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is a 2009 graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania holding a degree in Music Education studying with Michael Kingan and Jack Stamp. In 2011, Vince completed a two year tenure as Teaching Assistant in Percussion at Truman State University in Kirksville, MO where he also served as interim director of the Truman State University Percussion Ensemble. As a student a Truman, Vince obtained master’s degrees in Percussion Performance and Music Composition, studying percussion with Michael Bump as well as Kansas City Symphony percussionists Chris McLaurin and Joe Petrasek. His composition studies were with Warren Gooch.
As an active freelance performer, educator, and composer throughout the Pittsburgh area, Vince taught at and arranged for numerous percussion programs throughout Western Pennsylvania, including nearly a decade as Percussion Specialist at Gateway Senior High School. Vince was a co-founder of the Gateway High School Indoor Drumline, developing the group from its inception into a consistent WGI PSA regional finalist in the mid 2000s. From 2009 through 2011, Vince spent two seasons as a front ensemble technician for Gateway Indoor, a Percussion Independent World class indoor drumline from St. Louis, Missouri. From 2013 until 2018, Vince co-owned and operated Monroeville Music Lesson Center, a music lesson teaching facility serving hundreds of student musicians from Pittsburgh's eastern suburbs.
As a performer, Vince has performed with the Altoona Symphony Orchestra, Butler Symphony, Edgewood Symphony, McKeesport Symphony, and was a member of Indiana University of Pennsylvania's Keystone Wind Ensemble. He has several published compositions for solo and ensemble percussion, all available through C. Alan Publications. Vince is founder, owner, and director of The Pittsburgh Steeline, the official drumline of the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers. Founded in 2012, the Pittsburgh Steeline consists of 30 professional musicians who perform at all Steelers home games. The group has maintained a prolific calendar of private and community event appearances throughout Western PA, Ohio, West Virginia, and Virginia for over a decade, entertaining thousands of people from around the country and all walks of life. Vince currently resides in Pitcairn, PA, where he is the elementary/junior high band director and percussion specialist for Propel Charter Schools at Propel Pitcairn and Propel East and continues to maintain a private lesson studio.
Happy Birthday to Bryan Carter! With a confidence reflecting an instrumental and compositional maturity that both belie his age and announce the arrival of a remarkable talent, Bryan Carter exudes what promises a highly successful career.
Shortly after completing his training at The Juilliard School in New York City and still at the very outset of his career, Carter has already played and/or recorded with many notable artists including Clark Terry, McCoy Tyner, Wynton Marsalis, Marcus Roberts, Kenny Barron, Michael Feinstein and Kurt Elling.
Carter attended The Juilliard School as a Jazz Studies major and studied with Carl Allen and Kenny Washington. He was the recipient of the Irene Diamond Scholarship as well as the Samuel L Jackson Scholarship. While at Juilliard, Carter took a strong interest in composition, orchestration and interdivisional cross-collaborative performance.
Bryan is currently touring the world with his band, “Bryan Carter & The Young Swangers”. He also served as the house drummer for NBC’S “Maya & Marty” starring Maya Rudolph, Keenan Thompson and Martin Short. The show has featured guests including Miley Cyrus, Nick Jonas, Tom Hanks, Drake, Steve Martin and Tina Fey.
Gig Alerts
Percussionist Jeffrey Barudin has a tab on his website specifically for job openings in both percussion performance and education.
Musical Chairs (dot info) also has percussion openings listed.
Thomas is putting together another year of “Give the Drummer Some” events with a concert at 6pm and clinics beforehand starting at 2pm on Sunday August 24th. This year’s featured drummer/percussionist is Joe Chambers.
The Umbria Jazz festival started on July 11th and will run until the 20th in Perugia, Italy.
The Redwood Ramble is happening from July 17th-20th in Navarro, CA.
The Jazz and Rib Fest is happening from July 18th-20th in Columbus, OH.
Educational Spotlight
Save the date for the Ultimate Percussion Lot Experience with friends of the show Thom Hannum and Ian Hale (they are also on the UMass Roundtable episode).
Friend of the show, Carter McLean and Charlie Hunter will have a summer camp at MASS MOCA in North Adams, MA (The Berkshires) called “How To Music”.
Iconic Recording
Thomas picks the iconic recording of “Bemsha Swing” by Thelonious Monk with Max Roach on the drums, from the album ‘Brilliant Corners’ recorded in 1956. Thomas talks about the drum solo Max takes on drumset AND timpani.
Music News
Damon starts with talking about A.I. bands on Spotify taking all the funds allocated for real human musicians. Here’s another take on that.
This is the video referred to on the (lack of) two-factor authentication for uploading new music.
If you would like to submit a Lifetime Achievement Award in Education for the Percussive Arts Society, please CLICK HERE. The nomination window will be May 1, 2025 – July 31, 2025.
Shout-out to the Boston Crusaders for sweeping the shows on the west coast! -Article
Special shout-out to the friends of the show who contributed to the Crusaders show and instruction. Colin McNutt, Iain Moyer, Jason Ihnat, and Jim Ancona.
You can go do DCI (dot org) to see the remaining summer schedule and catch up on all the scores. You can signup with FloMarching to see streamed shows and more.
Thomas Taylor Interview
The song leading into the interview is “Warrior” by Baron Tymas from the album, ‘Insight At Midnight’ with Thomas on drums.
Thomas is giving a tribute to M’Boom featuring Joe Chambers and (friend of the show) Stefon Harris.
Thomas talks about the “Give The Drummer Some” event and ongoing series.
Damon mentions the Tambourine lesson that Herlin Riley posted to YouTube.
Damon also mentions Tweedy Thomas and the Tambourine Ministry instagram page.
Damon mentions friend of the show Glen Velez.
Thomas talks about the different tones you can get from a Brazilian Pandeiro.
Thomas talks about M’Boom and Max Roach.
Thomas and Damon talk about growing up with a lot of relatives and empathy.
Thomas played in church, for gospel quartets and in marching band when he was young, before entering college.
Thomas talks about watching Animal on the Muppet Show.
Thomas talks about why he chose UNC Greensboro for his undergrad and later his masters.
Thomas talks about practicing and learning how to practice and the process of learning.
Thomas talks about working with Jamey Aebersold and his Jazz Camp.
He also has a forthcoming book called, "It’s all about the Ride".
Damon mentions “Tangin’ The Hump” as a phrase used when playing the ride cymbal.
Shout-out to Calvin Napper.
Thomas teaches a hip hop course and wrote a hip hop book.
Damon mentions the book, The Big Payback by Dan Charnas.
Damon mentions the Questlove Drunk History episode.
Thomas talks about the series “Beef” by Quincy Jones III.
Damon mentions iconic breakbeats.
Thomas picks the iconic recording.
Shout-out to God, Max Roach, Philly Jo Jones, Tony Williams and Dennis Chambers.
Thomas uses, Vic Firth Sticks, Sabian Cymbals, Aquarian Drum Heads, and CymbalChief & Grombals.
You can follow Thomas on his Website, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
The song leading out of the interview is “Blue Crabs with a Side of Yock” from the album, ’The Seeker (Live)’ by Thomas Taylor.
