Album Notes

Ross Taggart has been an important part of the Vancouver jazz scene since 1985. He has played the piano and tenor saxophone for audiences in Canada, the United States, Cuba, Columbia, Brazil, Panama, Guatemala, England, Ireland, Australia, Holland and China. Ross spent two years studying in New York City with saxophone legends George Coleman, Clifford Jordan and J.R. Monterose with the assistance of the Canada Council for the Arts.

Ross has been a member of the Juno Award winning Hugh Fraser Quintet since 1988 while also performing with the Ian McDougall Sextet, the Vancouver Ensemble of Jazz Improvisation (VEJI), the Jill Townsend Big Band, Fred Stride’s Westcoast Jazz Orchestra, the Bill Coon Quartet, the Sharon Minemoto Quintet and his own groups. He has shared the stage and/or recorded with the talents of Clark Terry, Benny Golson, Frank Wess, Charles McPherson, Slide Hampton, George Coleman, Eddie Daniels, Lionel Hampton, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Tommy Banks, Phil Woods, Bud Shank, Kenny Wheeler, and Fraser MacPherson to name a few. Ross has also worked with the Arts Club Theatre, Colin James, the Powder Blues, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Vancouver Opera Orchestra, the CBC Radio Orchestra, David Foster, The Temptations, Jay Leno, Josh Groban, Michael Buble, Gladys Knight, Bob Newhart and Joan Rivers. Ross has taught and adjudicated extensively and has been a faculty member in the Jazz Studies Department at Capilano College since 1998.

Ross’ debut recording, “Ross Taggart & Co.” received critical acclaim. He has performed at all major jazz festivals in Canada as well as the Havana Jazz Festival and at the International Association of Jazz Educators conference in Toronto and New York City. Performances at major jazz clubs include Ronnie Scott’s in London, England, Yoshi’s in Oakland, California, Fat Cat in NYC and most throughout Canada. He has been nominated in four categories of the National Jazz Awards including instrumentalist of the year for 2008. Ross Taggart is a Yamaha artist and clinician on both saxophone and piano.