Album Notes

Taylor Barnett is a trumpeter, teacher, and composer/arranger living in Richmond, Virginia. In 2001 he was awarded First Place in the Jazz Division of the National Trumpet competition. He has performed with the Woody Herman Orchestra, the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra, and with artists such as Gladys Knight, The Temptations, Steve Wilson, Ray Anderson, John D'earth, Frankie Avalon, and Rene Marie. His compositions have been commissioned by trumpeter Rex Richardson for performances at international music festivals in Australia and the U.S. Taylor also plays trumpet in the Steve Kessler Quartet, No B.S. Brass Band, Devil's Workshop, and leads his own jazz trio and quartet. He received a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies and a Master of Music degree in Trumpet Performance from Virginia Commonwealth University.

From 2004-2006, Taylor was the director of the instrumental music program at the Maggie L. Walker Governor's School, a full-time high school for gifted students. There he taught and developed the curriculum for two jazz ensembles, jazz improvisation, string orchestra, and music theory. He is currently an adjunct professor at VCU directing the Jazz Orchestra II, teaching theory/aural skills classes, teaching in the applied trumpet studio, and teaching jazz history.

In 2007 he formed the Taylor Barnett 10-tet, an ensemble that plays his original compositions and arrangements of jazz, classical, blues, and pop. Taylor's self-produced debut album, For Someone is now available.