Artist:Paul Taylor
Song:Exotica
Album:On the Horn
Smooth jazz saxophonist Paul Taylor has been a regular on the jazz charts since making his debut with the 1995 album On the Horn. Exotica is one of his most popular songs. Taylor plays alto and soprano sax. He was born Apr. 30, 1960 in Denver but he grew up in Las Vegas. He started playing alto sax at age seven. Taylor was in bands in high school and attended UNLV on a music scholarship. After graduating, he was spotted playing at a jazz festival by jazz pianist Keiko Matsui and her producer husband Kazu Matsui. Taylor was hired on the spot for her touring band. They got Taylor a record deal with their label Countdown. On the Horn was Taylor's 1995 debut album. The album reached #23 on the jazz chart. All of Taylor's albums have charted. Exotica is one of Taylor's more popular songs. Taylor writes most of his own songs including Exotica. Kazu Matsui produced On the Horn. Keiko Matsui plays piano along with Basil Fung on guitar and Derek Nakamoto of Hiroshima on electronic keyboards. Exotica is one of two songs produced by singer turned producer Dino Esposito. Taylor recorded two albums for Countdown and continued to tour with Keiko until 2009. He briefly joined The Rippingtons and signed with Rippingtons leader Russ Freeman's label Peak Records. Taylor still has success on the jazz charts. He took a break from touring during the pandemic. But he released an album in 2021 and should be back on the road. Here's Paul Taylor performing Exotica at the 2012 Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival.
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