Biography of Jamie Taylor

Contemporary, guitar-led, original material with influences from Pat Metheny, Miles Davis, Pat Martino, Ralph Towner, and Joni Mitchell amongst others.

Jamie studied at Leeds College of Music, graduating in 2000 with first class honours and receiving the Eric Kershaw Prize for Plectrum Guitar. After a further year of study, he completed his M.Mus degree, and was awarded the College Prize for Postgraduate Studies. Jamie was subsequently offered a teaching post at LCM, and today he is Course Leader for the BA (Hons) Jazz degree programme. Now a resident of Sheffield, he has given regular workshops in the city on behalf of Sheffield Jazz.

Alongside teaching, Jamie also maintains a busy performing schedule. He has worked with leading UK musicians like Richard Hawley, Alan Barnes, Jim Mullen, Steve Brown, and Gary Potter, played with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, made several television appearances, and has been a contributor to the American magazine 'Just Jazz Guitar'. Jamie's guitar playing has also been featured on BBC Radio 3 on several occasions, most notably on the “Jazz Line Up” programme, when his trio made a live broadcast supporting The Mark Nightingale Quintet in May 2001. More recently (Jan 2004) on the same station, he was heard on the “Jazz Record Requests” show, accompanying vocalist Sarah Bennett. In 2005 Jamie featured at the North Wales International Jazz Guitar Festival sharing the bill with Jim Mullen, Trefor Owen, and ex-'Police' guitarist Andy Summers. The other members of Jamie's jazz quartet Java are Jamil Sheriff, Garry Jackson, and Nick Smalley.

"Java, (is) a tight combo led by Jamie Taylor, a guitarist with a pleasant ruminative style. Possibly the most enjoyable jazz concert I have ever attended..."
The Independent, Aug '07

"Enormously impressive...Taylor's own playing is full of ideas with a strong sense of direction" - Jazz UK, Jan '05

"The complex, intricate fingerstyle arrangements are reminiscent of folk guitar, in a good way. Something original is going on here" - Just Jazz Guitar April '06

"Genuine contemporary jazz...mellow, reflective, funky, and extravagant by turns" - Sandman Magazine