Craig Taborn
Encyclopedia
Craig Taborn is an American keyboardist
and composer
. Playing piano, organ, and Moog synthesizer
, Taborn has worked mostly in jazz
, although he also does dark ambient
and techno
music.
Taborn became known for his membership in saxophonist James Carter
's band, where he contributed to The Real Quietstorm (1994) and Conversation with the Elders (1996). In 1995, he graduated from the University of Michigan
with a liberal arts
degree. During the 1990s he also worked with Mat Maneri
(Blue Deco, 2000), Roscoe Mitchell
, Nate Smith, Gerald Cleaver
, Lotte Anker
, Dave Binney, Wayne Krantz
, Adam Rogers
and others. During the 1990s he also led his own trio.
In the 2000s he played in the US with Tim Berne
(The Shell Game, 2001), in a trio with Susie Ibarra
(Songbird Suite, in 2001 and Folkloriko in 2004).
In 2002 he worked with Dave Douglas
(Freak in), Hugh Ragin
and the Norwegian
bassist Eivind Opsvik, with Marty Ehrlich
in 2003, Drew Gress in 2004, and Chris Potter (Underground, 2005).
He has worked with many musicians including Chris Potter
, Nate Smith, Gerald Cleaver
, Lotte Anker
, Drew Gress
, James Carter
, David Binney
, Wayne Krantz
, Adam Rogers
, David Torn
, Tim Berne
, members of The Bad Plus
, and was a member of the Susie Ibarra
Trio.
As a Sideman:
With Michael Formanek
With Nicole Mitchell
With Roscoe Mitchell
With Evan Parker
With Chris Potter
With David Torn
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. Playing piano, organ, and Moog synthesizer
Moog synthesizer
Moog synthesizer may refer to any number of analog synthesizers designed by Dr. Robert Moog or manufactured by Moog Music, and is commonly used as a generic term for older-generation analog music synthesizers. The Moog company pioneered the commercial manufacture of modular voltage-controlled...
, Taborn has worked mostly in jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, although he also does dark ambient
Dark ambient
Dark ambient is a subgenre of ambient music that features foreboding, ominous, or discordant overtones. Although it had its roots in the 1970s, Dark ambient emerged in the 1980s and 1990s with the introduction of newer, smaller, and more affordable Effects units, synthesizer and sampling technology...
and techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
music.
Taborn became known for his membership in saxophonist James Carter
James Carter (musician)
James Carter is an American jazz musician.Carter was born in Detroit, Michigan and learned to play there before moving to New York City. He has been prominent as a performer and recording artist on the jazz scene since the mid-1990s, playing saxophones, flute, and bass clarinet...
's band, where he contributed to The Real Quietstorm (1994) and Conversation with the Elders (1996). In 1995, he graduated from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
with a liberal arts
Liberal arts
The term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...
degree. During the 1990s he also worked with Mat Maneri
Mat Maneri
Mat Maneri, born on October 4, 1969 in Brooklyn, New York is an American composer, improviser and jazz violin and viola player, specifically derivatives such as the five-string viola, the electric six-string violin, and the baritone violin...
(Blue Deco, 2000), Roscoe Mitchell
Roscoe Mitchell
Roscoe Mitchell is an African American composer, jazz instrumentalist and educator, mostly known for being "a technically superb—if idiosyncratic—saxophonist." He has been called "one of the key figures" in avant-garde jazz who has been "at the forefront of modern music" for the past...
, Nate Smith, Gerald Cleaver
Gerald Cleaver (musician)
Gerald Cleaver is an African-American jazz drummer from Detroit, Michigan. He joined the jazz faculty at the University of Michigan in 1995...
, Lotte Anker
Lotte Anker
Lotte Anker is a Danish jazz saxophonist, and composer. With pianist Marilyn Crispell, she serves as one of the co-leaders of the Copenhagen Art Ensemble.-Life:She has studied music at the Copenhagen University from 1980-84....
, Dave Binney, Wayne Krantz
Wayne Krantz
Wayne Krantz is an American jazz fusion guitarist. He has played with top artists such as Steely Dan, Michael Brecker, Billy Cobham, and others, but is most active as a solo performer.-Biography:...
, Adam Rogers
Adam Rogers
Adam Rogers is an American guitarist specializing in post bop, contemporary jazz, and classical music. Rogers has had a prolific and extensive session history as a recording guitarist having played on over 150 commercially released recordings...
and others. During the 1990s he also led his own trio.
In the 2000s he played in the US with Tim Berne
Tim Berne
Tim Berne is an American jazz saxophone player and composer.Described by critic Thom Jurek as commanding "considerable power as a composer and ... frighteningly deft ability as a soloist," Berne has composed and performed prolifically since the 1980s...
(The Shell Game, 2001), in a trio with Susie Ibarra
Susie Ibarra
Susie Ibarra is a Contemporary Composer and Percussionist who has worked and recorded with jazz, classical, world, and Indigenous musicians. She is known for her work as a performer in avant-garde, jazz, world and new music...
(Songbird Suite, in 2001 and Folkloriko in 2004).
In 2002 he worked with Dave Douglas
Dave Douglas (trumpeter)
Dave Douglas is an American jazz trumpeter and composer whose music derives from many non-jazz musical styles, including classical music, folk music from European countries and Klezmer. He has been a member of the experimental big band Orange Then Blue...
(Freak in), Hugh Ragin
Hugh Ragin
Hugh Ragin is an American jazz trumpeter.Ragin was raised in Houston and began on trumpet when he was in eighth grade. After playing in the Houston All-City High School Orchestra, which toured the UK, he took his bachelor's in music education at the University of Houston and his master's in trumpet...
and the Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
bassist Eivind Opsvik, with Marty Ehrlich
Marty Ehrlich
Marty Ehrlich is a multi-instrumentalist and is considered one of the leading figures in experimental or avant-garde jazz....
in 2003, Drew Gress in 2004, and Chris Potter (Underground, 2005).
He has worked with many musicians including Chris Potter
Chris Potter (jazz saxophonist)
Chris Potter is an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist.-Biography:Born in Chicago, Illinois, Potter spent most of his childhood in Columbia, South Carolina where his mother taught psychology at the University of South Carolina...
, Nate Smith, Gerald Cleaver
Gerald Cleaver (musician)
Gerald Cleaver is an African-American jazz drummer from Detroit, Michigan. He joined the jazz faculty at the University of Michigan in 1995...
, Lotte Anker
Lotte Anker
Lotte Anker is a Danish jazz saxophonist, and composer. With pianist Marilyn Crispell, she serves as one of the co-leaders of the Copenhagen Art Ensemble.-Life:She has studied music at the Copenhagen University from 1980-84....
, Drew Gress
Drew Gress
Drew Gress is an American jazz double-bassist and composer born in Trenton, New Jersey, raised in the Philadelphia area, and currently based in New York City.-Biography:...
, James Carter
James Carter (musician)
James Carter is an American jazz musician.Carter was born in Detroit, Michigan and learned to play there before moving to New York City. He has been prominent as a performer and recording artist on the jazz scene since the mid-1990s, playing saxophones, flute, and bass clarinet...
, David Binney
David Binney
David Binney is an American alto saxophonist and composer living in New York City.-Biography:David was born in Miami, Florida and raised in Southern California. His parents were jazz fans, and introduced Binney to jazz musicians such as John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Bobby Hutcherson and Wayne Shorter...
, Wayne Krantz
Wayne Krantz
Wayne Krantz is an American jazz fusion guitarist. He has played with top artists such as Steely Dan, Michael Brecker, Billy Cobham, and others, but is most active as a solo performer.-Biography:...
, Adam Rogers
Adam Rogers
Adam Rogers is an American guitarist specializing in post bop, contemporary jazz, and classical music. Rogers has had a prolific and extensive session history as a recording guitarist having played on over 150 commercially released recordings...
, David Torn
David Torn
David Torn is an American composer and guitarist.He is known for the organic blending/manipulation of electronic and acoustic instruments and performance techniques that have an atmospheric or textural quality and effect, along with a particular harmonic richness...
, Tim Berne
Tim Berne
Tim Berne is an American jazz saxophone player and composer.Described by critic Thom Jurek as commanding "considerable power as a composer and ... frighteningly deft ability as a soloist," Berne has composed and performed prolifically since the 1980s...
, members of The Bad Plus
The Bad Plus
The Bad Plus are a jazz trio from the United States, consisting of pianist Ethan Iverson, bassist Reid Anderson, and drummer Dave King, originating from Minneapolis, MN.-History:...
, and was a member of the Susie Ibarra
Susie Ibarra
Susie Ibarra is a Contemporary Composer and Percussionist who has worked and recorded with jazz, classical, world, and Indigenous musicians. She is known for her work as a performer in avant-garde, jazz, world and new music...
Trio.
Discography
Solo Albums:- Craig Taborn Trio (1994 DIWDIW RecordsDIW Records is a Japanese record label. It is a subsidiary label of Disc Union and specializes in jazz and avant garde music. Kazunori Sugiyama was an executive producer for the label before starting Tzadik Records with John Zorn.-Discography:...
) - Light Made Lighter (2001 Thirsty Ear Recordings)
- Junk Magic (2004 Thirsty Ear Recordings)
- Avenging AngelAvenging Angel (album)Avenging Angel is an album by American jazz pianist and composer Craig Taborn recorded in 2010 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Thom Jurek awarded the album 4 stars stating "Avenging Angel is not an intellectual exercise, it is a major contribution to the actual...
(2011 ECM)
As a Sideman:
With Michael Formanek
Michael Formanek
Michael Formanek is an American jazz bassist born in San Francisco, California and associated with the jazz scene in New York City....
- The Rub and Spare Change (2010 ECM) w/ Tim BerneTim BerneTim Berne is an American jazz saxophone player and composer.Described by critic Thom Jurek as commanding "considerable power as a composer and ... frighteningly deft ability as a soloist," Berne has composed and performed prolifically since the 1980s...
& Gerald CleaverGerald Cleaver (musician)Gerald Cleaver is an African-American jazz drummer from Detroit, Michigan. He joined the jazz faculty at the University of Michigan in 1995...
With Nicole Mitchell
Nicole Mitchell (musician)
Nicole Mitchell is an American jazz flautist and former president of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians .-Biography:...
- Emerald Hills (2010 Rogue Art)
With Roscoe Mitchell
Roscoe Mitchell
Roscoe Mitchell is an African American composer, jazz instrumentalist and educator, mostly known for being "a technically superb—if idiosyncratic—saxophonist." He has been called "one of the key figures" in avant-garde jazz who has been "at the forefront of modern music" for the past...
- Nine to Get ReadyNine to Get ReadyNine to Get Ready is an album by jazz saxophonist and composer Roscoe Mitchell recorded in 1997 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 3 stars stating "The performances are mostly concise, emphasize ensembles and are sometimes surprisingly...
(1999 ECM) w/ The Note Factory (incl. Matthew ShippMatthew ShippMatthew Shipp is an American pianist, composer and bandleader.Shipp was raised in Wilmington, Delaware, and began playing piano at six years old. His mother was a friend of trumpeter Clifford Brown....
as a second piano player) - Composition/Improvisation Nos. 1, 2 & 3Composition/Improvisation Nos. 1, 2 & 3Composition/Improvisation Nos. 1, 2 & 3 is a live album by jazz saxophonist and composer Roscoe Mitchell recorded in Germany in 2004 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:...
(2004 ECM) incl. Evan Parker - Turn (2005 Rogue Art)
- Far SideFar Side (album)Far Side is a live album by jazz saxophonist and composer Roscoe Mitchell and The Note Factory recorded in Germany in 2007 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:...
(2010 ECM) w/ The Note Factory (incl. Vijay IyerVijay IyerVijay Iyer is a jazz pianist, composer, bandleader, producer, electronic musician, and writer based in New York City.-Biography:Born in 1971 and raised in Rochester, New York, Vijay Iyer is the son of Indian Tamil immigrants to the US. He received 15 years of Western classical training on violin...
as a second piano player)
With Evan Parker
Evan Parker
Evan Shaw Parker is a British free-improvising saxophone player from the European free jazz scene.Recording and performing prolifically with many collaborators, Parker was a pivotal figure in the development of European free jazz and free improvisation, and has pioneered or substantially expanded...
- BoustrophedonBoustrophedon (album)Boustrphedon is a live album by free jazz saxophonist and composer Evan Parker and the Transatlantic Art Ensemble featuring Roscoe Mitchell recorded in Germany in 2004 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:...
(ECM, 2004)
With Chris Potter
Chris Potter (jazz saxophonist)
Chris Potter is an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist.-Biography:Born in Chicago, Illinois, Potter spent most of his childhood in Columbia, South Carolina where his mother taught psychology at the University of South Carolina...
- Ultrahang (2009, ArtistShare) with Adam Rogers & Nate Smith
With David Torn
David Torn
David Torn is an American composer and guitarist.He is known for the organic blending/manipulation of electronic and acoustic instruments and performance techniques that have an atmospheric or textural quality and effect, along with a particular harmonic richness...
- PrezensPrezensPrezens is an album by guitarist David Torn recorded in 2005 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Thom Jurek awarded the album 4½ stars stating "Prezens is one of those recordings where free improvisation and composition find an uneasy but cooperative working relationship...
(2007 ECM) w/ Tim BerneTim BerneTim Berne is an American jazz saxophone player and composer.Described by critic Thom Jurek as commanding "considerable power as a composer and ... frighteningly deft ability as a soloist," Berne has composed and performed prolifically since the 1980s...
, Tom RaineyTom RaineyThomas "Tom" Rainey is an American drummer.After attending Berklee College of Music he moved to New York in 1979. He has played with American jazz saxophonist and composer Tim Berne, and also with Nels Cline, Fred Hersch, Tony Malaby, Tom Varner, Drew Gress, Kenny Werner, Mark Helias, and Simon...
& Matt ChamberlainMatt ChamberlainMatthew Chamberlain is an American drummer, producer and sound engineer. He is currently based in Los Angeles, California.-Early life:...