About My Work

I have been performing live for over 40 years with a very wide range of bands from duos to big bands and theatre pit orchestras at countless venues around the north west, including playing at numerous festivals and Matt & Phred's Jazz Club in Manchester, providing a weekly restaurant residency in Lancaster with The Shady Jazz Trio for several years, which performed at many local events including the North West Tourism Awards and at private parties, I have played a very wide range of musical styles including jazz, soul, rock, blues, folk, world music and gypsy jazz, and I have also played for large ensembles such as theatre pit orchestras and big bands, including Salford University Big Band, The Ray Taylor Big Band (Preston), Easy Street Big Band (St Helens), and various stand-in rehearsals and gigs with other big bands.

Bands available

Acoustic Traditions

This entirely acoustic quintet performs a unique and richly varied repertoire of music from around the world, including gypsy music, folk and jazz, and all the musicians involved are of extremely high standard being professional or semi professional musicians and tutors. We have already performed at numerous venues around the north west, including Didsbury Arts Festival, Atherton Arts for Nature Festival, Woodhouses Jazz Club and various other live performance contexts. Some of our Youtube videos are available to view as below. Our Facebook page is also available to visit as below.

The Gary Taylor Jazz Quintet

This quintet performs a unique collection of my own original compositions in a modern jazz style, involving greatly respected musicians, many of whom have previously appeared many times at Manchester Jazz Festival, for example. We have previously performed at Didsbury Arts Festival on several occasions, Buxton Pavilion Arts Centre on two previous occasions, Matt & Phred's Jazz Club in Manchester, and at a considerable number of other venues around the north west. Some of our Youtube videos are available to view as below. Our Facebook page is also available to visit as below.

Bands and musicians available by arrangement

I have worked with a wide range of musical groups throughout my career, and have an extensive contact list of musicians with whom I can arrange a band to meet your requirements, especially in jazz genres, including anything from a duo to larger ensembles. Please feel free to contact me to discuss your needs and I will generally be able to arrange a band to suit the context of your event. Some Youtube video examples of previous trios I have performed with are available to view as below.