Jeff Taylor Music

Background or center stage, Jeff Taylor has been providing entertainment for corporate functions, society galas, weddings, and personalized events for over 30 years. Jeff has performed for almost all of South Florida’s luxury hotels and resorts, private golf and country clubs, mansions, and a host of other fine establishments across the U.S. and the Caribbean. This venue list includes, the Ritz-Carlton Hotels, Four Seasons Hotels, Breakers Hotel, Trump's Mar-a-Lago, Trump International Sonesta Beach Resort, Frenchman’s Reserve, Admiral’s Cove, Indian Creek Country Club, Ibis Country Club, PGA National, Fisher Island, and many more. The Jeff Taylor Trio is a main staple at the Ritz Carlton Hotel of Manalapan and has been a preferred performer for over 5 years at this “grand scale” venue. Charity organizations continue to call on Jeff annually as he has contributed greatly to their fundraising success. Recently, Jeff has worked with Jimmy Wisner (Mel Tormé and Tony Bennett) composing for commercials and film. From Reggae to Rock, Motown to Swing, Latin to Jazz, Jeff Taylor will provide you with an unequaled musical experience.

Just in time for a resurgent interest in sweet swinging sounds comes Jeff Taylor and Oop Bop Sh'Bam. Singer, guitarist, composer – Jeff’s mellow groove makes him perfectly positioned for discovery by jazz fans old and new. While Taylor’s vocals are evocative of smooth stylists Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra, his affinity for the roots R&B of Ray Charles and the jumping jive of Louis Jordan make him swing like yesterday's masters. This art evidences itself in his many live performances and now in a new collection of recordings. Jeff presents his music by assembling and leading a tight group of great musicians both on stage and in the studio. The fantastic sounds of the Jeff Taylor Group, Oop Bop Sh’ Bam and JTJazz reflects his love of vintage melody and years of experience playing clubs from New York to Florida. Oop Bop Sh' Bam features some of the strongest and most highly respected musicians in the region.

Personnel

Jeff Taylor: Guitar/Vocals and Bandleader

Pete Wallace: Keyboard - Pete has worked as an arranger and has done production work with superstars Jessica Simpson, Pink, Teddy Geiger, Cheyenne Kimball, Nick Lachey, Michael Bolton, Ryan Cabrera and many others. In addition to his superb skills as a musician and arranger, Pete has recorded with Ricardo Arjona, Tommy Torres, Julio Iglesias Jr., Jon Secada, Angel Lopez, while displaying his talent as a stage musician touring with Julio Iglesias, Grammy-Winning Latin-rock band La Ley and recording MTV Unplugged with Alejandro Sanz--a recording that won Pete a Latin Grammy.

John Lovell: Trumpet - John has been part of Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefers for twelve years and has recorded numerous Grammy nominated albums. He has also toured with Tommy Dorsey and the O'Jays, and is considered to be one of South Florida’s most excellent musicians.

John Michalak: Saxophone - John has toured with KC and The Sunshine Band, Julio Iglesias, David Lee Roth, and Engelbert Humperdinck. He has recorded a Grammy nominated album with percussionist Sammy Figueroa.

Jon Rose: Keyboard - Keyboardist Jon Rose has accompanied and toured with artists such as Jon Secada, Teddy Geiger, Christian Castro and Jose Luis Rodriguez "El Puma". Jon has arranged strings for Ricky Martin and Tito Puente Jr. He has also played the touring musicals of "Chicago" and "Hairspray".

Nicky Orta: Bass - Nicky has performed with Mike Stern, Randy Brecker, Othello Molineaux in the jazz idiom, and Julio Iglesias, Gloria Estefan, Alejandro Fernandez, and David Bisbal in the Latin/Pop genre. He is an instructor at Florida International University, where he teaches electric bass and jazz improvisation.

John Yarling: Drums - John has worked extensively with multi-instrumentalist Ira Sullivan. He recorded with Fuller and Pepper Adams, and worked with the Jaki Byard Trio & Big Band, among others. John is a lecturer in the Department of Studio Music and Jazz at the University of Miami Frost School of Music.

So get out your wing tips and let's jump tonight with Oop Bop Sh' Bam!

Jeff works the reggae scene with his band Ellis Island, a South Florida institution for over twenty years. His ability to switch gears from playing deep Caribbean electric bass on one night, to comping cool guitar chords and crooning standards beautifully the next is fabled among his peers. Voted BEST REGGAE BAND year after year by New Times magazine, Ellis Island is committed to the excellence of reggae music. This group demonstrates its originality by combining Jamaican Reggae and Trinidadian Soca (Calypso) with all strains of African Rhythms, American Pop, Rhythm & Blues, and Rap. World class, experienced musicians have made Ellis Island one of the longest running and most diverse bands in South Florida. Whether it is a festival, private party, wedding or corporate event, Ellis Island captivates its audience and transforms them to a world filled with unforgettable pleasure!

Jeff Taylor has over 30 years of teaching experience with students from young children to adults. From 2008 to 2011 he organized and managed music programs, facilitated group classes, and taught private lessons at the Palm Beach Academy of Music. Additionally, from 2011-2013, Jeff was a faculty member of the Jupiter Academy of Music, where he taught masterclasses and guitar lessons. Jeff was also a founding member of the Young Musicians Academy, an after school music program in Palm Beach County from 2013-2015, where he organized classes and taught guitar throughout the Palm Beach County School District. Jeff has been a guest artist and instructor at Bak Middle School of the Arts, where he has worked directly with students in the jazz program. Jeff continues to teach private lessons and guitar masterclasses throughout Palm Beach County.

Jeff has a top-notch home recording studio through which he has composed, arranged, performed, and produced music for over 30 years. Jeff has produced for top music production companies such as Pennybank Tunes, Universal Production Music, Boosey and Hawkes, Abaco Music Publishing, Sonic Quiver, and Olé. His CD Library and Source music credits include Sex in the City, the David Letterman Show, The Tonight Show, and Late Night with Conan O'Brian.

Click here for a sample of Jeff's original motown music on Pennybank Tunes!