Taylor’s prolific career as a drummer and composer includes his work as a leader of his own jazz and percussion ensembles and performances and recordings with a wide range of artists from around the world. His music integrates genres and compositional techniques such as modern jazz, contemporary improvisation, traditional folkloric music of southern Africa, and experimental rock. Beginning his performance career at age 15, he has made over 3,000 appearances as a sideman and performed on more than 150 recordings with ensembles led by Pharoah Sanders, David Liebman, Eric Revis, Marc Ribot, Jaimie Branch, and Nicole Mitchell. He is a founding member of the Chicago Underground with Jeff Parker and Rob Mazurek, and he leads the Chad Taylor Trio and Circle Down. He is the William S. Dietrich II Chair in Jazz Studies and the director of jazz studies at the University of Pittsburgh. Taylor earned an MFA from Rutgers University and a BFA from The New School.
