At What Age - Mark Taylor

My time documenting avant music and musicians in New York City is relatively short but in that time I have quickly learned that birthing a new album just might be more work than birthing a child.  In the liner notes to his newest CD, At What Age, the artist and composer Mark Taylor notes that the music was recorded some years ago and sat on his computer's hard drive waiting for funding.  Fortunately that funding came through before the hard drive became obsolete.  Thanks to Kickstarter, Rockethub, and the appreciative listeners who pledged as they could, At What Age is with us at last.

The Mark Taylor Quintet debuts At What Age, May 29, 2011, the Cornelia Street Cafe

(Photo credit: Bathabile K. S. Mthombeni)

 
I met Mark nearly two years ago at Rob Reddy's annual 4th of July Rooftop Party.  I came with a friend and it seemed we were the only two who didn't know everyone else. Between the potluck dishes and the fireworks show (over the Statue of Liberty, of course, what a view!), we got to know Mark and his wife Bourque Simmons, an opera singer and voice instructor who, along with Rob, made us feel right at home.

As a veteran flautist of the elementary and junior high school band scenes I knew something of the french horn's slippery nature (herding cats comes to mind).  So the idea of someone playing jazz french horn was astounding, like skittering (in socks) helter-skelter across a frozen pond just as the ice begins to develop a spider's web of cracks. Mark manages this while manifesting a ballet dancer's sense of grace.

I first heard Mark play at The Fabulous Jalopy Theatre in Redhook, Brooklyn, on August 29, 2009.  I was immediately both fascinated and entranced.  How does he do that?

Mark Taylor at The Fabulous Jalopy Theater with Keith Witty - bass, Thomas Fujiwara - drums, and Chris Dingman - vibes, August 29, 2009

 (Video Credit: Bathabile K. S. Mthombeni)

At that time, Mark was just finishing off recording At What Age and began crowd-funding  (first with Kickstarter, later with Rockethub) not too long thereafter. We should all give thanks for his perseverance.

The album's release greets Mark as he transitions from the Age of Wisdom to the Age of Mastery (he turned 50 on May 22nd).  This newest work savors flavors of prior works and continues to showcase Mark's talent for bringing forth the best of the french horn's mournful qualities.  He creates essences of mystery, longing, memories sometimes thick and haunted and eery, sometimes exotic yet soothing like a hot cup of jasmine tea. And then he makes the instrument dance and scat like a jazz cat should.

 Mark Taylor at the Cornelia Street Cafe with Keith Witty - bass, Thomas Fujiwara - drums, and Chris Dingman - vibes.  CD Release Party, May 29, 2011.

(Video Credit: Bathabile K. S. Mthombeni)

Also familiar is the re-appearance of Osmium Zamindar, Mark's own self-titled International Man of Mystery, who wanders through each of Mark's albums (Quietland 1997, re-released 2009; Circle Squared, 2007 and now At What Age 2011).  

What truly sets this album apart, though, is its delicious marriage of jazz and the spoken word  in the form of poetry written and recited by the poets EJ Antonio ("At What Age") and Les Lopes ("My One and Only").  These collaborations seem especially poignant in light of Gil Scott-Heron's recent passing.

Those of us at the CD release party had the pleasure of hearing EJ Antonio join the Quintet for a truly moving rendition of "At What Age". I was too steeped in the moment to record it so you'll just have to listen to the CD and imagine it for yourself.

Mark will be on the road for the latter part of June, making stops in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Berkeley.  Visit his website for details.


Personnel on At What Age include Mark Taylor - french horn/compositions; Lalo - vibraphone; Keith Witty - bass; Gerald Cleaver - drums; with EJ Antonio and Les Lopes, poetry, and Jessica Jones - Tenor Sax on "A Risk I Take". 

Click here to listen and buy!

By the way, I just clicked over to Mark's ReverbNation site to get the link for purchasing a CD and read this quote by Tom Varner:  "playing jazz on the french horn is like trying to do ballet on ice... with socks on".  I had not seen the quote when I described playing the french horn in much the same way so I'm keeping my description and chalking it up to great minds thinking alike.  -bksm