20 | SMOOTH JAZZ NEWS By Ken Capobianco In a world that likes to classify musicians by genre to make them easily digestible, Darnell “Showcase” Taylor is adamant about pushing artistic boundaries and resisting easy definitions. The veteran guitarist, who has played with an array of musicians in gospel, jazz and funk/R&B that include Brian Culbertson, Marcus Anderson and Byron Cage, is branching out on his own with his second solo album, Worth the Wait. It explores his expansive musical range, liquid guitar style and superb songwriting. While he has made a name for himself as a sizzling guitar sideman, Worth the Wait finds Taylor in his element, delivering a tapestry of sounds that draws on his many influences. He gets funky as easily as he slips into Afrobeat or breezes through sleek, multidimensional jazz. All played with an honesty and passion that’s often lacking in pop music today. “I’ve always been someone who will color outside the box, even when I was in kindergarten, I tried different things,” said Taylor via phone recently from his home in North Carolina. “If you were to tell me I had to make a smooth jazz record, I’d say ‘What is that?’ Music is music. I like different styles of music, and this particular album demonstrates that.” The skilled guitarist is an enjoyable conversationalist, referencing different artists he’s worked with, and is easy with a story or a laugh. He spoke enthusiastically about his long-gestating second album that took him four years to make. “My goal was to showcase—no pun intended—the different sides of my music, so that’s why it is so diverse in sounds and styles,” he emphasized. “I wrote, produced, mixed and did everything on this record. It was important for me to show what I can do. I got the name ‘Showcase’ because I’m talented in so many areas and can showcase that.” He insisted that while he loves playing with Culbertson now and is extremely grateful for all the opportunities the jazz world has given DELIVERS A TAPESTRY OF SOUNDS DARNELL “Showcase” TAYLOR Photo: Will Downing
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