Taylor Eigsti

Taylor Eigsti (born September 24, 1984) is an American jazz pianist and composer. He has performed, toured, or recorded with many contemporaries including Dave Brubeck, Chris Botti, Joshua Redman, Julian Lage, David Benoit, Terence Blanchard, Becca Stevens, James Moody, Esperanza Spalding, Lisa Fischer, Ernestine Anderson, Red Holloway, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Diane Schuur, Ambrose Akinmusire, Ben Wendel, Marian McPartland, Christian McBride, Nicholas Payton, Joshua Bell, Chris Potter, Stefon Harris, Sting, John Mayer, Hank Jones, Chick Corea, Snarky Puppy, Vanessa Williams, McCoy Tyner, Joey DeFrancesco, Charles McPherson, Geoffrey Keezer, Eldar Djangirov, Joe Lovano, The Doobie Brothers, and Frederica von Stade, among many others. His working trio features bassist Harish Raghavan and drummer Eric Harland. He is also a member of Eric Harland Voyager, Kendrick Scott Oracle, and Gretchen Parlato's group. Since age 15, Eigsti has been a faculty member at the Stanford Jazz Workshop at Stanford University.[1] As a leader, he has recorded seven albums and has been nominated for two Grammy Awards.

Taylor Eigsti
Background information
Born (1984-09-24) September 24, 1984
OriginMenlo Park, California, U.S.
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician, composer
InstrumentsPiano
Years active1993–present
LabelsConcord, GSI Records
Associated actsEric Harland, Julian Lage, Kendrick Scott, Gretchen Parlato, Chris Botti, Sachal Vasandani, Becca Stevens, Terence Blanchard
Websitewww.tayloreigsti.com

Early life

Eigsti was born to Nancy and Steve Eigsti on September 24, 1984 and grew up in Menlo Park, California. When he was three, his 17-year-old sister, Shannon, died of cancer. Her death made a lasting impression and continued to influence Eigsti's musical development.[2] Eigsti's study of piano began at age four when he was inspired by his older sister, Shannon.[3] He graduated salutatorian of his high school class at Woodside Priory School, where he returned to give the Commencement Address in 2010. He then had a brief stint at the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music before dropping out, midway through his sophomore year, to pursue his musical career.[4]

Musical career

New York-based pianist and composer Taylor Eigsti started playing the piano when he was four years old. Growing up in Menlo Park, California, Eigsti was quickly labeled a prodigy, and has since released 7 albums as a bandleader, in addition to appearing on over 50 albums as a sideman. Eigsti has garnered multiple individual GRAMMY Award nominations over the years for his work as a recording artist and composer, including Best Instrumental Composition, and Best Jazz Instrumental Solo. Recently, Eigsti also co-wrote a featured composition with Don Cheadle for the 2017 GRAMMY-winning soundtrack to the motion picture "Miles Ahead".

Eigsti has traveled internationally with his trio and quartet, and has frequently performed as a sideman since moving to New York City in 2008. Eigsti has performed at the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall, Salle Pleyel, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Royal Festival Hall, Konzerthaus, Vienna, Olympia Hall, Massey Hall, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall, and many festivals including Montreal International Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Mosaic Music Festival (Singapore), Monterey Jazz Festival, Stockholm Jazz Festival, Istanbul International Jazz Festival, Quito Jazz Festival, Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival, Sydney Jazz Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, Chicago Jazz Festival, Toronto Jazz Festival.

Eigsti has also been featured numerous times in various television specials, NPR appearances, commercials, and composed the theme music to the motion picture "Detachment" starring Oscar-winner Adrien Brody collaborating on the score with the Newton Brothers. In 2018, Eigsti was featured on a television special with Chris Botti for PBS's Great Performances.

In addition to leading and performing with various small ensembles, Eigsti frequently has had the opportunity to work with, compose for and orchestrate music for various symphony orchestras, and has written music for orchestra and jazz ensemble. Various soloist and compositional features include the San José Chamber Orchestra, Oakland Symphony, New York Philharmonic, the New York Pops, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Colorado Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Naples Philharmonic, Nashville Symphony, Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra, Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, San Jose Youth Symphony, Golden State Youth Orchestra, Bear Valley Symphony, Tassajara Symphony, Reno Philharmonic and multiple featured collaborations with the Peninsula Symphony Orchestra.

In late 2018, Eigsti was reported working on his next album, Tree Falls, to be released on GSI Records. The album features drummer Eric Harland, who co-owns the GSI label. Other musicians on the album include vocalists Becca Stevens and Gretchen Parlato, and bass guitarist David "DJ" Ginyard.[5]

Albums as a bandleader

Eigsti released his first album Tay's Groove at age 14. It featured Seward McCain on bass and Dan Brubeck on drums. Eigsti's second album, Live At Filoli, with John Shifflett on bass and Jason Lewis on drums, was recorded at a concert at Filoli Gardens on September 16, 2000. The trio played this concert as a last minute replacement for a Marian McPartland show. His third album, Taylor's Dream, was released in 2001 on DIW Records. Eigsti's first nationally released album was Resonance, recorded in 2003 and released on Bop City Records. It was the trio's third album together and peaked at number five in national jazz radio airplay.

Eigsti's first major label debut was titled Lucky To Be Me. It was released on Concord Records in 2006. Lucky To Be Me features Julian Lage on guitar, Christian McBride on bass, and Lewis Nash on drums. The album received two Grammy Award - one for Best Instrumental Composition on for his song "Argument", and the other for Best Jazz Solo Performance on "Freedom Jazz Dance". The album met with critical acclaim, but it was also criticized for being uneven.[6] In 2008 Eigsti released Let It Come To You, his second release with the Concord label. This album featured Julian Lage on guitar, Reuben Rogers on bass, Eric Harland on drums, Harish Raghavan on bass and Aaron McLendon on drums. Additionally, Joshua Redman, Edmar Castaneda, Dayna Stephens, Ben Wendel, and Evan Francis are featured as guests. Eigsti's next Concord album, Daylight at Midnight, was released on September 21, 2010. This album features vocalist Becca Stevens and several arrangements of contemporary popular artists like Rufus Wainwright, Imogen Heap, and Elliott Smith.[3]

Discography

As leader
Year recorded Title Label Personnel/Notes
1998 Tay's Groove Independent With Seward McCain (bass), Dan Brubeck (drums)
2000 Live at Filoli Independent With John Shifflett (bass), Jason Lewis (drums); in concert
2001 Taylor's Dream DIW With John Shifflett (bass), Jason Lewis (drums)
2003 Resonance Bop City With John Shifflett (bass), Jason Lewis (drums)
2006 Lucky to Be Me Concord With Julian Lage (guitar), Christian McBride (bass), Lewis Nash (drums), Billy Kilson (drums), James Genus (bass), Ben Wendel (sax), Eric Marienthal (sax), Adam Schroeder (sax), Garrett Smith (trombone), Greg Adams (trumpet)
2008 Let It Come to You Concord With Julian Lage (guitar), Reuben Rogers (bass), Eric Harland (drums), Harish Raghavan (bass), Aaron McLendon (drums); plus Joshua Redman, Edmar Castaneda, Dayna Stephens, Ben Wendel, and Evan Francis as guests
2010 Daylight at Midnight Concord With Becca Stevens (vocals), Harish Raghavan (bass, electric bass), Eric Harland (drums); plus Julian Lage (guitar) as guest
TBA Tree Falls GSI With Casey Abrams (vocals), Gretchen Parlato (vocals), Becca Stevens (vocals), Charles Altura (guitar), Ben Wendel (woodwinds), Sam Sadigursky (woodwinds), David Ginyard (bass), Nathan Schram (viola), Hamilton Berry (cello), Emilie Gendron (violin), Eric Harland (drums)

As sideman
Eigsti in 2010 backing Gretchen Parlato on vocals, Alan Hampton on bass, and Kendrick Scott on drums
  • Liquid Love (1999) - Nika Rejto
  • Windows (2001) - Various Artists
  • Songs Without Words II (2001) - Various Artists
  • Intuition (2005) - Brubeck Brothers
  • What Love Is (2006) - Erin Boheme
  • Radiant Blue (2006) - Anton Schwartz
  • The Timeless Now (2007) - Dayna Stephens
  • Convergence (2007) - Chris Brubeck
  • Stringsongruvscaipsoundtreks (2008) - Mike Sweetland
  • Sounding Point (2009) - Julian Lage *GRAMMY Nominee - "Best Contemporary Jazz Album"
  • Simple Song (2009) - Ben Wendel
  • Jazz for Peanuts (2009) - David Benoit
  • Voyager: Live By Night (2010) - Eric Harland
  • Mainstream Straight-Ahead (2010) - Stix Hooper
  • The Lost and Found (2011) - Gretchen Parlato
  • Grace's Song (2012) - Dann Zinn
  • Sideways (2012) - Lauren Desberg
  • Secret Love (2012) - Sara Leib
  • Home: Gift of Music - Japan Earthquake / Tsunami Relief (2012) - Various Artists
  • The Skeptic and the Cynic (2012) - Curtis Nowosad
  • Courage, My Love (2012) - Erin Propp
  • Over the Moon: The Broadway Lullaby Project (2012) - Various Artists
  • Arts For Life: My Life is Bold (2012) - Various Artists
  • Conviction (2013) - Kendrick Scott
  • Whatever (2013) - Leron Thomas
  • Paint your Life (2013) - Dario Chiazzolino
  • That Nepenthetic Place (2013) - Dayna Stephens
  • Live in NYC (2013) - Gretchen Parlato *GRAMMY Nominee - "Best Jazz Vocal Album"
  • Flash Mob (2014) - Anton Schwartz
  • Still Casual (2014) - Walter Smith III
  • Vipassana (2014) - Eric Harland Voyager
  • Robin Goodie (2015) - Zhenya Strigalev
  • 21st Century Problems (2015) - Lauren Desberg
  • Cthulhu Rising (2015) - Reuben Bradley
  • Slow Motion Miracles (2015) - Sachal Vasandani
  • We Are the Drum (2015) - Kendrick Scott Oracle
  • Sizzle (2016) - Jeff Richman
  • Miles Ahead Soundtrack (2016) - Miles Davis and Various Artists *GRAMMY Winner - "Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media"
  • My Singing Fingers (2017) - Bongwool Lee
  • Big City (2017) - Øyvind Nypan
  • Shadow Train (2018) – Sachal Vasandani
  • Live in Manhattan (2018) - GSI Records Tribute to John Coltrane
  • The Heart Already Knows (2018) - Kate Reid
  • We Are (2018) - Alina Engibaryan
  • 13th Floor (2018) - Eric Harland Voyager
  • Spirit & Time (2018) - Blue Note Compilation
  • Day of Reckoning (2018) - Dann Zinn
  • A Wall Becomes a Bridge (2019) - Kendrick Scott Oracle
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References
  1. "Stanford Jazz Festival, Jazz Camp & Jazz Residency: A swinging success!". Stanford Jazz Workshop. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
  2. Harrington, Jim (1997-11-05). "In the key of life". Palo Alto Online. Retrieved 2010-09-11.
  3. "Taylor Eigsti - Pianist | Composer | Artist | Two-time Grammy Nominee". Taylor Eigsti. Web. 23 Apr. 2012. <http://www.tayjazz.com/>.
  4. "Taylor Eigsti and the Prodigy Thing". Interview by Judith Schlesinger. All About Jazz. All About Jazz, 22 Oct. 2004. Web. 24 Apr. 2012.
  5. http://downbeat.com/news/detail/artist-owned-gsi-fosters-creative-freedom
  6. Chinen, Nate. "Taylor Eigsti Quartet". New York Times: E.1:21.
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