All-star Chicago bassist (of Mulgrew Miller, Kenny Garrett, Wynton Marsalis, Robert Glasper, Nicholas Payton, Curtis Fuller) swings from the Windy City into the Rubber City for a not-to-miss BLU debut!
Born in Southern, Illinois in 1984, Ivan Taylor has been playing the bass since he was nine years old. He had an illustrious high school career, playing with the Illinois All-State Jazz band, The Grammy Band, and Chicago Jazz masters Von Freeman and Orbert Davis.
Ivan was a star performer at the 2002 Essentially Ellington competition where he met Wynton Marsalis. This meeting led him to enroll in the Juilliard School of Music.
Ivan had a strong impact on the New York scene, performing with Rashid Ali, Juilliard Jazz Orchestra, Louis Hayes, Nicholas Payton, Curtis Fuller, Mike Philips, Kenny Garrett, Delfeayo Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Robert Glasper, Take 6, Rodney Jones, Russell Malone, Steve Nelson, Carmen Lundy, Hank Jones, Hal Weary, Cyrus Chestnut, Jonathan Baptiste, Maurice Brown, Diana Ross, KJ Rose, Marly Marl, Chris Madsen, Jennifer Sloan, Tia Fuller, Shamie Royston and many others. He has studied with Ben Wolfe and continues to study with Ron Carter.
In 2005, he became a member of Mulgrew Miller’s trio and sextet, Wingspan, touring internationally.
Ivan’s major influences are George Benson, Ray Brown, Israel Crosby, Stanley Clark, Gary Granger, Jaco Pastorius, John Patitucci, Ron Carter, and Christian McBride.
He has the ability to play both upright and electric bass with equal agility. Ivan also plays the guitar at an exceptional level which he plans to feature on future albums.
Catch this all-star bassist as he leads his own swingin’ group when he pays a visit to the Rubber City – get your tickets now!