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In 2000 The group released a cd titled The Next Step everything is gonna be alright
In 2001 veteran vocalist Anthony Caesar, from the group U.S.T. Topaze joined the band. This unit won the top R&B Award, presented by Night Life Magazine, a position they held for the next two years. In 2003 and 2004 they also won the People’s Choice Award for Jazz. They toured internationally and conducted childrens educational music workshop in various school systems though out Western New York Rochester NY and Southern Ontario. |
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Taylor Jade Jazz 2001-04
Left-Right Vocals: Anthony Caesar Keyboard: Van Taylor (seated) Trumpet: Brian Freeman Bass: Jennifer May (seated) Drums: Robert Garret Saxophone: Tomoka Nomura |
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Taylor Made appeared during the Fall of 1987 on the TV show City Rhythm, performing original songs. That group consisted of Drummer: Miss Robin Wilson; Guitar: Mr. Shawn Mcquiller now lead singer for Kool and the Gang, Saxophonist: Mr. Robert Tatum; Vocalist: Miss Annette Batia; Keyboardist: Vernon Bunch; Vocalist: Joey Diggs; and Keyboardist: Van Taylor. That year, Van Taylor released a jazz instrumental single 45 called A Nice Day the song was featured by the wblk 93.7 budwiser showdown contest and a song called Father, which was featured on wkbw Andy Thomas show sung by Mr. Joey Diggs. The songs were released around the world on BCMK records distributed by CBS records with great reviews in Canada and Europe. The song Father is now a perennial song during Fathers Day. |
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During the winter of 1987, Taylor Made initiated a lot of notable changes by downsizing the band to a six-piece unit due to lack of work in the area. |
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The group continued to downsize in 1988 with a new line-up, consisting of a dynamic quintet: This unit appeared at Buffalo NY Kleinhans Music Hall that year |
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Taylor Made downsized again to a quartet and in the process was officially renamed Taylor Made Jazz. This unit was appeared regularly at Hemmingways restaurant Buffalo NY |
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During this time, the group performed numerous charity events including the variety club telethon, heart strings and Jerry Lewis telethon, and appeared several times on breakfast television in Toronto, Canada. Tanya Diona worked with the group for a period of two years under an artist development program sponsored by Van Taylor Production Tanya appeared and won several times at the Apollo theatre in NYC and won top R&B vocalist buffalo nightlife magazine while with the band before moving on to her own project. |
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Taylor Made Jazz Left to Right, Top Row Bassist: Kier Ellison, Drummer: Robert Garret Flugal Horn: Brian Freeman
Left to Right, Bottom Row Vocalist: Sandra Toussant Vocalist: Sharon Banks Keyboards: Van Taylor Vocalist: Tanya Diona |
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During the spring/summer of 1991/95, Taylor Made Jazz was asked to perform for the Armed Forces Entertainment in Central and South America, as well as Europe and the Middle East. That unit consisted of: In 1995 The group released a CD titled Agape Sit back and check it out |
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Taylor Made Jazz 1991
Keyboard: Van Taylor Vocals: Sharon Banks Keyboard: Julian Johnson Vocals: Sandra Toussaint Drummer: Robert Garret Vocals: Pat Edwards Vocals: Rose Marie Neuhoff Trumpet: Brian Freeman |
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Taylor Made Jazz 1996 to 1998
Left row down Vocals: Keith Eatmond Vocals: Karen Berry Guitar: Marshall Badger
Right row down Vocals: Patricia Edwards Saxophone: Tomoka Nomura Bassist: (Danny Daniels Deceased 2007)
Center, L-R Trumpet: Brian Freeman Keyboard: Van Taylor Drums: Robert Garret |
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Taylor Made Jazz 1992 to1995
L-R Keith Eatmond Brian Freeman Van Taylor Robert Garret Patricia Edwards
Bottom left Robert Tatum
Bottom Right Dale Bell Kimalyn Jones |
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Taylor Jade Jazz 2000
Left-Right, Top Vocals: Louetta Terry Trumpet: Brian Freeman Keyboard: Van Taylor Drums: Robert Garret Vocals: Karen Berry
Bottom Left Bass: Jennifer May
Bottom Right Saxophone: Tomoka Nomura |
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The next unit featured vocalist, Keith Eatmond. also joining the ranks were vocalist Kimalyn Jones and bassist Dale Bell, along with Patricia Edwards. This was the AFE Med Unit |
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Left to Right David Comtois, Melissa Kate, Robert Garrett, Jennifer May Anthony Ceasor, Van Taylor |
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In 2005 Juanita Simmons, Joyce Wilson Nixon , Jeff Nixon joined the Band & Sharon Bank returned to the lineup, Joyce released Her CD Titled in Flight in 2007 Juanita Released her CD Give God the Glory, IN 2005 The group went to Puerto Rico Juanita Simmons along with Mr. Kenny Berry Joined the group for their first Tour. |
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Jennifer May Thomas Rogers Van Taylor Juanita Simmons Melissa Kate Sharon Banks |
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During the Fall of 2004 through 2005, Taylor Made Jazz performed at various casinos in the WNY area. That unit consisted of veteran drummer Thomas Gordy Rogers from U.S.T. Topaze, veteran vocalist Sharon Banks from a group called Sabata and early Taylor Made Jazz days and Juanita Duncan from the group Special Blend, as well as vocalist Melissa Kate, bassist Jennifer May and keyboardist Van Taylor. |
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In 2006 The group went to Alaska, Hawaii, Kwajalen Guam, Vocalist : Joyce Wilson Nixon , and Drummer : Tim Web went on their first tour with the band
Present day, Van Taylor and Taylor Made Jazz now has several divisions performing R&B and Jazz, in the forms of quintets quartets trios full concert bands.
The group is very active with music educational workshops for children in the schools
The group will celebrated their 21st anniversary April 25, 2008 at the Tralf Music Hall in Buffalo NY
Taylor Made Jazz performed with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra March 17,2009 and again in September 2010 to benefit the Food Bank of WNY
Taylor Made Jazz will continue to provide a service to our troops their families and our allies watch for future concerts performances via this web site |
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Additional Musicians Not Pictured Kenny Berry Became a regular guest performer 2000 Carol Mclaughlin Sax 2002 Nelson Thomas Guitar 2003 Will Holton Sax 2004 Mike Crimes Drums 2004
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Additional Musicians Not Pictured Jerry Livingston Bass 2005 Jerry Sampson Bass 2005 and 1989 Flick Williams As Guest 2006 |
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Taylor Made |
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Van Taylor Production |
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Photo History 1987 to Present |
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The Buffalo NY Common Council issued a proclamation to TM International recording artist Taylor Made Jazz declaring July 22, 2003 as Taylor Made Jazz DAY for their support of the community and the contribution of their enriching original recordings to Western New York, the Untied States and the World. |
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The first Taylor Made crew 1987 consisted of: Left to right, top row Saxophonist: Terry Ahmed; Vocalist: Annette Batia, Vocalist: Joey Diggs; Vocalist: Sandra Toussaint; Vocalist: Henry Wright Jr.; Trumpeter: Brian Freeman. Left to right, Bottom row Drummer: Greg Prieto; Keyboardist: Van Taylor; and Bassist: Tony Blasting Guitarist Ron Walker not pictured |
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The History of Taylor Made R&B/Jazz Band
Taylor Made Jazz is one of Western New Yorks most popular, award-winning, international jazz band. Their history, like most long standing bands, is rich, and involves many musicians and artists. Its roots begin with UST Topaze a high powered R&B Show band. This is a photographic history of the members of Taylor Made Jazz.
Taylor Made Jazz began in the spring of 1987. The founders of the organization were keyboardist Van Taylor and trumpeter Brian Freeman. Both came from an organization known as U.S.T. Topaze, a heavy-hitting R&B/Pop Show band. Van Taylor had an idea to form a new organization, this time more Flexible. They can be a R&B concert Band or a Jazz combo band. He put together the following musicians to make the first version of a group called Taylor Made. |
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The next unit of Taylor Made Jazz covered the Pacific and Southwest Asian tours for Armed Forces Entertainment and received many certificates of appreciation from all branches of the Armed Forces Tomoka Nomura Joined the Band in spring 1998
1998 Van Taylor was inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame |
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Taylor Made Six-piece, Fall of 1987:
Drums: Greg Prieto Trumpet: Brian Freeman Vocals: Annette Batia, also from the group the Exoutics Vocals: Joey Diggs Keyboards: Van Taylor Bassist: Tony Blasting |
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IN 2004 Melissa Kate and along with Guitarist David Comtois, joined the band , the group traveled to Italy, Spain ,Egypt, Turkey For Armed Forces Entertainment. Melissa released Her cd Titled Blind Faith in 2005 |
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The next few years Taylor Made Jazz built a solid reputation, and in 1996 won a number of awards and recognitions, most notably the Diamond Accord Award, presented by the International Federation of Festival Organizations, F.I.D.O.F in Cannes France and the top R&B Award presented by Night Life Magazine in Buffalo, NY.
During the year 2000, several new additions came to Taylor Made Jazz, starting with Miss Louetta Terry on vocals, Jennifer May on bass,. These ladies performed their first overseas tour in Africa and Europe. |
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Taylor Made Jazz 1989
Drums: Robert Garret Vocals: Tanya Diona, Keyboards: Van Taylor Trumpet: Brian Freeman. There were several guest perfomers that year during the Sheraton Fallsview series Niagara Falls Canada Kenny Hawkins -guitar Jerry Sampson-Bass Wade Hawkins-Keyboards |
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During the busy years of the 90s bassist Kier Ellison went on to perform in the gospel markets, effectively leaving Taylor Made Jazz. Another bassist had to be found. At that time, this particular unit of Taylor Made Jazz was asked to tour throughout Canada. In 1995 The group released a CD titled Agape Sit back and check it out |
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Phone: 716-855-1754 Fax: 716-689-1009 E-mail: taylorvan@juno.com |
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Taylor Made Jazz Standing Horn: Brian Freeman Keyboard: Van Taylor Drummer: Robert Garret seated Vocals: Sandra Touissant Vocals: Sharon Banks Vocals: Tanya Diona Special guest vocalist Not pictured Gwen Reeves |
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The group successfully completed a 105-day tour overseas, the first time an AFPEO (Armed Forces Professional Entertainment Organization) tour of this length had been accomplished by a single band. |
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Taylor Made Jazz 1988
Left to right Trumpet: Brian Freeman Keyboard: Van Taylor Drums: Robert Garret standing Saxophone: Terry Ahmed Bassist: Tommy Flucker leader of the Unity Band |
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During the 90s three new additions came on to the group. This unit appeared regularly at Holiday in Delaware ave Buffalo NY This unit won Best R&B band Buffalo Nightlife Music awards several years |
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2002 Jennifer May releases a Cd Titled Walt and Jenny In 2003 the group released the Cd Full Circle what goes around comes around |
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