Taylor Eigsti - Piano

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Welcome to one of the brightest new stars of jazz: 2-time Grammy nominee Taylor Eigsti. Though

the 22-year-old pianist/composer/bandleader has been on the jazz scene since he was a pre-teen,

it was his debut CD, Lucky to Be Me, that first gave him the exposure he deserves.

With a resume that includes an array of live performances with such top-notch jazz figures as

Dave Brubeck, James Moody, and Ernestine Anderson, Eigsti is obviously no rookie to the music.

Eigsti's sound is rooted in jazz history, but it also incorporates the progressive jazz sound of the 21st century. While Eigsti truly dazzles on the keys, he also offers a compelling modern rhythmic palette, encompassing funk, hip-hop, and free feels, in addition to swing.

On Lucky to Be Me, Eigsti teams himself with two world-class rhythm teams: bassist Christian

McBride and drummer Lewis Nash on six songs, and bassist James Genus and drummer Billy

Kilson on another four. Seventeen-year-old jazz guitar sensation Julian Lage, who is Eigsti's

close friend and collaborator, guests on several tracks.

Eigsti's debut CD garnered much acclaim, peaking at # 7 on the National Jazz Radio Airplay

charts, and becoming one of the most-played most played jazz albums on the radio. Eigsti was

also featured in many of the "Top 10 best CDs of 2006" lists compiled by JazzWeek. Featured as

the cover story of the November 2006 Jazziz magazine, he was also selected in the 2006 Downbeat

Critics poll for in the "Rising Star - Piano" category. The following month, Eigsti was nominated

for two Grammy awards, one for Best Jazz Solo Performance for his improvisation on "Freedom

Jazz Dance," and the other for Best Instrumental Composition for his song "Argument."

Acclaimed for his wizardly technique, open attitude, and mature, intuitive style, Eigsti became

devoted to the piano after the death of his sister, Shannon, a talented pianist who succumbed

to cancer when he was just three. He began playing a year later, and at eight, he opened for his

friend and mentor, jazz pianist David Benoit. At 12, Eigsti shared the stage with Diane Schuur

and also opened for Diana Krall and Al Jarreau. When he was 13, he sat in with Brubeck, who commented, "Taylor is the most amazing talent Ive come across. Remember him." During his

high school years in northern California, Eigsti worked with such respected jazz artists as Bobby Hutcherson, Red Holloway, and Kevin Mahogany. He also made his mark in the classical field, performing with singers Frederica von Stade and Sylvia McNair, as well as with numerous

symphonies. Other artists Eigsti has worked with include Lee Konitz, Steve Nelson, Patti Austin, Johnny Frigo, Keter Betts, Peter Bernstein, Alan Broadbent, Anton Schwartz, Terrell Stafford, Kitty Margolis, Madeline Eastman, and many more musicians in various settings.

Eigsti has been the featured guest on a studio taping of Marian McPartland's NPR program,

Piano Jazz and was the featured performer on a live recording with her at the 2004 Tanglewood

Jazz Festival. He can also be seen in several BET concert specials that are scheduled to air this

spring, filmed at Lincoln Center and in the British West Indies. Eigsti's working quartet includes

Reuben Rogers on bass, Eric Harland on drums, and Julian Lage on guitar, all of whom are

featured on his newest CD, Let It Come to You, which also features Joshua Redman, Edmar

Castaneda, and many other great musicians.

At the 2008 Elkhart Jazz Festival, Taylor is joined by drummer Kendrick Scott and bassist

Harish Raghavan.