Being at the top echelon of drummers, Chad Taylor is seemingly wherever essential new entries are made in the realm of progressive and experimental jazz. As a sideman and co-leader he’s been hard to miss. Taylor is in such demand because his range is unlimited and he can conjure up rhythms sourced from every corner of the world; he’s also more than capable as a composer and arranger. These traits make him an ideal bandleader but that’s not a role he takes up full-time so when he does, it’s always worth taking notice.
Smoke Shifter (Otherly Love Records) marks the sixth time this all-around percussionist has led a recording date, and true to his pattern, he’s leading a whole new band. Whereas prior projects included a trio and even solo, Smoke Shifter presents Taylor’s new quintet, drawn almost entirely from his current home environs of Philadelphia. Tenor saxophonist Bryan Rogers and bass player Matt Engle have worked together in Philly for almost a quarter century and vibraphonist Victor Viera-Branco is also part of the scene after spending much of his life in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The only non-Philadelphian is a trumpeter whose name who may have heard of: Jonathan Finlayson.
Taylor takes this somewhat disparate group and molds something congruous and unique when put alongside the other ensembles Taylor has been involved with; it’s modern jazz that has an adventurous spirit but the melody still rules. Part of how they’ve been able to come together so well can be attributed to an equal share of composing chores (sans Finlayson) and each of the composers pen songs with their bandmates in mind.
“Broken Horse,” written by Rogers, rides mightily on a taut bass line, taut enough to give Taylor confidence to dance polyrhythmically all around it. Finlayson and Rogers immediately bond on the front line and Vieira-Branco’s chord choices guide the melody down a decisive path. Rogers, Finlayson and Vieira-Branco leave behind a lot of space during “Avian Shadow” that makes Engle’s bass patterns impactful and allows Taylor to cook.
Taylor put together multiple sections that make up “Waltz for Meghan,” using rhythmic changes to set varying moods, although the waltz is the dominant tempo. Engle’s spotlight is lovely and Rogers’ is oozing with 60’s Blue Note soul. Rogers and Finlayson combine and intertwine for “Smoke Shifter,” adding more pizzaz to Taylor’s elegiac melody.
Victor Vieira-Branco’s “October 26th” unfolds a wistful mood, as his “Paradise Lawns/October 29th” advances from dense construction to free form, after which Taylor launches into a drum solo and ending with a relaxed, welcoming melody with Finlayson leading the way.
There are so many interesting facets of Chad Taylor’s artistry that we probably don’t know the half of it. By introducing his consistent and dynamic new quintet with Smoke Shifter, we learn a little more about him, and it doesn’t disappoint.
Smoke Shifter is now out, and you can get it from Bandcamp.
*** Chad Taylor CDs and vinyl on Amazon ***
- Soft Machine – ‘Thirteen’ (2026) - March 4, 2026
- Devin Gray – ‘Hz Of Gold‘ (2026) - March 2, 2026
- Triple Blind – ‘Cold Walk’ (2026) - February 27, 2026
