Jeff Taylor

Jeffrey Joseph Taylor (born February 28, 1957) is a Nashville-based bandleader and multi-instrumentalist, primarily known for keyboards and accordion. He is a long-time member of the Grammy-winning Western swing band, The Time Jumpers. As a bandleader, he conducted hundreds of shows at Nashville's Opryland USA and the General Jackson riverboat. As a session musician, he has recorded with Paul Simon, Harry Connick Jr., Elvis Costello, George Strait, and Vince Gill.

Early life

He grew up in western New York, in Batavia, located between Buffalo and Rochester. His brother played drums. Taylor was given an accordion at age 5 and, by age 10, was performing in his father's band. In his teens, he became interested in piano and guitar, and traded his accordion at age 18 for a Gibson ES-335 electric guitar, later quipping, "It was easier to meet girls with a guitar than with an accordion". and led a jazz group. This was followed by a world tour in 2010 featuring Taylor. leading to licensing for local productions in many US cities. He was featured on the 2003 Martina McBride album, Martina, which reached double platinum record sales. Taylor recorded with many other established artists including Paul Simon, Ricky Skaggs, Harry Connick Jr., George Strait, Elvis Costello, and Vince Gill. group of ten of Nashville's elite session players, who began playing Western swing music just for their own enjoyment. He has performed with them for over 20 years. He began as their pianist, but after about six months, because he had a time conflict, Taylor brought his accordion to a gig, with apologies to the players that he did not have time to get his piano. The band members embraced the accordion sound, and insisted he make the instrument a permanent part of the band. After about six years, he went back to piano, but uses both.