North Carolina Central University Percussion Professor, Freelancer, Bandleader, and Composer Thomas Taylor stops by to talk about his career so far at NCCU (03:25), the music program and jazz program there and its place in the state (16:50), his freelancing career (33:40), growing up in Elizabeth City (NC), his early life in percussion, and playing sports growing up (37:50), his undergrad years at UNC-Greensboro, studying with Cort McClaren, and the formation of his jazz group In The Black (56:30), post grad years of teaching and performing, eventually getting his Master’s degree, and the importance placed on credentials (01:13:00), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on “Siloism”, getting opportunities, bad jobs and good food, Questlove’s books, and King Godwin’s artwork (01:27:45).
Finishing with a Rave on the 2020 edition of The Best American Sports Series (02:00:40).
Thomas Taylor Links:
Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:
Other Links:
“Jazz Party” - Delfeayo Marsalis
“Soul Bossa Nova” - Quincy Jones
“Naughty Number Nine” - Schoolhouse Rock
“When Sunday Comes” - Daryl Coley
International Black Theater Festival
Hip Hop is History - Questlove
10x is Better than 2x - Dan Sullivan
Raves:
The Best American Sports Writing 2020 - Jackie Macmullan and Glenn Stout