Ross Taggart

Ross Taggart has been an important part of the Vancouver jazz scene since 1985. He has played piano and tenor saxophone for audiences in Canada, the United States, Cuba, Columbia, Brazil, Panama, Guatemala, England, Ireland and Holland. Ross spent two years studying in New York City with saxophone legends George Coleman, Clifford Jordan and J.R. Monterose under the assistance of the Canada Council for the Arts. He has also studied in Toronto with great Canadian pianists Don Thompson and Bernie Senensky.

Ross has been a member of the Juno award winning Hugh Fraser Quintet since 1988, while also performing with the Ian McDougall Sextet, the Vancouver Ensemble of Jazz Improvisation (VEJI), the Jill Townsend Big Band, Fred Stride's Westcoast Jazz Orchestra, the Bill Coon Quartet, the Sharon Minemoto Quintet, and his own groups. He has shared the stage and/or recorded with the talents of Clark Terry, Benny Golson, Charles McPherson, Slide Hampton, Eddie Daniels, Lionel Hampton, Tommy Banks, Phil Woods, Bud Shank, Kenny Wheeler, P.J. Perry, Rob McConnell, Don Thompson, Fraser MacPherson, Eric Alexander, Bobby Shew, Terry Gibbs, Phil Nimmons, Pat LaBarbera, Jay Clayton, Benny Powell, Chuck Israels, Donald Bailey and Sam Noto. In addition to performing with the above jazz artists, Ross has also worked with the Arts Club Theatre in productions of "Ain't Misbehavin", and "Five Guys Named Moe", Colin James, the Powder Blues, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Victoria Symphony Orchestra, the Vancouver Opera Orchestra, the CBC Radio Orchestra, David Foster and Raffi.

Ross has taught and adjudicated extensively for several years and has been a faculty member in the Jazz Studies Department at Capilano College since 1998. He has done several national and regional recordings for both English and French CBC radio and television. Ross has been featured on numerous recordings with among others, Hugh Fraser, Ian McDougall, Charles McPherson, as well as four CDs as a leader. Ross' debut recording, Ross Taggart & Co. has received critical acclaim and was nominated for best jazz album from the West Coast Music Awards in 1999.

In December 2001, The Ross Taggart Quartet released the CD Thankfully, recorded live at the Cellar Jazz Club in Vancouver. The same month, Ross and pianist Bob Murphy released a duo CD of original music entitled Mysteries And Tall Tales. In December 2002, Ross and vocalist Joani Taylor released the CD, A State Of Grace.

Ross Taggart plays the YTS82ZF tenor saxophone.