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Butch Taylor
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Butch Taylor
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Key Information

Butch Taylor (born Clarence Francis Taylor on April 13, 1961) is a composer, writer, keyboardist and long time guest musician with Dave Matthews Band.

Early life

[edit]

Butch Taylor was born in Shawsville, Virginia on April 13, 1961. Taylor attended James Madison University where he played trumpet in the JMU Jazz Ensemble. It was there he met future Dave Matthews Band saxophonist, LeRoi Moore. He studied for a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in music.

Taylor later played in Richmond, Virginia-based jazz fusion band Secrets with drummer Carter Beauford, saxophonist LeRoi Moore, trumpeter John D'earth, vocalist Dawn Thompson, bassist Keith Horne, keyboardist Dane Bryant, saxophonist Eddie Williams and virtuoso guitarist Tim Reynolds.[1]

Dave Matthews Band

[edit]

Although not a formal member of the band, he acted as a permanent member of the group from 1998 until 2008, making contributions on both studio and live albums. Taylor played on the band's studio albums Before These Crowded Streets (1998) and Stand Up (2005). His first time guesting with the band live was on June 5, 1998 at Foxborough Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts and he would continue guesting sporadically for the next few tours.[2] From May 18, 2001 to April 1, 2008 Taylor played every Dave Matthews Band show. He played a total of 488 concerts with the group until announcing his departure from touring on May 27, 2008.[3][4][5] The band's official fan club, the Warehouse Fan Association, released this message:[6]

Keyboardist Butch Taylor has decided to leave Dave Matthews Band. We are saddened by this sudden news but he has our full support. He’s given so much to us and our audience through the years and he will be missed.

Taylor joined the band on September 24, 2017 for the Concert for Charlottesville, the band's home town, at Scott Stadium, a benefit concert to raise funds for the victims killed and injured during the Unite the Right rally held from August 11–12, 2017.[7] The band labeled the event as "An Evening of Music and Unity."[8][9] This marked the first time Taylor guested with the band since April 1, 2008. The set also featured Stevie Wonder on vocals.

In 2018, Taylor joined the band once again in the studio to record 3 songs for their ninth album Come Tomorrow.[10][11]

Current work

[edit]

Between 2009 and 2015, Taylor played on studio albums for Richmond, Virginia indie rock band Carbon Leaf. In 2012 Taylor started Robert Jospé Express with Charlottesville jazz drummer Robert Jospé.[12]

Taylor is the pianist for the Free Bridge Quintet, the faculty jazz quintet at the University of Virginia.[13] He also serves as a professor of jazz piano at the university.

Taylor currently lives in Scottsville, VA. He is divorced and has three adult sons. He is currently the Chief Engineer/Producer/Composer at Ravensworth Studios also in Scottsville.[14]

Discography

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With Dave Matthews Band

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Studio

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Live

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with Carbon Leaf

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With Nikhil Korula

[edit]
  • Solo Sessions EP (2013)[21]

With Robert Jospé Express

[edit]

With Robert Jospé

[edit]
  • Just Lookin' (2019)[23]
[edit]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Butch Taylor

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Clarence Francis "Butch" Taylor (born April 13, 1961) is an American keyboardist, composer, and music educator best known for his long-standing role as a guest performer with the , contributing to their live performances and studio recordings since the late 1990s. Born in Shawsville, , Taylor developed his musical skills early, earning both bachelor's and master's degrees in music from , where he performed trumpet in the university's jazz ensemble and formed connections with musicians including drummer . Taylor's association with the began in 1998, when he provided keyboards for their album Before These Crowded Streets and subsequently participated in extensive touring, adding jazz-inflected textures to the band's improvisational style through his piano and organ work. In addition to his DMB contributions, he has composed and recorded original music, collaborated with artists in various genres, and taught music at the , maintaining a career marked by versatility across , rock, and compositional pursuits.

Early Life and Education

Upbringing in Virginia

Clarence Francis Taylor, known professionally as Butch Taylor, was born on April 13, 1961, in Shawsville, a small unincorporated community in Montgomery County, Virginia. Raised in rural Virginia, Taylor grew up immersed in music from an early age due to his family's strong musical heritage. His father served as his primary influence, mastering six or seven instruments, performing vocally, and ensuring the household was continually filled with diverse musical playback. This environment, centered in Shawsville's close-knit setting, nurtured Taylor's foundational interest in music without formal early training documented beyond familial exposure.

Musical Training and Degrees

Taylor attended in , where he pursued formal education in both literature and music. He earned a in English, providing a foundation in analytical and communicative skills that later complemented his creative pursuits, followed by a in music, which focused on advanced musical studies. During his undergraduate and graduate years at JMU, Taylor participated in the university's Jazz Ensemble as a trumpet player, honing his improvisational skills and exposure to jazz harmony and ensemble performance. This hands-on training in a jazz context marked his initial structured musical development, bridging classical ensemble discipline with improvisatory elements central to his later keyboard work. The master's program likely emphasized , composition, or , though specific coursework details remain undocumented in available records; it positioned him to transition from to keyboards, instruments he mastered through subsequent professional application rather than additional formal degrees. Taylor's academic path at JMU, culminating in the early , integrated theoretical rigor with practical ensemble experience, distinguishing his versatile approach in and rock contexts.

Association with Dave Matthews Band

Initial Involvement and Role

Butch Taylor's association with the began in 1998, when he contributed keyboards to the group's third studio album, , released on February 24, 1998. This marked his initial studio involvement, providing supplementary keyboard layers that complemented the band's core instrumentation of guitar, bass, drums, violin, and . Taylor's prior musical ties to band members facilitated this entry; he had previously performed in the pre- group Secrets alongside drummer and guitarist , establishing a foundation of familiarity and stylistic alignment. Taylor transitioned to live performances with the band later in , appearing as a guest during select shows to augment the ensemble's sound with improvisational organ, , and elements. His role remained that of a supporting rather than a formal member, focusing on enhancing jams and fills without altering the band's established five-piece core. By 2001, Taylor escalated to full-time touring status, joining the road crew for consistent appearances across North American and European dates, where he adapted to the band's extended improvisational sets by weaving in , , and funk-influenced keyboard textures. This period solidified his contributions to the live dynamic, though he continued operating as an auxiliary player, not participating in songwriting credits or official band decisions. Throughout his early tenure, Taylor's involvement emphasized versatility and restraint, prioritizing synergy with frontman ' guitar and violinist Boyd Tinsley's lines over lead prominence. This approach drew from his background, allowing seamless integration into the band's jam-oriented style without overshadowing the primary of Beauford and bassist Stefan Lessard.

Key Contributions and Performances

Butch Taylor contributed keyboards to Dave Matthews Band's 1998 studio album Before These Crowded Streets, marking his initial recording involvement with the group. He began performing live with the band during the supporting tour for that album in 1998, adding piano, Hammond B3 organ, and other keyboards to their jam-oriented sets. From May 18, 2001, to his departure in 2008, Taylor appeared at every Dave Matthews Band concert, providing consistent auxiliary support that enriched the live instrumentation across hundreds of shows. Taylor's performances emphasized improvisational keyboard work, often featuring extended solos and harmonic layers in songs like "Two Step." A notable example occurred during the band's September 24, 2003, concert at in , where he delivered a prominent solo in "Two Step," showcasing jazz-influenced tension and release. His contributions extended to summer tours, including the August 29, 2000, show at (SPAC) in New York, captured on the official live release Live Trax Vol. 11, where his keys integrated with the band's evolving sound during that transitional period. Through these efforts, Taylor helped expand the band's sonic palette in live settings, complementing core members like Dave Matthews and Boyd Tinsley with textured organ swells and piano accents that supported extended jams, though he remained a non-official member focused on touring rather than songwriting or primary production.

Departure in 2008

On May 27, 2008, Dave Matthews Band announced that keyboardist Butch Taylor had decided to leave the group, stating that the departure was sudden and expressing sadness while affirming full support for his decision. The official message on the band's website read: "Keyboardist Butch Taylor has decided to leave Dave Matthews Band. We are saddened by this sudden news but he has our full support." Taylor had performed at every Dave Matthews Band concert since joining as an auxiliary member in the late 1990s, totaling 488 shows by the time of his exit. The reasons for Taylor's departure were not publicly disclosed at the time, with reports describing it as unexpected and occurring just prior to the band's 2008 summer tour kickoff. Some accounts later referenced personal reasons, though no specific details were elaborated by the band or Taylor himself. The band did not immediately name a replacement for Taylor's keyboard role, opting to continue touring with the core lineup augmented by occasional guests. This exit marked the end of Taylor's nearly decade-long tenure as a consistent onstage collaborator, during which he contributed to the group's improvisational sound without formal membership.

Broader Musical Career

Collaborations with Other Artists

Taylor's early collaborations included session work as a backup guitarist and keyboardist with vocalists such as , for whom he toured and recorded on , as well as , , , , and . He also performed and recorded with jazz fusion artists including guitarist , bassist Anthony Jackson, saxophonist , the , drummer , and drummer , contributing to their projects during his pre-Dave Matthews Band career in the 1970s and 1980s. Following his departure from the in 2008, Taylor contributed keyboards to multiple studio albums by the Richmond-based band between 2009 and 2015, including tracks on releases that featured his organ and arrangements to enhance their folk-rock sound. In 2012, he co-founded the Robert Jospé Percussion Ensemble with colleague and drummer Robert Jospé, blending with percussion-focused compositions; the group later evolved into the Robert Jospé Express. Taylor collaborated with singer-songwriter Nikhil Korula on the 2013 EP Solo Sessions, providing keyboards alongside saxophonist on five original tracks recorded in a live, intimate style. He has also recorded with jazz trumpeter on tracks such as "Just Lookin'" and "Round Seven," incorporating and elements into their ensemble work. Additionally, Taylor has continued performing live with , including shows at events like the Ragtime Carnival in May of recent years.

Teaching and Production Work

Taylor has served as an instructor of at the since January 2013, where he also performs as the pianist in the faculty ensemble, the Free Bridge Quintet, alongside saxophonist Jeff Decker, drummer Robert Jospé, bassist Peter Spaar, and trumpeter . The quintet, formed in 1997, has been a staple of UVA's music program, celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2017 with performances emphasizing improvisational standards and original compositions. In production, Taylor operates Ravensworth Studios in , serving as chief engineer, producer, and composer. He has produced and engineered s for regional artists, including David Tewksbury's full-length release Sun is Rising in 2016 and Michael Coleman's Whispers & Secrecy that same year. Additional credits include tracking and mixing the Loose & Familiar EP by Proverbial, recorded at the studio. Taylor's production work extends to composing and arranging for television, radio, , , and original soundtracks, as well as producing records for various acts.

Recent Activities and Performances

Post-DMB Engagements

Following his departure from regular touring with the on April 1, 2008, Butch Taylor participated in limited live engagements centered on and reunion performances. In 2012, he rejoined drummer — a longtime collaborator and percussion professor— to form the Robert Jospé Express, a ensemble that reconvened after Taylor's relocation back to from the West Coast. Taylor returned as a guest keyboardist with the for the "A Concert for Charlottesville" on September 24, 2017, at in , supporting victims and responders to the August 2017 ; this marked his first onstage appearance with the band since 2008.

Ongoing Projects as of 2025

As of October 2025, Butch Taylor maintains involvement in the Robert Jospé Express, a Charlottesville-based jazz and funk ensemble he co-founded in 2012 with drummer Robert Jospé, guitarist Brian Mesko, and bassist Dane Alderson, a frequent Dave Matthews Band collaborator. The group performs original material and covers, emphasizing improvisational keyboard work from Taylor alongside electric instrumentation, and released the album Just Lookin' in 2019 featuring tracks like the title song and funk-infused pieces. Recent local engagements, such as appearances at venues like Carysbrook, indicate continued activity in the regional scene. Taylor also teaches jazz piano as an at the , where he instructs students in , , and composition, drawing on his extensive experience in live and studio settings. This educational role aligns with his post-DMB focus on mentoring emerging musicians in Charlottesville, including participation in faculty-led concerts and jazz programs. In addition to performing and teaching, Taylor pursues independent production and composition projects, including work as a composer and arranger for television, radio, film, and advertising, often from his base in Virginia. These efforts sustain his career in session and studio environments, though specific 2025 commissions remain unpublicized in available records.

Musical Style and Reception

Style and Influences

Taylor's keyboard style emphasizes jazz-infused improvisation and harmonic complexity, often featuring rich chord voicings that introduce tension and resolution in a restrained manner during live settings. In performances with the Dave Matthews Band from 1999 onward, he contributed layered textures to the group's jam-oriented rock sound, enhancing funk grooves with piano solos and organ fills that drew on big band swing and modern jazz phrasing. His approach deconstructs diverse musical elements—rhythm, melody, harmony, and form—to create adaptive accompaniments suitable for eclectic ensembles, reflecting a versatile command of keyboards, piano, and auxiliary percussion. Key influences stem from his upbringing in a musical household, where his father, proficient on six or seven instruments including and , fostered constant exposure to varied sounds during Taylor's childhood in the . Formal training began with lessons at age seven, leading to bachelor's and master's degrees in music from , followed by teaching positions that honed his pedagogical insight into and . Admired figures include jazz pianists and for their technical grace and innovation, bassist for rhythmic elasticity, and keyboardists and for fusion explorations; these inform Taylor's broad palette spanning derivatives, rock, pop, and . Film scores and big band arrangements further shaped his textural depth, enabling seamless integration across genres in recordings and productions.

Fan and Critical Views

Fans of the (DMB) have frequently praised Butch Taylor's keyboard contributions for enhancing the group's live sound with soulful Hammond B3 organ layers, particularly in improvisational jams like "Seek Up" from Live Trax Vol. 1. Appreciation threads on platforms such as highlight Taylor as underrated and superior to successors like Buddy Strong in piano proficiency, crediting him with elevating ensemble dynamics during his 1999–2008 tenure. However, some fans expressed mixed sentiments, noting that while Taylor added value over no additional keys, he rarely delivered defining solo moments and could occasionally overshadow the core band's texture. Discussions on Antsmarching.org forums reflect a subset preferring DMB's pre-Taylor era for its stripped-down guitar-sax interplay, viewing his departures in 2008 as a return to foundational energy without diminishing his selective additions. Formal critical reception remains sparse, focusing more on Taylor's ensemble role than solo critique; a 2016 HuffPost profile lauds him as a "consummate " for his production and stage versatility across acts. Album retrospectives note his keyboards filling out DMB's sound positively amid mixed reviews for records like , though without attributing specific acclaim or fault to him individually. Recent fan discourse as of 2025 questions historical underappreciation of Taylor relative to later keyboardists, attributing it to shifts in band evolution rather than musical shortcomings.

Discography

With Dave Matthews Band

Butch Taylor began collaborating with the in 1998, providing keyboards for their fourth studio album, , and participating in the album's supporting tour. Although never a formal band member, Taylor functioned as a consistent sixth collaborator, enhancing the group's live performances and recordings through his Hammond B-3 organ and work. From 1998 to 2008, Taylor toured extensively with the band, appearing at hundreds of concerts across , , and , including their first Australian tour in 2000. His keyboard contributions added layers of and influences to the band's improvisational jams, particularly in tracks like "Stay (Wasting Time)" and live extensions of songs such as "." He also played on subsequent studio albums, including Everyday (2001) and (2002), where his additions supported the core lineup's shift toward more produced sounds. Taylor's tenure concluded abruptly on May 27, 2008, when the band announced his departure via their official fan club site, expressing sadness over the sudden decision while offering full support. This exit occurred just days before the start of their summer tour, marking the end of his decade-long association after over nine years of regular touring.

Other Collaborations

Taylor contributed keyboards to multiple studio albums by the band between 2009 and 2015. On their 2013 release Ghost Dragon, he performed on several tracks, including the opening song "Indecision." In 2012, Taylor co-founded the ensemble Robert Jospé Express as its keyboardist alongside drummer Robert Jospé, bassist Dane Alderson, and guitarist Brian Mesko; the group issued its debut album Just Lookin' in 2019, featuring Taylor on keys throughout and guest appearances such as trumpeter . As pianist for the faculty group Free Bridge Quintet, Taylor appears on their debut Spanning Time, released in 2000. Taylor led the band The Penetrators on the 2000 Don't Tell Me Nothin', handling keyboards, guitar, and vocals.

References

  1. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1002350/bio/
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  3. https://dmbnews.net/2017/09/24/butch-taylor-joins-dave-matthews-band-at-charlottesville-concert/
  4. https://www.discogs.com/artist/375730-Butch-Taylor
  5. https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/rock-stars/butch-taylor-net-worth/
  6. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/butch-taylor-the-creative-process-in-music_b_57689e4ae4b0ed0729a211e7
  7. https://alchetron.com/Butch-Taylor
  8. https://fansofdavematthewsband.weebly.com/more-info-on-the-band.html
  9. https://www.njvid.net/streamer.php?pid=njcore:193404&ds=SUPP-1
  10. https://jambands.com/news/2008/05/27/butch-taylor-exits-dmb/
  11. https://www.ticketnews.com/2008/05/dave-matthews-band-keyboardist-splits/
  12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QPbNnlet7c
  13. https://davematthewsband.shop.musictoday.com/product/DMDD38/dmb-live-trax-vol-11-spac
  14. https://www.jambase.com/article/butch-taylor-leaves-dmb
  15. https://www.antsmarching.org/news/2008/05/27/Butch-Taylor-Leaves-Dave-Matthews-Band
  16. https://michaelteager.com/blog/tag/butch-taylor/
  17. https://www.butchtaylor.com/butch-s-bio
  18. https://www.facebook.com/groups/2019684684944005/posts/3444169195828873/
  19. https://www.discogs.com/artist/6235853-Robert-Josp%C3%A9-Express
  20. https://voyagela.com/interview/meet-of-nikhil-korula-band/
  21. https://music.apple.com/us/artist/butch-taylor/135988627
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  24. https://news.virginia.edu/content/celebrating-20-years-uvas-favorite-jazz-group
  25. https://farmvilleherald.com/2016/06/taylor-performance-set/
  26. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/davidtewksbury/david-tewksbury-full-length-album-sun-is-rising
  27. http://www.thesoutherncville.com/events/detail/michael-coleman-album-release-party
  28. https://proverbialrva.bandcamp.com/album/loose-familiar-ep
  29. https://music.virginia.edu/people/robert-jospe
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  31. https://robertjospe.com/music/robert-jospe-express/
  32. https://robertjospe.com/music/just-lookin/
  33. https://fluvannareview.com/2025/03/jospe-returns-to-carysbrook/
  34. https://news.virginia.edu/content/hit-songs-and-surprise-guests-thrill-crowd-powerful-concert-charlottesville
  35. https://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/25/nyregion/rock-review-party-music-for-the-downhearted.html
  36. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1002350/trivia/
  37. https://outofthedarkness.tumblr.com/post/4944851549/butch-taylor-appreciation-post
  38. https://www.reddit.com/r/DMB/comments/15v28nn/butch_taylor_appreciation_thread/
  39. https://www.reddit.com/r/DMB/comments/10787fp/unpopular_opinion_i_think_butch_taylor_is_a/
  40. https://www.antsmarching.org/forum/showthread.php?t=123639
  41. https://www.antsmarching.org/forum/showthread.php?t=259234
  42. https://www.dmbtabs.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=35116
  43. https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/dave-matthews-band-album-by-album-appreciation-thread.1166626/page-6
  44. https://www.reddit.com/r/DMB/comments/1ltdisy/why_such_an_appreciation_for_buddy_vs_butch/
  45. https://dmbnews.net/dave-matthews-band-albums-and-discography/
  46. https://www.classicrockhistory.com/complete-list-of-dave-matthews-band-albums-and-discography/
  47. https://www.last.fm/music/Carbon%2BLeaf/%2Bwiki
  48. https://thejazzword.com/2019/07/robert-jospe-just-lookin/
  49. https://robertjospe.com/the-artist/timeline/
  50. https://www.discogs.com/release/6683269-Butch-Taylor-The-Penetrators-Dont-Tell-Me-Nothin
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