Craig Taborn

Craig Taborn, who gained a lot of attention for his work with James Carter in the 1990s, is a pianist, organist and synthesizer player with an adventurous spirit and a versatile style. He was born and raised in Minneapolis, did not begin piano until he was 12, was classically trained and was already a skilled jazz improviser when he was a teenager. Taborn recorded three albums as a member of the James Carter Quartet, including the acclaimed Jurassic Classics, before he even graduated college. In 1995 he graduated with a degree from the University of Michigan. Taborn released his first CD as a leader that year for DIW. He moved to New York and recorded as a sideman with Carter, Roscoe Mitchell (Nine To Get Ready), Carl Craig’s Innerzone Orchestra and Hugh Ragin.

In 2000 he began working with Tim Berne and has since worked with Chris Potter, Gerald Cleaver, Drew Gress, Wayne Krantz, Dave Douglas, Marty Ehrlich, Leo Smith, Steve Coleman, members of the Bad Plus and the Susie Ibarra Trio, in addition to leading two CDs of his own for the Thirsty Ear label. Taborn has his own sound on piano and has been a powerful enough player to keep up with Carter. At the same time he has enjoyed a parallel career as an electric keyboardist (having owned an electric keyboard from the time he first started playing piano) and has developed a very original style.