GBH Music and JazzBoston are co-hosting a new series to showcase the breadth of incredible jazz talent in the Greater Boston area. The event is held on the second Thursday of every month through February.
This month, pianist and composer Jesse Taitt shares music that celebrates resilience, ancestry, and community.
Tickets are free, but registration is encouraged. Please note that by registering for this event you agree to receive email communications from GBH Music.
About Jesse Taitt:
Jesse Taitt is a multifaceted pianist, composer, arranger, and educator with a rich musical journey. He holds a dual degree in Jazz Composition and Professional Music from Berklee College of Music, where he refined his sensitivity and technical prowess. Starting at the Boston Arts Academy, Jesse cultivated his musicality studying Classical music with Boston Conservatory Professor Harriet Lundberg and Jazz under Hey Rim Jeon through the Berklee City Music Program.
Throughout his academic journey at the Arts Academy and Berklee, Jesse engaged with luminaries such as Phillip Bailey, Seymour Bernstein, Dr. Billy Taylor, Regina Carter, George Duke, Walter Beasley, Laszlo Gardony, Joanne Brackeen, En Vogue, Patrice Rushen, Geri Allen, Gavin Degraw, Mark Gross, Lou Cash, Boston Pops, Hugh Masakela, Bill Charlap, Vincent Herring, and Cecil Bridgewater.
As an active participant in the Boston music scene, he directed Boston-based group Jazz Urbane, was the driving force behind the Jesse Taitt Trio, and earned recognition as a dedicated AmeriCorp Community Leader and Public Allies Leader.
Jesse's impact extended beyond his performances, as he also contributed as an Artist-Educator in the Boston Arts Academy's Alumni Creative Core program. Notably, he achieved international recognition as an International Guest Artist in Rwanda during the summer of 2013. There, he led master classes and headlined the Kigali UP Festival, collaborating with esteemed artists like Joey Blake (Bobby McFerrin) and sharing his artistry on projects alongside the likes of George Duke, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Christian Scott.
A pursuit of excellence led Jesse to complete his Masters in Music with a focus on Jazz Arranging and Composition at William Paterson University in 2017. Today, Jesse is Assistant Professor in the Harmony and Jazz Composition Department at Berklee College of Music and Lecturer of Jazz Piano at Dartmouth College.
As a skilled pianist, composer, and educator, Jesse continually ventures into new musical and philanthropic realms. With his diverse experiences, including his time as a sideman on various projects, his impact resonates across New York, Boston, and New Jersey. Keep an eye out for Jesse's forthcoming projects that promise fresh artistic perspectives and innovative collaborations.
Photo credit: Photo of Jesse Taitt courtesy of the artist.
GBH Jazz Nights are made possible by the Goldstein Family Fund.
