Experience

I play Yamaha and Mapex gear. Yamaha double pedal. I own three kits altogether and I carry backup pedals, snares, thrones and stands. Vic Firth sticks, Evans Heads, PDP, Mapex and Yamaha hardware, Roc ‘n Soc throne. Zildjian, Sabian and Paiste cymbals. Grip Peddlers and Groove Guide by Drumperfect,Ddrum triggers, Shure, AKG and Audio Technica mics.

John Bonham, Ringo Starr, Ginger Baker, Mitch Mitchell, Dennis Chambers, Steve Smith, Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Joe Morello, Jim Keltner, Jim Capaldi, Keith Moon, Stan Lynch, Kenny Arronoff, Stewart Copeland, Zigaboo Modeliste, Simon Kirke, Richard Bailey, John Densmore, Carmine Appice, Michael Shrieve, Art Blakey, Neil Peart, Jeff Campitelli, Narada Michael Walden, Matt Cameron, Stanton Moore, Jan Uvena (Alcatrazz, Alice Cooper), Dierks Dieter (Accept), and Butch Trucks among many others.

Paul DeMark (formerly w/ Paul Butterfield), Michael Curran (Jazz great w/ Equinox featuring Francis Vanek), Paul Spina of Reggae locals Groundation (formerly w/ Les Claypool).

I can play open handed, I play a double bass pedal and have no problem with odd time signatures. I am a click track friendly drummer who can lock in with the pulse. I have a well developed sense of time. I am always challenging myself by learning new and difficult material. If I hear something I can’t do yet I must learn it. I am obsessed with playing drums well and making it feel good.

Regular player at Donny Mederos' Pro Jam at the Tradewinds in Cotati.
C-T Cruisers (Vocal oriented Soul, Funk, Blues and Rock.) Current.
Black Zepellin (Classic Rock.)
Lock up the Wolves (Dio and Sabbath Tribute.)
Linda Ferro Band, (Jazz inflected Blues and Rock.)
Critical Mass: Was a Fusion/ProgRock/Funk/Blues project (with both originals and a few covers by [most of Jeff Beck’s Blow by Blow and part of Wired], Satriani [Satch Boogie], SRV, Robben Ford.) Alas C.M. is no more.
The Unauthorized Rolling Stones, (Popular Stones Tribute Band from S.F.)
Manzanita Moon, (Western Swing, C&W, Rock ‘n Roll and Blues.)
REK, (all original Hard Rock Fusion from S.F. Eric Kermode on Bass..(son of Richard Kermode, Janis Joplin, Santana, Tracy Chapman) Great guys!
Maceo Campbell’s Peace Warrior, (all original Funk-Rock. Maceo knew Jimi and it shows.)
The Trish Perry Band, (Rock covers and originals featuring the excellent vocals of Trish Perry doing Cheryl Crow, Gwen Stefani, Chrissie Hynde).
Threshold Project, (all original instrumental Rock/Fusion/ProgRock/Metal ala Satriani, Beck, SRV, Hendrix).
Hardly Small (Rock covers & originals with Ken Christian on Guitar and Vocals).
Buddy Brown & The Hound Dogs, (Traditional Rockin’ Blues ala Chicago/Texas featuring the talented Douglas Crumpacker on Blues Harp, Tenor Sax and Vocals).
Perfect Strangers, (Rock Originals, like Journey, Scandal, 38 Special, Fleetwood Mac, soft and hard edged 80’s pop)
The Clue, (all original Rock, Blues & Funk with the amazing Ty Anderson on guitar)
The Flying A’s, (Rock covers & originals, featuring the exceptional Dan Wymer on guitar)
Lydia Pense, (w/ The Flying A’s as backup band). Lydia Pense is the most amazing Blues, Funk and Jazz singer in the world!!!! The soul of Aretha with the power and projection of Janis. Lydia kicks ass! I feel so fortunate to have performed and be friends with Lydia Pense.

2007 (and into '08) was interesting:
I had a brief stint with the Classic Rock band Black Zepellin, subbing with them until they found a replacement.
I played two gigs w/ them, one at Jakes in Petaluma and the other at Spancky's in Cotati.
I sat in with Phoenix at a gig in Guerneville.
Two gigs with Lock up the Wolves, (Dio/Sabbath tribute) one at The Last Day Saloon in Santa Rosa,
and the other at The Forestville Club.
Live Broadcast of The Linda Ferro Band on KRSH featuring their very own DJ Andre Deschannes on lead guitar, Donny Mederos on Bass, and David Scott on Tenor Sax.
CD debut with The Linda Ferro Band at The Last Day Saloon playing her brand of Bluesy Jazz and Rock.
At this gig I shared the drum chair with Babatunde Lea (I played his Remo jazz kit) who is currently with Pharoah Saunders. Also onstage was guitar wiz Volker Strifler and members of his band. I also played a benefit for a special needs school in Santa Rosa and one hot night at the Ace in the Hole club before leaving that band. The Dio Tribute also went away (both a blessing in disguise) and I found myself connecting and networking with many new musicians going to Bassist extraordinaire Donny Mederos' (Johnny Rawls) invitation only Pro Jam on Mondays at The Tradewinds in Cotati.
Second line beats, Jazz, Blues and Funk....and amazing players including the seriously talented Ron Lacey on keys and "Monster Matt" Silva on guitar.
Through that situation I found myself joining the C-T Cruisers featuring the talented vocalist Charles Thomas. I also have another project in the works as a three piece funky, bluesy endeavor with Jim Stice on guitar and vocals and the extremely talented Dave Russ on Bass.

July ‘07
I taught drums for three weeks at Day Jams Band Camp in Belmont CA at Notre Dame University. Involved teaching groups of kids and mentoring original bands to write and perform a song in five days!
Currently I am teaching 7 students and I am looking to expand that. I really enjoy teaching drumset and passing on the music.
I teach all styles and all levels. Rudimental snare work, full drumset playing to songs and chart reading, all to a metronome are the basics of my approach. My students don’t just study rock they get jazz, swing, funk, pop, metal and blues!

Currently I am performing with The Linda Ferro Band and also have a Dio Tribute (80’s Metal) called Lock up the Wolves in the seminal stages. The best time to look for work is when you are working and I am always looking for new musical situations so please call me no matter what your style as long as you are real (pro attitude).
I would love to do an Allman Bros’ Tribute, or an early Santana Tribute, or both. I also love to play funk: Meters, Scofield, Galactic, James Brown, Cold Blood, Tower of Power, etc. I also love playing hard rock, metal, fusion and prog. I love all styles of music.

This first entry is an excerpt from an article about the hard rock band REK. I was playing in an SF Indie band from the Haight. Re-printed from the original article in San Francisco Observer 11/30/04
“The Haight’s REK Jams, Rocks on Second CD. By Cliff Agocs, Nov 30, 2004
The (REK Live at The Last Day Saloon) CD, which debuted at the San Francisco venue on Nov. 4, captures the live energy that’s motored by Scotty Taylor whose drumming runs circles around monotony, even during two 10-plus minute songs.
Bassist Eric Kermode (son of Richard Kermode, keyboardist w/ Santana, Janis Joplin, Tracy Chapman) lays punchy lines on tracks like ‘Spitshine,’ creating a churning rhythm that closes out the record. In concert, the two build a damn sturdy foundation for the three-piece, managing to fill in the bottom solidly even in the adverse recording conditions in which the record was cut.”

These comments are from Melo Hamilton, webmistress of the Musicianstogo.com web site:

Hey Scott
“I have been talking you up and am getting feedback from other musicians. They are impressed. The Bass player in Kevin's band was just there (at your web site) and he is very interested in working with you.”
“We need to get (artist) Kevin Greaves with a high caliber pro like you for his regular gigs.”
”It is gratifying to have the right people agree about your ability in the studio.”
“It is good to know there is a drummer who ‘gets it.’”
“Really good drummers who are as versatile as you are hard to come by.”

Indie label, 2Bit Tunes Engineer/Producer/ Bassist/Guitarist Bill Raymond says this about a local gig we played to an enthusiastic audience:
“Scott: Just a final thanks for your enormous contribution to a really fun event this past weekend. I know we all felt so extremely lucky to know a drummer who a) likes the same music we do, b) can learn and play the songs as fast as you did, c) is such a talented and creative and experienced player and d) fits in with the rest of the guys as well as you do. It was really fun to play with you and I hope we get a chance to do it again soon. Bill”

Trent Yaconelli, Lead Singer/Rhythm Guitarist of the up and coming rock band 5AM.
“I really loved your playing on the CD you gave me. I will pass it around to the guys.”
Trent Y. Good luck.”

My long time Bass player buddy Peter Amazing says:
“How's your new group? Hope you land somewhere good!”
In NightHawk you are now our frame of reference for drummers...... is he as good as *Waylon? Everyone misses you and wishes you were closer.” ( *my nickname).
Peter
“I've played (as a bass player) with Scott Taylor for 15 years or so. Not only is he a great drummer, he's a great guy also! He is an upstanding guy and reliable and I'm sure he would be an asset to your organization!”

Sincerely,
Peter W. Moss aka Peter Amazing

Kar-Bor-Ad was written by Guitarist Tom Yanes, copyright © 1991, Bass Guitar: Dirk Krause, Drums, Scott Taylor

Stick Control, by George Lawrence Stone. Realistic Rock Drumming, by Carmine Appice.
Steve Smith, Part I and Part II (Video).
Supernatural Rhythm and Groove, by Raul Rekow, Karl Perazzo, Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez.
Modern Drummer Magazine’s many articles and transcripts. www.moderndrummer.com thanks guys!
The Musician’s Handbook by Bobby Borg. This is an important book for all musicians to read. No illusions.

Fake-Fest @ The Nevada State Fair, Reno NV:
The URS Opened for Hot for Teacher and Led Zeplica.
Over 3,000 in attendance. Great Fun!
Club gig, The URS @ 19Broadway, Fairfax, CA
Club gig , The URS @ Café Du Nord, S.F. CA
Club gig , The URS @ Brittannia Arms, San Jose, CA
Manzanita Moon @ The Plaza in Healdsburg, CA
Over 1,000 in attendance at this outdoor venue. Big Fun! (This gig is also a hot live recording now).
Manzanita Moon @ The Mystic Theatre in Petaluma, CA
Over 500 in attendance. Great Show, Great venue
Trish Perry Band: Real estate folks Halloween party @ The Pheonix Theatre in Petaluma, CA. Over 500 in attendance: This was a big show in a great venue.

I laid down two tracks for Ron White of Red House studios in Cotati. Paid recording sessions with Rux and Bill of Indie label Two-Bit Tunes (another one coming up soon). Demo with Fusion band Critical Mass (hear Dirty Veil excerpt on this site, Jim Stice engineer and co-producer). Recorded demo for Dio Trib. Lock up the Wolves. Re-mixed three songs for Critical Mass demo. Recorded tracks for local Rock guitarist at The Shed (Jim Stice's studio in Duncan MIlls). Demo drum track for Ralph Woodson (Jimi tribute man) for one of his original songs, (Song for Jessie). Scheduled to go back in the stuido this month with Indie label 2Bit Tunes to record some drum tracks to their original light rock songs. This is a paid gig.

Currently I am performing with The C-T Cruisers band playing Soul, Funk, Blues, Rock and R&B. This is a vocal band with three singers, horns and keys.
The best time to look for work is when you are working and I am always looking for new musical situations so please call me no matter what your style as long as you are real (pro attitude) and have real jobs/gigs.