UpFront Band
- Vancouver, WA
- Jazz Band
- 31 Verified Bookings
Maureen O. said “Really easy to work with, and played great tunes! We would absolutely have them back!”
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Kit is an award-winning professional pianist based in Portland, OR. He is widely considered one of the most reliable, professional, and charismatic pianists in the state.
Kit has received accolades from some of the worlds finest musicians, including Jennifer Batten (Michael Jackson), David Torn (Madonna), and Bernie Grundman (mastering engineer for 10% of the top-selling albums of all-time).
Some artists he specializes in include Journey, Billy Joel, Elton John, Bob Marley, Usher, Alicia Keys, Michael Buble, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, as well as the latest hits on the iTunes charts.
Kit performed for at our holiday office party! Kit is an amazing artist! My entire staff loved hearing him play. I would recommend Kit without hesitation.
John Burton, Jr., CPC
President
Emerald Staffing, Inc.
www.emeraldstaffing.com
Kit was early to the venue and very professional in his attitude. As well, he is a very talented musician playing a great variety of tunes. He encouraged requests and had a very large repertoire. He also volunteered to make announcements and played our special song beautifully. Like he says and delivers, he is worth what he charges. We were very happy having play for our 50th wedding anniversary party.
Kit was wonderful at our recent Friends of Music donors’ reception!
Response from Kit Taylor - Piano & DJ:
Thanks Bruce! Really great meeting you.
Kit was great. The music selection appealed to all who attended. He even got everybody up dancing. The real treat was the breaks with keyboard solos. A very talented guy.
Kit was fantastic. His music selection was perfect for our mixed age group of 140 people. He provided soulful memories as well as upbeat dance tunes. On top of that he is just a great guy who worked to make our party a success.
Response from Kit Taylor - Piano & DJ:
Thanks Rudy! Had a great time. A fine place you've got out there. Hope to work together again.
Kit did an amazing job. He and Trevor really went above and beyond and made the occasion truly memorable, from the wonderful piano to the amazing singing. He was very accommodating and also helped with his own ideas. I would definitely recommend him to anyone needing a piano player. Thank you so much Kit.
Kit was awesome!!! He was extremely easy to work with and so much fun to have at the event. He was great at reading the room and playing music that the crowd loved.
Great addition to our holiday party!!!
I hired Kit recently to play piano and DJ for my daughters wedding, and though I knew he would be good, it went even better than expected. Kit can play any song you ask, and is a great communicator, also often times going above and beyond what was expected to accommodate various hurdles thrown at him. As a DJ, he does not take long breaks, in fact I don't know if I remember him taking one at all, and he kept the crowd dancing with a great mix of genres and styles. He also took requests on the fly. He has a commanding speaking voice, and was able to get the attention of guests when needed, but without being rude or overbearing. It was a great experience. Thanks Kit!
Price Range: $599-$3950
Gig Length: 5 - 500 minutes
Languages: English
Insurance: $1,000,000 - Liability
Unions: BMI
A variety of solo piano music. Everything from soulful/funky standards, to uptempo pop/rock. Energy, charisma, interaction.
KIT TAYLOR is a multiple indie-award winning pianist and songwriter currently based in Portland, Oregon, with a dream of someday writing music for Disney™. Kit's music is most often compared to music from the films of Disney™, as well as artists and songwriters like David Foster, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Sting, Michael Jackson, and Max Martin.
Kit has a gift for churning out catchy hooks, plus a great personality and an enthusiasm and drive that is unmatched. He is currently seeking exclusive or non-exclusive licensing deals, a staff songwriting position, or opportunities to write for or produce upcoming artists and performers.
Kit has studied under Nashville songwriter Craig Carothers (Trisha Yearwood), platinum-certified songwriter Marv Ross (Quarterflash, Geffen Records, "Harden My Heart"), engineer and producer Bob Stark (Esperanza Spalding, Pink Martini, work on three Grammy™ award winning albums), keyboardist George Mitchell (Diana Ross, Obama White House); and Tom Blaylock, who has taught voice to some of the most influential names in music today, including Shoshana Bean (Broadway) and Chris Mann (“Neon Dreams” in Las Vegas, by NBC’s The Voice).
Kit has won or been nominated for five independent songwriting awards; including two John Lennon Songwriting Contest nominations, and a win in the Independent Music Awards, the Great American Song Contest, and most recently the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest for his ballad “Time To Say Goodbye”. That song was co-written with the aforementioned Marv Ross and will be featured on Kit’s upcoming album “Love + Pain”.
Even before it’s release, the upcoming album has already received praise from several of the featured artists, including David Torn (songwriter, guitar; Madonna, John Legend), and Jennifer Batten (guitar; Michael Jackson, Jeff Beck). See the press section on Kit's home page.
Artists featured on the record include the aforementioned Marv Ross, David Torn and Jennifer Batten, as well as R&B singer Tahirah Memory (daughter of Grammy™ winning artist Thara Memory), Joey Diggs Jr. (Midnight Red), world-class vocalist Paul Creighton (the Motet), Jimmie Herrod (Pink Martini), Damian Erskine (Gino Vanelli, nephew of drummer Peter Erskine), and Phil Baker (Pink Martini).
The video for his debut single, “Lately (Time Stops For You)”, garnered over 60,000 views on Facebook, and the song was picked up by multiple Spotify playlists, including several with 20-50,000 followers.
From (phone number hidden)3 Kit played with the soul/pop band Intervision. The group was co-founded by Kit along with college classmates Paul Creighton (The Motet), Mike Glidden, Jon Barber, and Tony Stovin, and over the years featured those five, along with other musical all-stars Paul Mazzio (Nu Shooz), Willie Matheis (Cherry Poppin’ Daddies), and Damian Erskine (Gino Vanelli, Peter Erskine). The band toured the country, was featured on the front page of the Oregonian, sold out the Aladdin Theater multiple times, and shared the stage with groups such as Lifehouse, The Neville Brothers, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, Tyrone Wells, Vicci Martinez (“The Voice), Justin Hopkins (“The Voice), Geoff Byrd (Hall & Oates), and European R&B star Jarrod Lawson, who was also a college classmate of Kit and other members of the band.
In 2008 Kit and Intervision won the International Independent Music Award in the category of ‘Best R&B Song’ for the track “Live Out Loud” off their sophomore album “Shades Of Neptune”. That album and others were produced and engineered by both Bob Stark (see top) and Dean Baskerville (Sheryl Crow). In the same year, the song was also chosen as a finalist in the JLSC (John Lennon Songwriting Contest).
Other career highlights include a west coast tour with platinum pop artist AWOLNation; photoshoots with David Bergman (Bon Jovi, Barack Obama inauguration panorama) and Craig Mitchelldyer (Sports Illustrated, Portland Trail Blazers, Portland Timbers); and sharing the stage with the likes of cellist Dave Eggar (Phillip Phillips, Evanescence), members of Live, Kansas, and Blessed Union Of Souls, and multiple artists featured on hit TV shows like NBC’s ‘The Voice’ and FOX’s ‘American Idol’.
Along with his solo work, Kit is also co-founder of the pop, R&B, and Christian group TSQUARED. The band garnered over 30,000 views on Facebook in only a few days time.
The best sound will come if there is a baby grand piano provided. However I can also bring my own gear; speakers, keyboards, etc. if there is no piano at the location.
December 11, 2021 • 4:30pm - 8:30pm | Christmas Party |
June 27, 2021 • 4:00pm - 7:00pm | Anniversary Party |
September 22, 2019 • 7:00pm - 8:30pm | Cocktail Party |
September 01, 2019 • 4:00pm - 9:00pm | Personal Occasion |
July 21, 2019 • 8:30pm - 9:30pm | Surprise |
December 14, 2018 • 7:00pm - 10:00pm | Christmas Party |
No request is out of reach. Favorite music includes 80's, 90's, Michael Jackson, Journey, Sinatra, and many, many others.
Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Coldplay, Phil Collins, Sting, Elton John, Harry Connick Jr.
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Maureen O. said “Really easy to work with, and played great tunes! We would absolutely have them back!”
Dyanne M. said “Linda was amazing. Set the perfect vibe for our dinner.”
Madeline N. said “Larry was amazing for our Valentine's Dinner for our veterans and their families at the Oregon Veterans Home in Lebanon. We heard compliments from…”
Ken H. said “Jacob was fantastic- easy to work with and EXACTLY what I was needing. (And on short notice, too!) I will be reaching out to him again in the future and…”