Josh Taylor is a guitarist from Reading, Pennsylvania, which is about 60 miles northwest of Philadelphia. He plays many styles of music including blues, bossa nova, hard bop, and funk, but specializes in early hot jazz and gypsy jazz.
Throughout his 30-plus year career, he has performed all over southeastern Pennsylvania, as well as up and down the east coast. He performs in a variety of settings from solo to duo work with bassist Trey LaRue, and is also a member of The Hot Club of Reading, Djangoholics Anonymous, and Hesse’s Hot Jazz ensembles. In addition to being a performing musician, he is also an educator who coordinates youth outreach for Reading Musical Foundation and is on the Berks Jazz Fest education committee.
To book Josh for your event or club, please use the Contact Form to get in touch. Thanks for your interest and come see Josh play!
Hesse’s Hot Jazz
Hesse’s Hot Jazz ranges from a trio to a quintet and features Chris Heslop on sax, Josh Taylor on banjo, and Ken Kemmerer playing tuba. Equally at home on the back deck or in the concert hall, Hesse’s Hot Jazz perpetuates the early jazz traditions. Strong melodies coupled with complex rhythms and the freedom of …
The Hot Club of Reading
The Hot Club of Reading consists of Josh Taylor on guitar, Chris Heslop on sax, Ken Gehret playing violin, accordion, and guitar, Trey LaRue on bass, and Josiah Taylor on guitar. The group focuses on early hot jazz stylings made popular by Django Reinhardt, Louis Armstrong, and Sidney Bechet. Each member is featured as a …
Djangoholics Anonymous
Djangoholics Anonymous consists of Josh Taylor and Michael Nikolidakis on guitar, Bill Nixon on violin, Chris Heslop playing saxophone, and Dave Turanski on bass. This group primarily plays songs written and recorded by the legendary Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli.
Josh and Trey
Josh & Trey is an acoustic jazz duo consisting of guitar and upright bass. The duo has a diverse repertoire includes swing, blues, bossa nova, funk, reggae, hard bop, and latin jazz. Even though it is only two players the sound is very full.
Past Venues
Josh has played in many venues in the Greater Philadelphia and Reading, Pennsylvania, areas including: Reading Planetarium Reading Fightin’ Phils Stadium Miller Center for the Arts Ware Center Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base Building 24 Doubletree Sofrito Reading Museum GoggleWorks Center for the Arts Canal Street Pub Cafe Waldorf Landhaven Grand Estonian Berks Jazz Fest MJ …