Kayla Taylor Jazz

     When I arrived at The Local, a cozy venue inside the Sidelines Sports Bar and Grill on Roswell Road, I couldn’t help but chuckle at the juxtaposition of two seemingly opposite ends of the Marietta scene. Here I was, standing outside the door to The Local, staring out across a sports pub with an entire Budweiser truck reassembled behind the main bar. I just wasn’t sure how a quiet night of jazz entertainment was going to fit into this boisterous atmosphere.
     But it fit very well. I walked inside The Local and saw that the usual rock venue had been transformed into a speakeasy of sorts: moody lighting, tables draped with dark cloth, finely attired patrons. The jazz evening featured two major Atlanta bands: CC Booker III and Kayla Taylor Jazz. The latter, made up of singer Kayla Taylor and guitarist Steve Moore, is an impressive duo that performs a dazzling number of jazz and blues standards. Both groups are celebrated veterans of the local music scene, and while I could only stay late enough to catch Kayla Taylor Jazz, saxophonist Will Scruggs and drummer Marlon Patton gave me a taste of CC Booker III by joining Taylor and Moore for their set. Kayla Taylor Jazz was also joined by Randy Hunter on saxophone, Justin Owen-Head on upright bass, and drummer Sebastian DeVuyst, who are all core players for the group. These talents came together to create a fluid, excited energy on stage. They gave a tight, well-rehearsed performance, and played easily toward each other’s whims. Whether it was a velvety saxophone solo from Scruggs or an expressive ramble from Owen-Head on the bass, each player listened to the other with deep appreciation and fascination. Taylor believes that chemistry between players is of the utmost importance, and she and Moore certainly assembled a stunning arrangement of brilliant musicians for this performance.
     Frontwoman Kayla Taylor, a Marietta native, is an energetic, enthusiastic performer who wears the music like a second skin. As she sways her hips and snaps her fingers to the beat, it seems as if performing is something that she can’t get enough of. On stage, she is an arresting presence, but don’t let that intimidate you: she is incredibly personable and charismatic, frequently thanking her audience and making sure to connect with everyone individually. She has crooned standards for nine years and it shows, as she knows classics such as “It’s Only a Paper Moon” and “Honeysuckle Rose” like the back of her hand. When singing, she has the vocal control of a jazz songbird combined with the power of a rock vocalist, which makes for an experience that is both exciting and heartwarming.
     The dazzling performance Saturday night was recorded for inclusion on an upcoming release set for September 11th at Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre in Mableton. The yet-untitled album will join three other jazz albums, all available for purchase at www.kaylataylorjazz.com . Not all songs from the performance will make it onto the upcoming album, but I heard a few that I certainly hope to hear again, including a unique rendition of “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” a moving performance of “Come Rain or Come Shine,” and the foot-stomping, dizzying original, “Other Lover’s Eyes.”
     The next time you can catch Kayla Taylor Jazz is July 29th or August 12th at the Paper Mill Grill, where the duo regularly performs. You can also find them performing at the ever-popular Martinis and IMAX in Fernbank Museum. Visit the group’s website for a frequently updated calendar, or find them on Facebook to hear a sample of their sound.