The new single, “Skate On,” features GRAMMY®-nominated saxophonist Dave Koz.
Next-generation contemporary jazz trumpeter Evan Taylor releases his MBF Entertainment debut album, Exactly This, on Friday — a project he describes as a declaration of where he stands musically today. Taylor co-wrote the ten-track blend of jazz, hip-hop, neo-soul, and contemporary pop with 20-time Billboard No. 1 hit producer-songwriter-guitarist Adam Hawley.
The album arrives as Taylor’s new high-energy single, “Skate On” featuring 9-time GRAMMY®-nominated saxophonist Dave Koz, gains momentum on playlists across the nation. The collaboration is a celebration featuring one of Taylor’s mentors, Koz, who offered early support in the trumpeter’s development.
“Dave (Koz) booked me a few years ago to perform on his cruise and that led me to meeting Adam (Hawley) who asked me to record for his record label (MBF Entertainment). Adam is the one who helped shape my sound and ultimately produce this album,” said Taylor. “I just got back from performing on my second Dave Koz and Friends Summer Horns tour that has taken me through North America and to Southeast Asia. The cruises and concert tours have enabled me to meet legendary artists and build relationships that have changed the direction and trajectory of my career.”
“Exactly This includes a lot of songs that really had one goal in mind: finding my lane in contemporary jazz. With Adam’s help, we were able to get some really amazing guest features on the album, Olí Silk, Phil Denny, and pillars of contemporary jazz like Dave Koz and Richard Elliot. This record is monumental for me in building those global relationships.”
The jazz meets hip-hop title track opens the album with a gritty street groove. “Drawing inspiration from the Detroit sound of J Dilla, Slum Village, D’Angelo, the neo-soul movement, and the unmistakable influence of Roy Hargrove, the track reflects the music that shaped me from an early age. The title says it all. ‘Exactly This’ is a musical offering to the world representing who I am today, blending jazz, hip-hop, soul, and contemporary influences and will lead me to the next chapter of my career.”
Powerhouse saxman Elliot guests on the transitional “Shift.” Taylor explains, “The song captures a pivotal season of transition. During a period when life seemed to be changing in every direction, I found reassurance that those shifts were leading me toward God’s purpose. Many of the relationships that would define this next stage of my career grew out of this season. Richard’s soulful performance elevates the track, making ‘Shift’ a celebration of faith, growth, and the power of embracing change.”
The chill “Laid Back” features multi-time Billboard chart-topping keyboardist Silk on the soothing soul groove.
Taylor harnesses the power of manifestation on “Blue Dreams,” which was inspired by a moment of prayer and reflection.
“I believed that one day I would perform at a Blue Note Jazz Club. So, I wrote the dream down in a notebook. One year later, it became reality when I joined Dave Koz and the Summer Horns for an eight-show residency at Blue Note Tokyo before performing at Blue Note Hawaii and Blue Note Napa,” said Taylor. “The song is a reminder that faith, vision, and perseverance can turn dreams into unforgettable realities.”
“Swerve,” which was released last fall as a single, unites two Michiganders, Taylor and two-time Billboard chart-topping saxophonist Denny. “Love’s Intention” is a romantic ballad about connection set to a bouncy hip-hop beat. Taylor said, “Built around warmth, melody, and emotion, ‘Love’s Intention’ invites listeners to pause, reflect, and experience the unifying power of love. The hope is that it reminds people that genuine connection is still one of life’s greatest gifts.”
On “Scarlet Flow,” Taylor becomes an experimental alchemist to offer a glimpse into the future of contemporary jazz from the perspective of an imaginative next-gen artist.
“Blending modern R&B, pop production, and present-day musical influences into the contemporary jazz format, the track intentionally pushes beyond the genre’s boundaries. While honoring the music that paved the way, I wanted to create something that resonates with a younger generation and reflects where contemporary jazz is headed,” explained Taylor.
After the disco-roller skating romp “Skate On” is “Turn It Up,” another speculative track about the evolution of contemporary jazz. It’s an innovative mélange of sounds and sonic textures.
The album closes with a track that was released as a single early last year, “Shining.” The funky vibrant groove is one of the defining songs of Taylor’s fledgling career. It went No. 1 in Spain and Latin America and became one of the highlights of the Summer Horns nightly setlist.
“We performed it at some of the world’s most iconic venues. More than a successful single, ‘Shining’ represents stepping fully into this new season—as an artist, performer, and leader. It is a declaration of purpose, embracing the spotlight with gratitude, and using every opportunity to share the gift God has placed in my life,” said Taylor, who began by playing trumpet in church while growing up.
Taylor studied at Michigan State University and earned his master’s degree in jazz at the University of Utah. For the last five years, he has been instructing and writing arrangements at the African American Arts Institute for the Indiana University Soul Revue.
In the professional space, Taylor has collaborated with artists such as Gloria Estefan, Kirk Whalum, Montell Jordan, Regina Belle, and Najee. He also has collaborated with Candy Dulfer, Eric Darius, The Righteous Brothers, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, and Delfeayo Marsalis & The Uptown Jazz Orchestra. Taylor has developed music for television, including Netflix, HGTV, and BET.
Releasing his debut album is an important steppingstone on the path of what Taylor envisions will be a lengthy career in the spotlight. Instead of feeling the pressure to make the perfect first record that would be groundbreaking and definitive for decades to come, he wrote and performed music that makes a statement of who he is as an artist today.
“The title Exactly This, means not this is perfection, not this is what I planned, but rather, after everything I’ve been through, and everything I’m building, this is the music I want to offer the world right now. This album is a culmination of my life, the growth, the mistakes, the redemption, and everything in-between. This, right here, this moment, this opportunity, Exactly This.”
Taylor’s Exactly This contains the following songs:
“Exactly This”
“Shift” featuring Richard Elliot
“Laid Back” featuring Oli Silk
“Blue Dreams”
“Swerve” featuring Phil Denny
“Love’s Intention”
“Scarlet Flow”
“Skate On” featuring Dave Koz
“Turn It Up”
“Shining”
Exactly This is available at https://found.ee/evantaylor_exactlythis.
For more information, go to www.evantaylortrumpet.com.
