Taylor attended James Madison University where he played trumpet in the JMU Jazz Ensemble.

Taylor later played in Richmond, Virginia-based jazz fusion band Secrets with drummer Carter Beauford, saxophonist LeRoi Moore, trumpeter John D'earth, vocalist Dawn Thompson, bassist Keith Horne, keyboardist Dane Bryant, saxophonist Eddie Williams and virtuoso guitarist Tim Reynolds.

He’s given so much to us and our audience through the years and he will be missed.Taylor joined the band on September 24, 2017 for the Concert for Charlottesville, the band's home town, at Scott Stadium, a benefit concert to raise funds for the victims killed and injured during the Unite the Right rally held from August 11–12, 2017.

In 2018, Taylor joined the band once again in the studio to record 3 songs for their ninth album Come Tomorrow.

[10][11] Between 2009 and 2015, Taylor played on studio albums for Richmond, Virginia indie rock band Carbon Leaf.