Taylor Covey Makes the Most of Music

Stabs.  Punches.  High squeals.  These are all sounds that can be heard from Taylor Covey’s practice room.

            No, Covey isn’t a serial killer perfecting his art like the popular television star Dexter.  He is a trombone player, perfecting his art like so many of the musicians here at California State University Long Beach.

            He stabs the air with penetrating sound, punches out a B-flat with force and climbs the range of his trombone, producing a squeal that is somehow as full as it is high.

            Covey is the lead trombonist in the Concert Jazz Orchestra at CSULB and has been since he joined the program as a freshman.  That’s quite an accomplishment considering how deep the talent is in a music program like the one here.

            “I often look to my teachers and strive to play more like them,” Covey said of his attempt to stay motivated.  “I also look to musicians on other instruments who are more musically advanced.  I look to them for advice.”

Taylor Covey plays in many groups,
including this one at a Jazz Bass
Trombone Junior Recital

            So far he has been taking that advice and running with it.  Since first seeing music as a career option in the eighth grade, Covey has participated in many honor groups, including the All-Southern All Star band, a group that he was chosen for as a sophomore in high school. He made that group again his senior year as lead trombonist and was even selected for the California All-State band – once again as the lead trombone.

            “As someone who has played with Taylor in many groups, I can tell you he has a bright future in the music industry,” said Tony Belletti, a trumpet player in CSULB’s music program.

            For now, Covey is working towards earning a Bachelor of Arts in music.  Outside of school, he performs regularly in small groups called “combos” and is a leader at his church.

            “One of my goals is to make a living playing worship in addition to performing jazz and classic music at a professional level,” Covey said.  He also teaches high school students on the side, something any musician must do to stay afloat financially.

            “It’s tough being a musician,” said local trombone professional Steve Trapani.  “Yes, the music is wonderful and it’s a blast playing, but sometimes jamming just doesn’t pay the bills.  Teaching is a great way to not only help yourself out financially, but give back to the music community and contribute to the success of these young musicians.”

            Trapani keeps a sense of humor about the whole thing, however, adding that “pretty soon, my students will be taking all of my gigs.”

            In addition to performing and teaching, Covey keeps his plate full by writing and composing new music.  It is a requirement for music majors to take music theory classes, and Covey makes the most of the knowledge by using it to make new music.

            “I’m working on a couple new tunes right now,” Covey said.  “It’s mostly just for practice, but there is always the chance that one of the charts will be played by my combo.”

            With the fall semester coming to an end, things are beginning to take shape for Covey and the rest of the music program.  Most of the fall concerts were held last week, including one which Covey describes as his most memorable ever.

CSULB's Concert Jazz Orchestra
performing earlier in November

            “This past concert we did a big band featuring [professional saxophonist] Eric Merienthal and there was a part where the guitar and saxophone were jamming along with each other. It was just inspiring to not only see a live performance but to be able to play alongside that level of talent.”

            As long as Covey can keep finding inspiration and keep himself motivated, he can join local greats like Andy Martin and Bob McChesney and become one of the best ever to go through CSULB’s music program.  He already has enough awards and accolades for an entire refrigerator door, and at the rate he’s going, he’ll be out shopping for appliances soon.

            But until then, he sits in the CSULB practice rooms and takes stabs, swings punches, and squeals loud and clear for all to hear.  He climbs up and down scales, filters through practice books and learns and encyclopedia’s worth of knowledge on trombone method.  And with all that practice he takes the stage, never failing to impress the audience with the fluid solos that have come to define his style.

            A couple years down the road and it may not just be jazz club audiences that are impressed -  it may be the entire jazz community.