Second Fred Taylor Scholarship Fund Concert

A Night of Jazz, Blues and Folk at the Coolidge:

Grace Kelly, Livingston Taylor and James Montgomery Anchor Second  Fred Taylor Scholarship Fund Benefit Concert.

Produced by PAZZ Productions in Brookline, MA on June 19th at Coolidge Corner Theater

PAZZ Productions and the Fred Taylor Scholarship Fund is pleased to present an Evening of Jazz, Folk and Blues with Grace Kelly, Livingston Taylor, and James Montgomery to benefit the Fred Taylor Scholarship Fund at Berklee College of Music.  The concert will take place at 7pm on June 19th at Coolidge Corner Theater in Brookline, MA.  Saxophonist, Singer and Songwriter Grace Kelly will act as the producer, musical director and emcee for this celebration of the legendary jazz impresario. 

The Fred Taylor Scholarship Fund was created to preserve the legacy of the famed jazz booker and promoter, who has helped to launch the careers of countless jazz stars throughout his storied career. Grace Kelly, approached Berklee College of Music President Roger Brown with the idea to create an endowed scholarship at her alma mater in Fred’s honor in 2017. President Brown jumped at the idea. Brown said of Fred Taylor: “Fred is not simply great at what he does: choosing remarkable talent, putting the artist in the best possible situation so their unique talents can reach an audience, and making that artist feel comfortable and appreciated. He is also a truly wonderful guy… we all cherish knowing Fred.”

Fred Taylor and Berklee have a long-standing relationship. Over the course of six decades, Fred mentored a number of Berklee alumni including Diana Krall, Esperanza Spalding, Keith Jarrett, Danilo Perez, and Pat Metheny, among others, while they were students. The scholarship brings this connection full circle. The fund is designed to nurture gifted and deserving students who are in need of financial assistance and who are studying in the areas of music business/management as well as professional music. 

The first All-Star Fred Taylor Scholarship Fund Benefit Concerttook place in September, 2017. The concert, held at Berklee Performance Center, featured a who’s who of jazz headliners including Pat Metheny, Monty Alexander, Catherine Russell, Terri Lyne Carrington, Kat Edmonson, Kurt Elling,Danilo Perez, and Grace Kelly.  All of the proceeds made on this fortuitous night went directly to creating the endowed scholarship fund.  Taylor, overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and gratitude from musicians and Boston music lovers, remarked “I’ve never had so many people gathered at a concert for me...that is a humbling thought.” The first recipient was Jessica Brown, a Music Business major at the college. 

 Fred Taylor, a driving force in making Boston the great music city that it is today, brought some of the largest jazz, rock and R&B groups to Paul’s Mall, The Jazz Workshop, Scullers and other stages across throughout New England over the course of his illustrious career that spans six decades.  He has presented artists across all genres and generations; icons such a Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Bob Dylanand Bruce Springsteen have passed through Fred’s doors as have contemporary stars likeNorah Jones, Chris Botti andEsperanza Spalding. In the early 2000’s, Fred held the distinguished title of Artistic Director of the Tanglewood Jazz Festival. An undisputed legend, Taylor has won the respect of musicians and audiences alike for his unwavering dedication to preserving and presenting America’s music. On finding artists to perform at this benefit concert, Grace Kelly remarks “Every single artist, without even a second thought, said, ‘For Fred, I’m there.’” 

This coming June, Grace and her all-star ensemble of musicians seek to further their dedication to Fred Taylor with a second fundraising concert for the Endowed Fred Taylor Scholarship Fund in honor of Taylor’s 90th Birthday.  This evening of Jazz, Folk and Blues will demonstrate the scope of Fred Taylor’s impact, and will serve to ensure that future generations of talented musicians will have the support they need to further their music careers. 

Joining the multifaceted powerhouse Kelly, will be folk singer Livingston Taylor and James Montgomery Blues Band frontman James Montgomery. These two legendary musicians, along with the Millennial jazz prodigy Kelly, are sure to delight audiences on June 19th.