John Taylor was born in Manchester and first came to the attention of the jazz audience in 1969, when he partnered saxophonists Alan Skidmore and John Surman. He was later reunited with Surman in the short-lived group "Morning Glory" and more recently with Miroslav Vitous's quartet. In the early '70s he was accompanist to the singer Cleo Laine and starting to compose for his own sextet. John Taylor also worked with many visiting artists at Ronnie Scott's Club and later became a member of Ronnie's quintet.
In 1977 John formed the trio Azimuth, with Norma Winstone and Kenny Wheeler. The group was described by Richard Williams as "... one of the most imaginatively conceived and delicately balanced contemporary chamber-jazz group". The trio has made several recordings for ECM Records and has toured throughout Europe.
The 1980's saw John working with groups led by Jan Garbarek, Enrico Rava, Gil Evans, Lee Konitz and Charlie Mariano as well as duo contexts with Tony Coe and Steve Arguelles. John also continued his long association with Kenny Wheeler and John Surman. Recent projects have included a Contemporary Music Network Tour with his group "Foil", a larger scale composition for the Hanover Radio Orchestra with Stan Sulzmann, and commissions from Nottinghamshire County Council for the choir "Cantamus", and Zeffirelli for John Surman and John himself. John Taylor is currently a member of the Kenny Wheeler Quintet and Big Band with John Abercrombie, Palle Danielsson and Peter Erskine. Recently, John was commissioned to compose a suite for the NDR Radio Big Band in Hamburg. John has recorded with Peter Erskine and Palle Danielsson for ECM.