In late 2025 keyboard player Craig Taborn was named a Macarthur Foundation Fellow – a prestigious award that is often called the “genius grant” and comes with a very sweet $800,000 cheque. And they say there’s no money in jazz! Like some of those that preceded him, Tomeka Reid, Mary Halvorson and Cécile McLorin Salvant, Taborn feels a worthy winner and the 55-year old has a musical lifetime of explorative and expressive projects to his name.
That searching gift is to the fore in a new trio set called Dream Archives with drummer Ches Smith ( on vibes, percussion and electronics) and the aforementioned Tomeka Reid on violoncello. There are 4 compositions from Craig himself, a Paul Motion song and the bonus of a stunning version of one of Geri Allen’s greatest tunes – When Kabuya Dances.
As the title would imply this is is music to spend time with, to drift in and out of, to fall in to. Genius indeed.
This is our Chosen One.