Taylor studied under Jack Oatts and Manhattan School of Music's Garry Dial. In 2001, he relocated from Des Moines to Minneapolis where he has become one of Minnesota's most sought after jazz pianists.
Catch Tanner tickling the ivories with all of the Twin Cities' finest vocalists, as well as leading his own groups at local jazz hot-spots such as the Dakota and the Artists' Quarter, Hell's Kitchen and Icehouse. Tanner is co-owner of the Twin Cities' only community-based jazz center, Jazz Central Studios.
Taylor has performed with jazz notables such as Clark Terry, Slide Hampton, Lew Tabackin, David "Fathead" Newman, Steve Turre, Wycliffe Gordon, Wes "Warm Daddy" Anderson, Dick Oatts, Eric Alexander, Bobby Shew, Steve Smith, Jaleel Shaw, Delfeayo Marsalis, Barbara Morrison and Marilyn Maye. In addition, Tanner is pianist/conductor for Minneapolis-based vocal group "Five By Design" and has performs regularly with symphony/pops orchestras all over the US and Canada.