Taylor Watson is an accomplished guitarist, tres player, and composer whose music seamlessly bridges the worlds of contemporary jazz and traditional Cuban sounds. After studying jazz guitar and political science at Oberlin College—which included a transformative semester exploring Spanish music in Granada, Spain—Taylor relocated to Havana, Cuba, to immerse himself in the study of the tres, the island’s signature stringed instrument. As a leader, his debut jazz album, Places, Faces, Embraces, features original compositions performed alongside some of New York City’s finest emerging musicians. Since 2009, Taylor has fronted the modern Cuban ensemble Son De Brooklyn, touring internatio and recording multiple albums in Havana alongside legendary Cuban music icons such as Peruchin Nieto and Elpidio Chapotín.