But, c’mon, you’ve seen Brandon “Taz” Niederauer, right? Hardest working Yale grad on the jam band scene.

For the past decade, I’ve had the privilege to witness this young man evolve into one of the scene’s most essential and joyfully welcomed players. There’s a special energy in the crowd whenever Taz strolls on for a guest appearance. Inevitably, you see people shout into their friends’ ears that they are in for a treat.

Now he’s killing it with his own band and his own music. He’s said it himself, Colonel Bruce Hampton told him “to follow the path of my heart and not necessarily what people are expecting.” He was like 13 then and he not only understood that advice, he followed it.

I first met Taz when he almost hit me with a frisbee at Tumbledown 2017. He had just impressed the hell out of me. (Not with the Frisbee. On the Main Stage.) But screw my introduction to Taz, check out Buddy Guys’ first impression.

When I met his dad one night at Garcia’s, he was both roadie and merch table vendor. Good dad. Supportive dad. My kind of dad. His mother is delightful. His brother Dylan is no slouch on the bass. I swear you can feel love vibrating off this family.

And since we’re talking love, the musical souls he attracted and played with early on, obviously imbued him with a love and respect for the craft. Gregg Allman, Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes, Butch Trucks, Oteil Burbridge, Lady Gaga, Jon Batiste, Stevie Nicks and on and on. He embodies gratitude for those who came before.

Taz prayer circle. Peach Music Festival 2021.

One last note, just to correct a couple things I’ve heard. Taz is not “the future of the jam scene.” My friends, Taz is a monster, all his own, here and now. Therefore, no need for any comparisons – annihilating a Hendrix cover is but one of the smaller tools in this craftsman’s chest.

Honed skills are obvious with a listen, but if you want to witness his real magic… watch how comfortably he walks onstage with any band and humbly finds his place. And, somehow he seems to make everyone else sound better.

As always, your milage may vary.

Now, click here and go hear him play.