Although members of the Billy Taylor Trio and the Turtle Island String Quartet are seasoned members of the jazz community, neither group fails to bring something innovative to its performance.

Originally influenced by jazz great Duke Ellington, Billy Taylor has been part of the jazz family for over 50 years.

Throughout his career, Taylor has been privileged to perform with jazz legends Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Eddie South and Billie Holiday.

Taylor has since formed a trio and has been performing with classical groups, playing contemporary pieces of which he has written.

“The Julliard Quartet once commissioned me to write a piece for a concert,” Taylor said.

When Taylor isn’t performing, he is working on his National Public Radio program “Billy Taylor’s Jazz at the Kennedy Center.”

The program is recorded live and features a mix of performances and interviews with each musical guest sharing insight into the way the performers create their music.

Jazz education has always been something Taylor considers necessary for anyone who is a part of the American culture.

As a result of this need for jazz awareness, Taylor has created many educational programs for students at all grade levels.

“Jazz is America’s classical music,” Taylor said. “Anyone part of this culture should know about the music of this time.”

The Billy Taylor Trio most recently released “Music Keeps Us Young.”

“It’s the first recording we have that actually sounds like what we perform,” Taylor said.

In addition to the Billy Taylor Trio, tonight’s concert will also feature the inventive sounds of the Turtle Island String Quartet.

The group was founded in 1985 by former second violinist Darol Anger and current first violinist David Balakrishnan.

Reflecting the influences of jazz, blues, classical, pop and bluegrass, the group has put new meaning to the phrase “fire in the bow.”

Since the quartet is known to play its own compositions of songs by Dizzie Gillespie, Eric Clapton, George Gershwin and Jimi Hendrix, audiences are assured that every Turtle Island concert will be diverse.

The group has succeeded in making a string quartet sound like a traditional jazz band.

In music normally consisting of piano, bass, drums and a soloist, Turtle Island substitutes a cello, a viola and two violins.

Cellist Mark Summer plays the role of bass player, using a variety of the pizzicato techniques.

Second violinist Anger provides the rhythm section by throwing the bow on the strings, producing a sound much like a snare drum or a cymbal.

First violinist Balakrishnan initiates most of the melodies, although everyone in the band contributes.

Billy Taylor and the Turtle Island String Quartet will perform at Stephens Auditorium tonight at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $6, $9 and $12 for students and are available at all Ticketmaster outlets.