Jazz guitarist Ed Taylor used to be everywhere. From 2006 to 2010, you could find the smooth-talking, smooth-jazz musician most nights in the South Sound.

Then he disappeared.

"About four years ago, I went through a horrible divorce after 20 years of marriage. At that time I was working on an album tentatively titled Connections. It was based on how all of us as well as animals and nature are all connected together," Taylor said. "That was coming along fine, until I found out a few personal things. I was so bluesy and moody that everything I tried to write turned out depressing."

So he took time off - until a blue light bulb went off above his head. He turned the negative energy into songs.

"I sent four songs to four important people to help me choose which of those would be best for a single release," he said.

Then, it got complicated.

"Originally, the song ‘For Her Eyes' was titled ‘It's Complicated,' and the song ‘It's Complicated' was ‘For Her Eyes,' a Spanish song about two people who have to be with each other but cannot stand each other. When my producer, two-time Grammy winner Paul Brown, heard the music, he suggested a title switch. That's why I renamed the album It's Complicated."

But it wasn't really that complicated: all four people picked "It's Complicated" as the album's first single release.

Four months ago, Taylor signed with the Tate Music Group.

"I was tired of wearing all the hats," said Taylor, referring to producing, recording, distributing, performing and marketing his albums under his TayEd Productions.

Now, Tate will handle all promotion, including radio, and distribution for It's Complicated, which came in handy when Taylor's photographer, LeMoyne Coates, died and the album cover needed to be changed to meet requirements for Best Buy and Barnes and Noble, to name a few. The album should hit the streets in October.

The Ed Taylor Band will perform songs off It's Complicated Friday, Sept. 13, at the new 502 Martini Bar & Lounge in downtown Tacoma.

The band you'll hear Friday night includes two of his recording musicians. Keyboardist Eugene Bien produced six of the 11 songs on It's Complicated and performed solos on several songs. Bassist Osama Afifi, a music teacher and "funk master," according to Taylor, played bass on "Air Jam," which includes a bass solo. Session drummer Pat "The Volcano" Hill sits in as well.

The album also features Grammy nominated saxophonist Jeff Kashiwa (Rippingtons), including an improvised chart on "I'll Love You More Than You'll Ever Know," which was recorded live. In addition to producing and mixing the album, Brown played guitar. Mark Arrington and Charles Streeter sat in on drums and Doug Barnett and Brian Siono added bass.

Not one to rest on his laurels, Taylor is already back in the studio working on his next project.

"I'm working on a new album, tentatively titled Put Your Foot On It," he said. "I've already taken pictures of my foot inside my shoe on my foot pedals, which help me regulate my sound on my guitar. (The sound) is on the path of being funky, but smooth."

ED TAYLOR BAND, Sept. 13, 8 to 11 p.m., 502 Martini Bar & Lounge, 100 S. Ninth St., Tacoma, no cover, 253.572.9074