Martin Taylor

[whatswisdom]

I saw Martin Taylor solo last night in Annapolis. Completely blown away! I have to say it's insane how brilliant the guy is. A tour of the Great American songbook: Stella; Like Someone in Love; I Fall in Love Too Easily ... he finished with a rip roaring assault on "I've Got Rhythm." I had never seen him before. I know some people criticize him for being over the top but I found him to be very tasteful and musical while displaying his effortless virtuosity. He has a very warm personality too. Very relaxed and chatted with the crowd like an old friend. Counts for a lot in my book. Anyone care to share on MT? Anyone in his online teaching academy? Please let me know if you have checked out his albums--and especially his book(s). I didn't know a whole lot about him going in except that he had backed up Grappelli...

[Jazzaluk]

MT is great!! I have have been following him since the 80s. I've got albums from his early days, Django days and his solo albums. I don't know who would criticize such a great player, but nothing surprises me these days ... maybe he is not "modern" enough for some. He has his own voice, improvises around the melody and appeals to allot of people.

I spent some time at his Academy because I'm a finger-style player. I liked his lessons but they were not that revealing. The best part were the videos of him playing a bunch of standards with close-ups to see how he approaches things. He uses really simple ideas but combines them in an intricate way. I learned allot just from that! Unfortunately I found there was too much non-instructional stuff on the site to warrant my dollars. It seems to be run like a social networking site. Maybe it has changed since.

My favorite solo album of his is "Artistry" and you should definitely check out "Spirit of Django". You were fortunate to see him live. Cheers

[whatswisdom]

Jazzaluk, thanks so much for your insightful response. Definitely the most impressive jazz one-man-show I've ever seen. His right hand is mind-boggling! I'm a fingerstyler too and I ordered his instructional book based on my experience last night. I don't have the technology, time or $$ to join his online academy. If I had all of those resources I probably would, though. Very much looking forward to playing through his book (I'm a bookaholic) and will check out your recommended recordings. Distant memories of seeing him on TV tearing it up with Grappelli when I lived in Ireland back in the '70s/'80s...

[cmajor9]

Martin Taylor is a terrific player who's really found his own voice. He has technique to burn, but doesn't let it overwhelm his musicianship or personality. I haven't tried his Academy, but the Fingerstyle Jazz Guitar DVD and MT Guitar Method book have both been helpful (and inspirational).

As far as recordings, I recommend the "Sketches" tribute to Art Tatum and "MT in Concert". His latest CD, "Last Train to Hauteville", shows his Django/Grapelli heritage, and is one of the most joyful recordings I've heard in some time. Check it out!

[Uli]

Came across him by chance on the internet. Incredible! And very inspiring. Like you've said: the YouTube closeups can give you a lot of ideas, especially his use of barré cords (which is something you would perhaps rather not do in the first place when thinking of how to play and sound "jazzy").
I bought his "Double Standards" because of "Drop Me Off in Harlem". That's a great number! Although the rest of the album is not that interesting, I think.

[sundogg52]

I was fortunate enough to see Martin Taylor in Baltimore with the Brian Gore International Guitar tour. Mr. Taylor was very nice to everyone who waited around for an autograph and took time to speak with everyone that waited. And what a magnificent player, at this point in time there are very, very few who can play like he does.

[whatswisdom]

Originally Posted by sundogg52

And what a magnificent player, at this point in time there are very, very few who can play like he does.

Yes indeed. He had walking basslines going every which way, while churning out beautiful lead lines. I had a great front row seat and there was some dude sitting across from me filming the whole thing on what looked like a really nice camera. (Not sure if he was in an official capacity) ... So nice to hear another player confirm what a super nice guy he is. It doesn't take much to say "hi" and acknowledge the audience. MT went way beyond that minimum and then some...

[sundogg52]

Was this show by any chance at Ramshead? I moved to New Orleans three years ago after living in the Annapolis area most of my adult life. Ramshead is one of those things I truly miss.

[whatswisdom]

Originally Posted by sundogg52

Was this show by any chance at Ramshead?

Yes. They host jazz on occasion. Martin Taylor was the first jazz act that caught my interest since a year or so ago when I saw Burton/Metheny/Swallow/Sanchez there--which, as you know, was a stunning show. Great to see such an act in an intimate setting like that. Seeing MT in that room was perfect. I hadn't been hip to him before but I sure am now...

[NSJ]

Martin's approach to chord melody is utterly refreshing and uncluttered, at once simple and elegant in its conception, but, of course, difficult to properly execute:

Instead of thinking of stock chord inversions-with the right melody note on top, he seems to split the concept up 3 ways:

1. Melody notes as given, usually on the 1st or second string, played by the "a" finger.
2. Walking bass line, played by the thumb (usually all downstrokes, but with punctuated upstrokes to add to the feel) with chromatic passing tones added to give it that 4/4 swing.
3. Inner voices serving as comping notes, often the 3rd and 7th of the chord--guide tones, usually played by the "i" and "m" fingers, often the 3rd or 4th string.

Thus, instead of working out elaborate chord voicings, if you have a lead sheet with the head and changes, that's all you need to build it.


What you get are lines moving and intersecting and beautifully so. But man, you've really got to have your right hand in ubber ship shape.

YouTube - ‪Martin Taylor teaches "I Got Rhythm" Part 1 of 2‬‏

[whatswisdom]

Originally Posted by NSJ

Martin's approach to chord melody is utterly refreshing and uncluttered

Cool! Thanks for your clear explanation of his approach. Very helpful. I'll be checking out the vid when I get to my home computer...

[Jazzed]

There's been some exciting new lessons recently added to the curriculum at http://www.martintaylorguitar.com. Martin has added to his on-going series on Improvisation and added a Bossa Nova version of "My Funny Valentine" and has included a breakdown of the Bossa style.

[RAQ]

It's interesting that you guys are discussing seeing Martin Taylor in all these exotic far-away places because a couple of weeks or so ago I saw him in Barton-on-Humber. I agree with all you say about his technique, and what a really decent bloke he is. I used to think that he often did TOO much - that he was forced to 'clip' notes (especially bass notes) simply because he had the technique to play so many parts. His party-piece version of 'I've got rhythm' being an almost deliberate OTT demonstration of that. In the past I've thought Lenny Breau managed to nail that complexity in a way that Martin Taylor didn't always match. But I also have to say I thiought this 'clipped' element of his playing was totally absent from the gig a couple of weeks ago. Did he do the mulit-rhthym demo as well? Absolutely amazing. People were just sitting there shaking their heads in disbelief.

[whatswisdom]

Originally Posted by RAQ

Did he do the mulit-rhthym demo as well? Absolutely amazing. People were just sitting there shaking their heads in disbelief.

Yes. His "I've Got Rhythm" was done six ways to Sunday, upside down and inside out. The whole evening he sounded like a one man jazz combo. The best part was that everything was so musical, expressive and honest. Not a "look what I can do" attitude, just straight up virtuosity. I left thinking, "Why bother, just hang it up." Then I came to my senses and thought, "This is how great guitar-playing can get--the impossible can be a reality. Be inspired by this and check this guy out some more." So I ordered his book. Everyone leaving the show were shaking their heads just like you said. Some of the nicest moments were not even the music. His stories of fond memories playing with Emly Remler (and "the great guitars" Herb Ellis, Barney Kessel et al) in Annapolis back in the '80s were very cool.

[RAQ]

Originally Posted by whatswisdom

Yes. His "I've Got Rhythm" was done six ways to Sunday, upside down and inside out.

Absolutely - I met a pal there (who is a much better player than I'll ever be) and we both said we were going to hang up the guitar and take up something else. But then a master of any skill shows you what is possible - they open your mind up by blowing away boundaries. The problem is following where they lead of course.

He chatted to the audience while playing an accumulating series of five African rhythms - he said he was doing it to prove that men could 'multi-task'. I'm not sure if there is a video link to him doing this, but his Kwame/Kiko is the neaest I could find:

Dailymotion - Martin Taylor - Kwame/Kiko - a Muziek video