Martin Taylor's autobiography is now available in paperback.
Co-written with David Mead, this is the true story of Martin's life in music.
Published by Sanctuary Publications and sold at all good book stores.
MARTIN'S CHOICE - A Selected Discography
As you'll see on my Complete Discography, I've played on almost 100 records over the past 30 years,
so to make things less confusing here's a small selection of some of my favourite recordings. If
you're not familiar with my playing, but would like to hear what I do, these would be the best
starting point. I hope you enjoy them.
Best Wishes and Happy Listening
Dr Martin Taylor MBE
SOLO
The Guitar Label/P3 Music P3M005
Of all the solo recordings I've made, this is my favourite so far. I recorded it in Nashville in 2002, and I felt on really good form playing lots of jazz standards including "I'm Old Fashioned", "My Romance", and "In A Mellow Tone". The CD also includes one of my own compositions "True". The recording quality is excellent.
FRETERNITY
The Guitar Label/P3 Music P3MCD016
This is my latest CD and my first recording for some time with a jazz
group. The line up is Guy Barker (tpt),
David Newton (pno), Ewan Vernal (bs), Steve Brown (dms), Alison Burns
(vcl).
I've been delighted with the rave reviews that this CD has recieved. It
went straight into the official
UK Jazz Charts at No. 10. We play a mixture of jazz standards and original
compositions by David Newton and myself.
There is also a DVD of this performance (details below)
GYPSY
Linn Records AKD090
This CD of my acoustic group MARTIN TAYLOR'S SPIRIT OF DJANGO was recorded
over a 6 week period while the band was on tour.
Although this CD doesn't have the same high definition recording quality of
other Spirit of Django Linn recordings, it definately
has the best playing on it. We'd been playing concerts every night and I've
never heard the group sound better.
The band comprises Jack Emblow (accordion), John Goldie (rhythm gtr), Terry
Gregory (acc bas gtr), James Taylor (dms)
The tracks include my arrangements of some Hot Club favourites as well as
several of my original compositions including
"Chez Fernand" and "My Vardo". There's also a very hair-raising Gypsy
Medley!
KISS AND TELL
Columbia 495387 2
This was my first recording for Sony/Columbia. Recorded in New York City
and Nashville in 1999 the line up includes
Randy Brecker (tp), Eddie Gomez (bs), Al Foster (dms), Kirk Whelum (sx).
There's also a couple of tracks with strings and some solo tracks. This CD
received excellent international critical
acclaim. I'm very proud of this album.
MASTERPIECE GUITARS
The Guitar Label/P3 Music P3M0006
Recording this CD was a real dream come true for me. I think it would be
most guitarists dream to record some of the
world's greatest vintage guitars alongside Steve Howe. The guitars came
from the famous Scott Chinery Guitar Collection,
Steve produced this recording and also played on many of the tracks. The
guitars I play include the D'Angelico Tear Drop
(valued at over $500,000) and all of the Chinery Blue Guitars Collection.
We recorded it in Pennsylvania and later performed
many of the tracks live at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC where
the Blue Guitars were exhibited alongside
President Bill Clinton's saxophone! Sixty Three guitars were used on this
recording.
KISSING BUG - ALISON BURNS
The Guitar Label/P3 Music P3M015
I produced and played on this CD by my daughter-in-law Alison Burns. Often
compared stylistically to June Christie,
Alison is a wonderful jazz singer who's warm voice and impeccable phrasing
is perfect for interpreting music from the
Great American Songbook. Her worldwide fanbase includes Michael Parkinson,
who regularly plays tracks from this CD on
his BBC Radio 2 "Michael Parkinson's Sunday Suppliment". The musicians are
Guy Barker (tp), David Newton (pno),
Jack Emblow (acc), Marcus Ford (gtr), Ewan Vernal (bs), James Taylor (dms)
and yours truly on guitar.
THE BEST OF MARTIN TAYLOR
The Guitar Label/P3 Music P3M014
If you want just one recording as a "taster" this double CD includes my
very first recording with Ike Isaacs in 1978 and
lots of recordings in different musical settings up to the present day. I
selected all the tracks on this double CD.
FRETERNITY DVD
Guitar Label/P3 Music P3MCD016
The original concept for Freternity was as a DVD although it was released
initially as a CD. This is the filming of the
recording session. We had a great sound and filming crew on this project
and this is filmed at high broadcasting quality.
This DVD also includes some backstage chat with Guy Barker and myself.
Unfortunately, the funniest, and best bits of our
conversation had to be edited out for the benefit of those of a delicate or
puritanical disposition, but they may come to
the surface sometime in the future!