MEDIA RELEASE
DANZA PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS
THE AUSTRALIAN JAZZ AND FINGERSTYLE GUITAR SPECTACULAR
MAY 17th to MAY 30th 2014
The guitar event for 2014, starring world’s foremost exponent of Solo Jazz and fingerstyle Guitar Playing Dr MARTIN TAYLOR MBE (UK) and Guest Associate Artist, 10 String Guitarist and Maton Endorsed Ukulele Player Matthew Fagan (AUS).
Martin Taylor is one of the most awesome solo guitar players in the history of the instrument. He’s unbelievable – Pat Metheny
‘He out-shred’s all of us put together….I’ve never seen anything like it’ – Jeff Beck
Taylor is a multi-award winning guitarist, composer, educator and innovator whom Acoustic Guitar magazine calls ‘THE Acoustic Guitarist of his Generation’.
Taylor makes a much anticipated return to Australia for his first solo tour of the country in five years. This tour will see him perform works from The Great American songbook as well as tunes from his latest album with Tommy Emmanuel. Taylor is a master concert performer and dazzles audiences with a signature style that artfully combines his virtuosity, emotion and humour with a strong, engaging stage presence.
Taylor is renowned internationally for his masterful arrangements for solo jazz guitar, concerts, recordings, and collaborations with musicians from many different musical genres including:
Tommy Emmanuel
“Taylor brings a rich and varied musical heritage to his play, to the extent that Tommy Emmanuel remarked that [Taylor] is “a portal into all that came before.”
“Martin Taylor is one of the greatest and most impressive guitar players in the world.” – Chet Atkins
Stephane Grappelli
Monsieur Grappelli described him as “A great artist, rich in talent and elegance”
Martin was also part the Four Martins, a fascinating blend of four acoustic guitarists, including Juan Martin (flamenco), Martin Taylor (jazz), Martin Carthy and Martin Simpson, both of whom come from the folk tradition of the British Isles.
And other artists including Jeff Beck, Bill Wyman, David Grisman, George Harrison, Jamie Cullum, Bryn Terfel, Dianne Schuur, Gary Burton and many more.
Taylor recently toured America and with Tommy Emmanuel promoting their new C.D, The Colonel and the Governor which was nominated for an ARIA in the best Jazz Album Category. The track ‘I Won’t Last A Day Without You’ from the same album was also nominated for “Instrumental of the Year” for a coveted Golden Guitar Trophy.
Taylor brings a rich and varied musical heritage to his play, to the extent that Tommy Emmanuel remarked that [Taylor] is “a portal into all that came before.”
From 1979 to 1990 Taylor toured the world and recorded over 20 albums with the French jazz violin legend STEPHANE GRAPPELLI. Their album with Vassar Clements “Together At Last” won a Grammy Nomination in 1987. It was through Isaacs that Taylor was introduced to Stephane Grappelli, erstwhile violinist in Quintette du Hot Club de France with Django Reinhardt. Grappelli invited Taylor to join his band full-time occupying the position once held by his idol Reinhardt.
Monsieur Grappelli described him as “A great artist, rich in talent and elegance”
The BBC made a special performance of the ‘Spirit of Django Suite’ by Martin Taylor and the Britten Symphonia part of their Proms concerts at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
Taylor has garnered two honorary doctorates, a BBC lifetime achievement award, Top 10 albums in both the USA and Europe, a record 14 British Jazz Awards, film and TV credits and in 2002 he was appointed MBE ‘For Services to Jazz Music’ in The Queen’s Birthday Honours List, which he received personally from Her Majesty The Queen at an investiture at Buckingham Palace.
Outside of his work as a musician he is also involved in several charities including the Child Bereavement Charity, is Patron of the My Wish Foundation of Sri Lanka, and is a Trustee and Vice President of Scotland’s Buddhist Vihara.
GUEST ASSOCIATE ARTIST MATTHEW FAGAN
The spectacular guitar event also features as a guest associate artist, Australia’s most entertaining Guitar Virtuoso, Matthew Fagan performing on 10 String Spanish Guitar and Maton Ukulele of which Matthew is the endorsed player.
Matthew has toured with international celebrities Natalie Cole, The Original Buena Vista Social Club, Billy Connolly, Shirley Bassey and Michael Crawford The tour with Billy Connolly was so successful that Billy was quoted saying:
“Matthew is the best guest artist I have ever toured with.”
Matthew has explored the Spanish Guitar from Classical to Flamenco and Latin to Celtic Guitar and in 2012 Matthew and his original music has appeared on ABC TV and Channel 7.
TOUR DATES
MAY 17 & 18…THE BASEMENT SYDNEY, NSW *
MAY 19 ………THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY, NSW**
MAY 20………..NORTHERN RIVER ACADEMY OF MUSIC,
WANGARATTA, VIC***
MAY 22………..DOWN SOUTH JAZZ CLUB , CLUB SAPPHIRE,
MERIMBULA, N.S.W*
MAY 23………..WODONGA JAZZ, JAZZ BASEMENT, WODONGA, VIC*
MAY 24………..CANBERRA THEATRE, CANBERRA, ACT***
MAY 25………..THE GOVERNOR HINDMARSH HOTEL HINDMARSH, SA*
MAY 27………..TASMANIAN COLLEGE OF THE ARTS, HOBART, TAS***
MAY 28………..MILANOS TAVERN, BRIGHTON, VIC**
MAY 29………..BENNETTSLANE, MELBOURNE, VIC*
MAY 30………..MEENIYAN MECHANICS INSTITUTE, MEENIYAN, VIC*
* Performance
** Masterclass
*** Performance and Masterclass