MARTIN TAYLOR

Following Joe Pass’s passing in 1994, Martin Taylor established himself among jazz’s most respected guitarists. His father, Buck Taylor, presented him with his first instrument. Although Django Reinhardt provided the initial spark, Taylor found deeper guidance in pianists such as Art Tatum, whose example shaped the solo technique he refined through dedicated practice. Late in the 1970s, Stéphane Grappelli summoned him to a string of French concerts; the violinist was sufficiently struck by the results to feature Taylor repeatedly on tour and across numerous recording sessions. Beginning in 1990, Taylor produced a succession of well-received albums for the British imprint Linn while also cutting a notable duet session with David Grisman for the mandolinist’s Acoustic Disc label. The 1991 release Change of Heart, the 1992 follow-up Artistry, and 1995’s Portraits illustrate the strongest work from this fertile stretch.

In 2000 Taylor made his first appearance on a U.S. major label with the Columbia album Kiss and Tell; Stepping Stones appeared on Linn that autumn. June 2002 brought an MBE in recognition of his contributions to jazz. Later the same year his debut for Sony’s P3 Records imprint, Solo, earned the International Guitar Foundation’s Album of the Year accolade. The remainder of the decade yielded further significant releases: the 2003 collaboration Masterpiece Guitars, instigated by fans and recorded with Steve Howe; the electric-oriented Gypsy Journey of 2005; and the widely praised 2008 collection Double Standards. On the latter Taylor created guitar duets by overdubbing successive parts, whereas the projects that followed proved more overtly collaborative. The two 2012 discs One for the Road and First Time Together! paired him respectively with English clarinetist Alan Barnes and American guitarist Frank Vignola. A further summit of technical command arrived in 2013 with The Colonel & The Governor, a set of duets shared equally with fellow guitarist Tommy Emmanuel.