I suppose it's about 50% jazz (Pat Metheny, Miles Davis, Pat Martino, Jim Hall), and the rest is a mix of inspiration from diverse artists like Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, Donald Fagen, and Ralph Towner - just to pick some off the top of my head. On another tangent entirely, I strongly suspect I am one of the only jazz musicians in the world who likes Morrissey (if anyone else is similarly confused, I'd love to hear from you!). There's no influence from the Mozzer in my music. But once I get hold of some gladioli and a hearing aid, who knows...? Johnny Marr - now there's a guitarist! Robert Fripp is the greatest, although I have to be in the mood for Crimson. Thurston Moore, Lee Ranaldo, Albert Collins, Marc Ducret, Bob Dylan, Woody Allen, Larry David, Bill Hicks, George Carlin, John Cleese, Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, The Wicker Man, Ennio Morricone, Sergio Leone, Sidney Lumet, The Taking of Pelham 123, Serpico, Brian Clough, John Barnes, Bruce Grobbelaar, Ashes 1981, 2005 & 2009, Mexico '70. Why are there hardly any musicians who appreciate sport? Is it because Wind Band practice was always on the same night as football?
Sounds Like
Well, we're working on that....but you might like the music if you like any or all of: Ralph Towner, Pat Metheny, Tommy Emmanuel, Pat Martino, Peter Bernstein, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Miles Davis, Chris Potter, Joshua Redman, Keith Jarrett. If I thought I 'sounded like' them, though, I'd be heading off to the Village Vanguard to try and sit in... lol
Jamie Taylor is a Hofner artist: www.hofner.com -------------------------------------
THE HOFNER JAZZICA IN ALL THESE PICS HAS BEEN NICKED ALONG WITH A LITTLE AER COMPACT 60 AMP. JT IS NOT HAPPY AT ALL.... :(
STILL NO SIGN OF EITHER OF THESE, BUT WHAT'S THE BETTING THEY TURN UP ON A JAZZ GIG SOMEWHERE EVENTUALLY? NOT MUCH USE TO THE ROCKERS, REALLY... IF ANYONE SHOULD NOTICE EITHER OF THESE ITEMS MAKING A SURPRISE APPEARANCE AT A UK SECOND HAND SHOP/CAR BOOT SALE, WE'D BE MOST GRATEFUL IF YOU'D MAKE A NOTE OF THE SERIAL NUMBER AND DROP US A LINE. IN THE EVENT THAT ANY SUCH SLEUTHING SHOULD LEAD TO THE RECOVERY OF THE GEAR, WE WILL BE GLAD TO REWARD THE EFFORT. MEANWHILE, WE'LL BE DOING THE EBAY VIGIL...
UNLIKELY, OF COURSE, BUT THANKS FOR READING.
Jamie is a senior lecturer in the jazz department at at Leeds College of Music (the UK's largest conservatoire). He has recently stepped down as Course Leader of the BA (Hons) Jazz programme, after two years in the post, to devote more time to his playing career. www.lcm.ac.uk
He has worked with leading UK jazz musicians like Alan Barnes, Jim Mullen, Steve Brown, Gary Potter, and F-IRE Collective's Carlos Lopez-Real. In the field of popular music he has collaborated with Mercury Music Prize nominee Richard Hawley, CANDID recording artist Sarah Mitchell, and Leeds-based indie band "The Pigeon Detectives" - this last one as part of "Andy Hillier's Hot Jazz Aces", a Dixieland band in which Jamie is very proud to play the banjo (no shame in that whatsoever!). Jamie has also played with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, made several television appearances, and contributed to the American magazine 'Just Jazz Guitar'. In 2005 Jamie featured at the North Wales International Jazz Guitar Festival sharing the bill with Jim Mullen, Trefor Owen, and ex-'Police' guitarist Andy Summers. He is electric guitar advisor/examiner for Yorkshire Young Musicians, and an adjudicator for Harrogate Competitive Festival for Music, Speech and Drama.
Java was formed in 2003, with pianist Jamil Sheriff, bassist Garry Jackson, and percussionist Nick Smalley completing the line up. Four of the members are Leeds College of Music alumni; today, Jamil Sheriff, Garry Jackson, and Jamie Taylor are on the college's jazz faculty. The group has made a number of festival appearances and has recently released its second CD, entitled "Cat Dreams".
PRESS:
"Java (is) a tight combo led by Jamie Taylor, a guitarist with a pleasant ruminative style. Possibly the most enjoyable jazz concert [Burton Agnes Jazz Festival] I have ever attended..."
The Independent, Aug '07
”Cat Dreams (GLP) from guitarist Jamie Taylor & Java (with Jamil Sheriff on piano) is a very strong set played with conviction and one to buy with confidence.”
Jazz UK, May '09
“Taylor approaches each solo as a part of that particular tune, never treating a solo as separate from the song itself, a great example of this being his solo on the tune “Life After Big Sam.” His ability to keep the groove, feel and melody of any tune going during his improvisations creates a guide through each of his improvised solos. This is not to say that Taylor does not take chances and experiment, but he has an uncanny ability to navigate the listener through these more interesting moments, rather than lose them along the way.”
All About Jazz, May '09
“Jamie Taylor has become known as a young lion on the British jazz scene... With “Cat Dreams”, Taylor combines his high energy chops with a hard swingin' rhythm section to produce an album that is sure to bring him greater recognition [in North America]... Those listeners who are looking for a new voice in the jazz guitar genre will appreciate Taylor's fresh take on the modern guitar quartet. The tunes are well written, the solos creative, and the band is always groovin' - what else could one want from a jazz guitar album?”
Just Jazz Guitar (USA), May '09
"Enormously impressive...Taylor's playing is full of ideas with a strong sense of direction, and in pianist Jamil Sheriff he has a partner of comparable inventiveness"
- Jazz UK, Jan '05
"Something original is going on here."
- Just Jazz Guitar (USA), Mar '06
Jazz night at Kennedy's in York tomorrow (Dec 1st). Only £4 in for 3 great bands. Starts at 8pm. Go to www.kennedysbaryork.co.uk for more details. Cheers.
Hi Promoting a gig : Cool Blues and Hot Gypsy Jazz Kyla Brox and The Samuel C Lees Quartet Two Acts : One Show 7 November The University of Sheffield A special ticket offer is available subejct to availability. Please hurry and book since the early booking offer might be removed after a short period. Box office is : 0114 222 8968 and quote special code UN1 You get £2 off the ticket price i.e. £10 Kyla Brox "Blues Diva" The Samuel C Lees Quarter "Fans of Hot Club and Django Should not miss this Band"
An Evening of Cool Blues and Gypsy Jazz Saturday 7 November @ 8pm University House The University of Sheffield Tickets £12 Call 0114 222 8968 Two Headline Acts : One Show Kyla Brox : The Blues runs deep through her original material, but she builds on that to create her own sound. Kyla often headlines at festivals though out the UK, Europe, Australia and Asia.After a live session on BBC2 Radio, Kyla is now coined with the nickname "The Voice". The Samuel C Lees Quartet is one of the UK's leading exponents of swinging Gypsy Jazz. The Quartet also features "Eva Gray"on vocals. Fans of Django and Hot Club Gypsy Jazz should not miss this band !
Saturday 10 October Chris Jagger's Atcha! 'Top-notch Cajun- flavoured R&B' Plus Chris Powers MC and DJ 10 October The University of Sheffield Call 0114 222 8968 The band is fronted by the youthful, charismatic brother of, you guessed it, Mick Jagger. They play straight forward, honest tunes that you just have to dance to. Their new album clearly cements the band's position amongst the finest exponents of earthy Swamp Blues, Cajun and Roots-Rock.
Happy New Year Jamie & thanks for the add. Hope to catch you at one of your gigs! Please feel free to leave a message at the Yamaha Jazz Experience and tell all your friends about us. Cheers!
If you can do anything with a MIC then come down to the Spareromm Hanley before 11pm with your backing track on a CD starting from the 21 November check the flyer out.on my site
'The Hitmen' - Alex Munk - Guitar John Marley - Bass Eddie Hick - Drums
Mon 10th November, upstairs at the Packhorse by the Uni. £2 entry, doors at 8.30.Loads of original music, support from 'The Dusty Ice Cream'. Hope to see you there!
Home Of The Brave (Richard Ormrod: reeds, trumpet etc/ Johnny Flockton: guitar/Rus Pearson: bas/ Paul Hession: drums) appearing this Sunday, August 10 2008 at the Grove Inn Jazz Club, Leeds LS11 5PL. Starts 8:30pm, entry £4.00 waged/£3.00 unwaged.
Home Of The Brave (Richard Ormrod: reeds, trumpet etc/ Johnny Flockton: guitar/Rus Pearson: bas/ Paul Hession: drums) appearing this Sunday, August 10 2008 at the Grove Inn Jazz Club, Leeds LS11 5PL. Starts 8:30pm, entry £4.00 waged/£3.00 unwaged.
