Martin Taylor mostly plays solo concerts, around 100 shows a year in over 20 countries. He also works with jazz singer ALISON BURNS and works often in France with violinist DIDIER LOCKWOOD.
He is now accepting a limited number of guitar students to study with him in 2009. For details contact liz@martintaylor.com
Influences
His father BUCK TAYLOR was a jazz bassist, and his great-uncle ERIC PASHLEY was also a jazz musician, so he grew up surrounded by jazz music.
His biggest guitar influence was IKE ISAACS.
In 1979 he began working with STEPHANE GRAPPELLI. He toured the world for 11 years with Grappelli and recorded over 20 albums with him.
He also worked alot, and became friends, with many of the guitarists that had influenced him in his youth including BARNEY KESSEL, HERB ELLIS, MUNDELL LOWE, CHARLIE BYRD, TAL FARLOW, CHET ATKINS, JOHNNY SMITH, LES PAUL, KENNY BURRELL and GEORGE BENSON.
His says his influences now are his wife Liz, their son James and his wife Alison. In 2005 Martin and Liz's younger son Stewart took his own life at the age of 21. Martin says "After Stewart's death I couldn't play the guitar for a long time, it was too emotional for me, but now Stewart's memory and his courage continues to influence and inspire me, and gave me the strength to play music again"
Martin Taylor is one of the most awesome solo
guitar players in the history of the instrument. He's unbelievable Pat Metheny
Award winning guitarist MARTIN TAYLOR has established a unique musical career as an internationally acclaimed musician, and his inimitable style has seen him recognised as the world's foremost exponent of solo jazz guitar playing.
Although
completely self taught, he has enjoyed a remarkable musical career spanning across four decades, and during that time has invented and developed a way of playing the guitar that is admired, and often imitated, by guitarists all over the world.
As well as being a true guitar innovator, he is also a master concert performer, dazzling audiences with his solo shows, which combine virtuosity,
emotion, humour, and a strong stage presence.
He
spends much of the year travelling the world, playing in concert halls
in Europe, North America, Japan, Asia, and Australasia.
As
well as his solo concerts and recordings, he has also collaborated with
musicians from many different musical genre including, STEPHANE GRAPPELLI, CHET ATKINS, BILL WYMAN, GEORGE HARRISON, DIONNE WARWICK, SACHA DISTEL, BRYN TERFEL and JAMIE CULLUM.
From 1979 to 1990 he 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. Monsieur Grappelli described him as "A great artist, rich in talent and elegance"
His ground breaking solo album ARTISTRY, prduced by Steve Howe, was released in 1992 to much critical acclaim. It was No 1 in the HMV Jazz Charts for a record 12 weeks and launched his career as an international solo artist.
After two very successful albums for Sony/Columbia, KISS AND TELL and NITELIFE, he went on to record several albums for THE GUITAR LABEL.
In 1999 he was made an Honorary Doctor of the University of Paisley, Scotland 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.
In 2007 he recieved the prestigious BBC Radio 2 "Heart of Jazz" Award in recognition of his career in music, and was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the North Wales International Jazz Guitar Festival for his "Contribution to Jazz Guitar Worldwide".
When
not touring he divides his time between his homes in France and Scotland
where he writes music for TV and film. His film credits include the French comedy "Milou En Mai" directed by Louis Malle, and more recently his composition "Green Lady" features in the Andrew Piddington movie "The Killing of John Lennon"
His
autobiography MARTIN TAYLOR - AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A TRAVELLING MUSICIAN
and his latest CD/DVD FRETERNITY are available worldwide.
HONOURS and AWARDS:
1985 Music Retailers Award for Excellence,
1987 British Jazz Award - Best Guitarist,
1987 Grammy Nomination - "Together at Last" with Stephane Grappelli,
1988 British Jazz Award - Best Guitarist,
1989 British Jazz Award - Best Guitarist,
1990 British Jazz Award - Best Guitarist,
1991 British Jazz Award - Best Guitarist,
1993 British Jazz Award - Best Guitarist,
1995 British Jazz Award - Best Guitarist,
1997 British Jazz Award - Best Guitarist,
1997 British Jazz Award - Best Small Group "Spirit of Django",
1998 Freedom of The City of London,
1999 British Jazz Award - Best Guitarist,
1999 British Academy of Composers & Songwriters "Gold Badge of Merit",
1999 Honorary Doctorate - University of Paisley, Scotland,
2001 British Jazz Award - Best Guitarist,
2002 Member of The Order of The British Empire (MBE),
2002 International Guitar Foundation - Best Album "SOLO",
2003 Pioneer to the Life of the Nation,
2007 BBC Heart of Jazz Award,
2007 Lifetime Achievement Award - North Wales Jazz Guitar Festival,
2007 British Jazz Award - Best Guitarist
- 2008 IAJE Award For Outstanding Service To Jazz Education
