It has been a treat this month to review albums by two of the UK’s finest guitarists – Nigel Price and now Martin Taylor or, more correctly, Dr Martin Taylor CBE. Taylor is a self-taught guitarist who rose to prominence when he was invited to play with Stephane Grappelli’s band as a stand-in. He stayed with Grappelli for the next 11 years then pursued a solo career, firstly with the audiophile label Linn and then later with Sony, where he released two smooth-jazz albums, Kiss And Tell and Nitelife. He’s still performing internationally, and teaching from his home in Scotland.
This latest project sees Taylor teaming up with jazz singer Alison Burns to express their joint love of nature. The sleeve notes to the album reveal a passion for the environment and the protection of all animal and plant life. Through a carefully chosen list of songs, they have attempted to create a musical love letter to the natural world. The result is a hugely enjoyable album.
Melody and harmony are the key features in the album, which makes it perfect for late-night listening. As is often the case, Taylor has found a musical partnership that brings out the best in each of them. Burns’ superb vocal style is the perfect accompaniment to Taylor’s unique guitar style.
The Gentle Rain and Moon River melodically open and close the album, whilst tracks like Lemon Twist, A Foggy Day and Lullaby of Birdland add some gentle swing along the way. Hushabye Mountain and Nature Boy probably best illustrate what this album is about – a harmonious connection between art and nature. Highly recommended.
Discography
The Gentle Rain; Nature Boy; The Best Things In Life Are Free; The Folks Who Live On The Hill; Hushabye Mountain; Little Jazz Bird; Lemon Twist; Someone To Watch Over Me; I’ve Got The World On A String; Lullaby Of The Leaves; A Foggy Day; You Bought A New Kind Of Love To Me; Lullaby Of Birdland; Moon River (56.00)
Burns (v); Taylor (g). Allaire Studios, Nr. Shokan, New York.
P3Music P3MCD032