Best of Martin Taylor [Import]

Martin Taylor | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 31, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: P3 Music
• ASIN: B000BBYSB0
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #391,896 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. That's the Way of the World

2. Kiss and Tell

3. Garden of Dreams

4. Chaff and Grain

5. Hymn a l'Amour

6. Midnight at the Oasis

7. True

8. Years Apart

9. The Valley

10. Going Home Again

See all 13 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Cotton Tail

2. The Odd Couple

3. Chez Fernand

4. The Kraken

5. I'm Old Fashioned

6. Undecided

7. Nuages

8. Musette for a Magpie

9. No Pedestrians

10. My Romance

See all 13 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

2 CD set. The definitive 26 track retrospective from the greatest jazz guitarist of his generation. This magnificent collection includes tracks from Martin Taylor's recordings on Sony Jazz as well as the highlights from his 10 year output on the Linn Records label, plus the pick of his recordings for the P3 Music label. Guests include violin legend Stephane Grappelli and award winning jazz vocalist Claire Martin. This album includes works from his very first solo recording up to his most recent album as well as collaborations with saxophonists Denys Baptiste and Kirk Whalum. At such an attractive price this 2 CD set will surely be one of the key jazz titles in the run-up to Christmas. Guitar Label. 2005.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Surely not his best?, April 25, 2007

By 

Jonathan M. Mason "jm_1951" (Punta Gorda, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Best of Martin Taylor (Audio CD)

This double CD set is billed as the Best of Martin Taylor as selected by himself. Well, all I can say is that his skill as a guitarist greatly exceeds his taste in music if he thinks this is his best stuff.

I had heard Taylor playing some great guitar on the BBC's Big Band Special, and knowing that he was also Stephane Grappelli's guitarist for some years, I was sure that he had some great material recorded.

But the first of the two CDs is dreadful, as he plays mostly turgid Sleep Aid music with a band that seems to consist of a Kenny G. clone and a metronome.

The second CD is much better and if you can get a copy of this cheap, then probably worth the price of admission on its own, though I am not so sure that the almost eight minute version of the theme tune from the Odd Couple in which Taylor plays in a rather Grant Green-ish mode ought to be included, or The Kraken which I just don't like.

Undecided, the only track that features Stephane Grappelli is possibly the best of the lot, but there are some excellent numbers from the albums Solo, which as the name suggests, is solo guitar music and from Spirit of Django. The rendition of I Got Rhythm is very fine and Musette for a Magpie is just wonderful.

I rather think that the 1998 album Celebrating Grappelli, made by Martin Taylor and his Spirit of Django Band on Grappelli's death, and featuring the violinist in three overdubbed tracks plus in some earlier duets may actually be a better buy.

Verdict: Terrific guitarist, but questionable choice of material.