Nitelife

Martin Taylor | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 24, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00005MKDV
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #251,758 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This English guitarist continues his transformation from British-styled bebop master to Americanized contemporary jazz trendsetter with his second major-label release. While it's not as clean a recording as his last effort, Kiss & Tell, it's a much more focused disc, with more of Taylor's graceful and tasty guitar licks, and fewer featured guests. One of the sidemen, Kirk Whalum, who also coproduced, contributes two outstanding tunes, including the smooth, funky title track, and "Beboptimism," a tune with a traditional jazz melody over contemporary jazz rhythms and harmonies. Only Taylor's own "Green Lady" can be put safely in the tame smooth-jazz category, because there's a definite sharp edge to the most of the other tracks, particularly two of the cover tunes--Earth, Wind & Fire's "That's the Way of the World," with an unexpected key change towards the end, and a sumptuous version of the Isaac Hayes/Dionne Warwick hit "Déjà Vu," which experiments with tape loops, voices, and pretty much sounds like Taylor with Art of Noise. By a conservative count, this is Taylor's 40th album, but will probably the first to make a real impact across the pond in America. --Mark Ruffin

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent major label debut, July 26, 2001

By 

Dr.D.Treharne (Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Nitelife (Audio CD)

Martin Taylor has been around on the British jazz circuit for a number of years. He's run through a number of different projects with various size bands. The move to a major label means that he has to look to retain his present audience whilst establishing a new wider base of fans. So there are the nods to the past with "Hymne L'amour"( the Edith Piaf favourite) and "I get along without you very well". At the same time there's the introduction of an element of programming which works particularly well on "Doctor Spin" and "Green Lady". The other innovation is the presence on Kirk Whalum on two tracks "Nitelife" and "Beboptimism" which pushes Taylor into the direction that he's probably going to be fleshing out more fully with the next album. There's also one track " Across the pond" which pitches him in with a rather larger than usual horn section. This is a satisfying move forward album, which has several tracks that commend themselves for rotation on smooth jazz stations.One for warm summer nites and highly recommended.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Beat Goes On..., October 8, 2001

By 

Byron Smith (Greenville, Tex., America, the Beautiful!) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nitelife (Audio CD)

Martin Taylor strikes again. This cd is his best by far. It stretches his musical talents beyond the limit. If he never has another release, which I know he will, "Nitelife" will last forever. Look out Jonathan Butler and Doc Powell, you've got company!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "jazz by guitar...Martin Taylor leading the way!", August 3, 2001

By 

J. Lovins "Mr. Jim" (Missouri-USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Nitelife (Audio CD)

What jazz does for people in this world...is the instrument in being able to bear everyday life, the ups and downs, getting away from it all...this latest release on the Sony/Columbia label is a good example ~ "Nitelife", featuring Martin Taylor ~ from of all places Scotland (jazz has no boundaries).

Listen to his style and approach in each selection, shades of Joe Pass comes to mind...tones are of so refined, only capped-off by his technique...check out this arrangement on "HYMNE A L'AMOUR", the trademark tune by Edit Piaf, blends the reminiscent sound of the late Django Reinhardt, exceptional counterpoints with acoustic guitar...if you enjoy guitarist such as Jim Hall and Charlie Byrd, you'll appreciate what this young artist has to offer...looking forward to his next venture into the realm of what we "jazz-buffs" call ~ stress-free therapy, and what the doctor ordered...good wholesome JAZZ!

Total Time: 58:03 on 10 Tracks ~ Sony/Columbia CK-85909 ~ (2001)