Martin Taylor, one of fingerstyle’s luminaries, grew up in a family of musicians who loved gypsy jazz. He started playing at the age of four and four years later often played with his father’s band. Influenced from the start by the great Django Reinhardt (1910-1953), he studied with Ike Isaacs who introduced him to the legendary Stéphane Grappelli, violinist of the Hot Club de France quintet. Grappelli first invited him to take part in a few European concerts, then had him join his group full-time. Taylor played Django’s part for the next eleven years, both on stage and on record. This notable presence allowed him to lead a solo career during which he collaborated with jazz and fingerstyle greats (Jeff Beck, Tommy Emmanuel, Chet Atkins, Stephane Grappelli, David Grisman, George Harrison, Jamie Cullum, Bryn Terfel, Dianne Schuur, Gary Burton), in addition to playing with Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings. A leader in English jazz, he holds more British Jazz Awards than he has fingers and more awards of all kinds than he can name. The virtuoso Pat Metheny sees him as “one of the most awesome solo guitar players in the history of the instrument”. Chet Atkins simply called him “one of the greatest guitarists in the world.” Martin Taylor has an altruistic philosophy based on his love for music and for the guitar. That’s what makes him a fingerstyle gentleman and an international guitar teacher.
FINGERSTYLE GUITAR / LA GUITARE FINGERSTYLE