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Category: Guitar

Today in Music – Oct 20, 1956 – British Jazz Guitarist Martin Taylor is born!

Martin Taylor

Among the jazz artists who are celebrating their birthdays today is guitarist Martin Taylor. Taylor was born on October 20, 1956 and is the son of bassist William ‘Buck’ Taylor. After listening to his father play the music of the Quintette du Hot Club de France, Martin became inspired by the legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt. “Buck” set Martin’s career path early in his life, giving him his first guitar at the age of four, by the age of eight Martin was playing in his father’s band and at fifteen he quit school with the intent of becoming a professional musician. Boy has he done that and done it well!! Martin is best known for his solo fingerstyle performances, where he provides bass and chordal accompaniment as well as a melody. Throughout his career, Martin has played in groups, guitar ensembles and as an accompanist. He has recorded with musicians that are spread across many genres including: Stephane Grappelli, Jeff Beck, Chet Atkins, Bill Wyman, George Harrison, Dionne Warwick, Diane Schuur and Jamie Cullum. And those musicians can attest to his greatness…. Read More

Today in Music – October 17, 1976 – Happy Birthday, Gary Tu!

Gary TuAmong the Jazz Artist who are celebrating their birthday’s today is jazz guitarist Gary Tu, who was born on this date in 1976 and since I was married and living in student housing at that time. I am old enough to e his father and he would e my oldest son and Nick (my oldest son) would be his younger brother by three years! Not that it matters at all to you the reader, but it puts Gary in perspective for me!! Read More

Late Night Jazz from Russell Malone, Christian McBride and Benny Green

Sailor -Steve Miller

Chritian, Russell, BennyOk so after writing about Christian McBride tonight, I was looking around YouTube and I saw this video of a performance of one of my favorite Wes Montgomery tunes, “Jingles”! The trio performing it was composed of Christian McBride on bass, Benny Green on piano and Russell Malone on guitar. I have recently learned a little about Christian McBride but I don’t know much about Malone or Green. Anyway,I watched the video and I was floored! Malone is outstanding on guitar as is Green on piano, but the driving force behind the whole 14 minutes on the tune is the phenomenal bass playing of  McBride!1 He just doesn’t stop!! Read More

“Into the Night” with the Jazz Guitar of Grant Green with Organ!

Grant Green Organ Trio and QuartetThis morning when I opened MOG the first album that caught my eye was a Grant Green album entitled Organ Trio & Quartet. Now I have occasionally listen to the fine guitar of Grant Green, but I don’t ever remember him being associated with an organ trio. So with visions of Jimmy Smith and wes Montgomery dancing in my head I put it on and I was impressed the group was tight and the organ was really smoking. It seemed that through the early tracks of the album the organ was either equal to or more prominent than the guitar of Green. At lunchtime I looked up information about the album and found that it was actually a combination of two albums. The first half of the album was actually the début album of organist Sam Lazar, Space Flightreleased in 1960. Grant Green was a sideman on that album. It was Green’s second recording.  The second half of the album came from a Grant Green album, Iron City, recorded in 1967 and released in 1972. The organ player on this album is listed as “Big John” Patton. When I found the video that will close this post, I read some of the comments,. Included in the comments was a discussion as to whether the organist was actually Big John or someone else possibly Larry Johnson. Since I could not tell you the difference I will bow to their experience and say the player may not be “Big John” Patton! So here’s the track, it’s actually the title track “Iron City”. What do you think?? John Patton or Larry Johnson either way Grant Green is still terrific! Read More

Jazzy Morning – Wes and the Wynton Kelly Trio

So this morning was as jazzy kind of morning as I was out and about doing some errands I had Smokin’ at the Half Note by Wes Montgomery and Wynton Kelly playing on the iPod! The album was recorded live in late June 1965 at the Half Note Club in New York City, and September 22, 1965 at Van Gelder Studios, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey and released by Verve. Read More

Thursday Night – Live at Tsubo!

So I’ve written about the folk music I listen to and the blues, bluegrass, and some rock but I haven’t really written about the jazz I listen to. So tonight spinning in the CD player is one of my favorite jazz musicians the incomparable Wes Montgomery. I was still in high school when I started to listen to Wes Montgomery. He recorded three albums on A&M records that were the most commercially successful of his short career. (He died in 1968 of a heart attack). Those three albums A Day in the Life , Down Here on the Ground, and Road Song. all of which contained covers of pop hits along with Wes’ great guitar work were my introduction to his music. Read More