Martin Taylor performs "Stella by Starlight"

[MilesOvern]

The Martin Taylor in Concert DVD is a wonderful disc that I put on whenever I need a little inspiration in regards to an arrangement I am working on or just want to watch a master at work and lose myself in his musicality. I love pretty much every arrangement on this DVD.

[robanty83]

This guy used to live next to some of my family, they've always raved about him and after listening to him for the first time I can see why, really loved it.

[VinniePaah]

@robanty83 I'm sure your family wouldn't rave so much about him if he played trumpet ;-)

[gabri3l367]

Bravo !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Grande studio e buon swing

[jomike09]

orthodox, unorthodox, no matter how its done: as long as it get done. Mr. Taylor gets it done in resounding fashion. Just like Django a few digits short, Thelonius splayed fingered, the end result came out just right.

[knuckleheadzup01]

love this guy. the inspiration is astounding but beautiful

[Hoopermazing]

He sets such a bad example with that planted pinky. That really restricts the right hand technique of ordinary humans.

[futzhak]

@Hoopermazing Not really actually, if you are aware of the fact that lute and vihuela players use the same technique for centuries now, you will realise it makes sense. It gives support to the hand, and it is easier to find the strings in relation to the top of the guitar. It does limit your movement a bit, but nobody says the pinky can't move along the surface of the top.

[Hoopermazing]

@futzhak I'm sorry, but that didn't make any sense at all. He's not playing a flute. He's playing guitar. And, I've been playing guitar long enough to know how a planted pinky restricts the free movement of one's right hand.

He probably started doing that early on and just never corrected it. I seriously doubt it he needs that crutch. If I don't have a problem locating the strings, and I don't, then I'm sure that he doesn't. He's just stuck in a bad habit he adopted early on.

[Hoopermazing]

@Hoopermazing lute .... not flute.

[futzhak]

@Hoopermazing Hi mate, I didn't say it doesn't restrict hand movement, my point was that i think this is a personal choice and Martin Taylor is an enough expirienced musician to get over technical problems, if he wants to. I am sure he is aware of it and chooses to play like that. This is why i made the reference with the lute and vihuela. After all they've always been close relatives to what became modern classical guitar so the more influence always comes from the roots.

[stroids]

all his single note lines remind me of Joe Pass

[filstfn]

One of the most beautiful renditions I've ever heard; strikingly beautiful....

[manduker]

Es un genio!!!

[lilmark816]

So i take it he makes Taylor guitars and Martin guitars? :P haha

[sinti6]

good!!!

[HendrixcommaMartin]

I don't see an amp. Did they make him go direct? I sure hope not. Such a fine musician deserves better.

[catfish336699]

he has both the instrument & tune figured out. lovely.

[eastman805]

It doesn't get any better than Martin Taylor...this is wonderful music.

[dondijazz]

Although his playing here has too many cliches that his playing is predictable, still he could play better! Still Martin is great with his playing with the great Earl Klugh!

[dondijazz]

I apologize for my older comments about his playing. This song is not his best. Martin Taylor in his own way is also a great player! I listened to his playing with Earl Klugh and he held his own with the great Earl Klugh. Sorry Martin! You are great!

[peteski321]

Awesome..

[isleoforkney]

@Jazzdug77 who cares, don't read what others write, so what if they are making comparisons and ranking guitarists, let them.

[redgroove]

cmon guys.. stop comparing - start listening to the MUSIC!

[denvertbone]

@redgroove Thank you. I hate it when people constantly compare musicians.

[redgroove]

"Martin Taylor is one of the most awesome solo guitar players in the history of the instrument. He's unbelievable" - Pat Metheny

[Ikonoclasto]

Martin Taylor is one of the best guitarrist I ever heard. His technique is very innovative and he is a great player ONE OF THE GREATS!

[tom46802]

Great job, Martin. I'm going to add you to my favorite musicians.  I saw some idiotic statements on here. Your are fabulous. Keep up the good work. I am a jazz guitarist and one of the best in my area. I'm 58 and started playing at 10. I used to sit around listed to 45's and figure out tunes, because I couldn't afford a teacher. That was one of the best things that ever happened to me. I can usually figure out most songs that I have never heard before, by the end of the tune.

[jjemsnd7]

What a player. If saw him play this 10 nights in a row it would be different every night. I'm jealous, wish I could play like that.

[dondijazz]

@dondijazz Midnight in the Oasis is pretty good, though! Although Mr. Martin, I consider not an intuitive player like the greats, he seems to be a very good teacher of beginning to intermediate jazz guitar!

[mfbown]

@dondijazz Listen to the old recording of him with Grappelli. He was a normal jazz player back then.

[priamus67]

I can't make out the make of the guitar

[wjdghaks]

so what guitar does he use?

Martin? or Taylor?

lol jk

[osummuso]

Had the pleasure of meeting Martin many times, and it's always a pleasure.

Martin will happily sit down with a kid who only knows a couple of notes and chords and play with them, drawing them into the alternative reality that is music.

He's that good!

[Hawaiianon]

What key is he in?

[stereosaturn]

wow, amazing

[fornidisimo]

5:00 sounds like blues hehe ns

[conradpaul]

such a nice guitar- is that his signature model? wonder what the switch is for, coil tap maybe?

[DannyDesperate]

@conradpaul

The guitar has both piezo & magnetic pickups so you can switch between acoustic and electric sounds, or mix 'em together.

[jumble72]

even if i were this good... he'd still do it better!

[mfbown]

This guy is fabulous.

[CTuxford]

Wow. I have played this tune for years and never seen as much in it as Martin does. Shifts and transitions with deep reharmonisation, with striking motif. Back to the woodshed with this tune... perhaps changing my key from Bb would be a start... :P

[Phagedaena]

Superb. Go Martin.

And to the two losers that rated this down: FUCK YOU !!

[ronlweasley]

I remember seeing Martin for the first time upstairs in a pub in Bristol. It was about 25 years ago at "The Albert Inn" in Bedminster. He was just starting out in his career and no-one had ever heard of him. Good times :-)

[thomjz]

This guy is fabulous.

[gzwiebel]

I think Jazzdug77's comment was better than most comments but not as good as the majority of comments.  I'd rather walk on Icelandic hot lava than listen to him sing. Thank you, Simon Cowell

[noeluy12859]

great playing!!

[noeluy12859]

cool

[WeepingZeeGuitars]

Outstanding

[diz52nd]

Outstanding playing.

[cmbsman]

He is coming to Hong Kong in about a month, I will definitely try to make it.

[cliffshell]

I met Martin Taylor in Peoria, Illinois somewhere around twenty years ago. He was at the local musician's hall at the request of our mutual friend, Bill Barker. Martin has one of the few Barker guitars, a prized instrument. Martin was and is a superb musician!

[PlasticSnake]

I didn't realize Zach Galifianakis was so good at guitar

[NorwegianViolinist]

Wow! What a musician =) I first got to know about Martin Taylor through the fantastic album "We've Got the World on a String" where he plays together with Stephane Grappelli. I was about 9 and this was my first encounter with jazz-guitar and the very first note Martin played was more than enough for me to become a huge fan. Thank you for posting this with good sound!

[awfulguitarplucker]

wow! sembra tuck andress piu' elegante e Bop!

[pacolecce]

espressione gusto dinamica e quore

[beatboy001]

GREAT JAZZ MUSIC  !

[murilomorello]

just perfect! amazing martin!

[vinnothelizard]

pure genius!!

[manduker]

hermoso tratamiento a la melodía, sin duda, gracias Martin!!!!

[ricdeed]

A virtuoso of the very highest order

[mfbown]

@dondijazz No, that's not what virtuoso means. It's someone who masters something. Classically trained pianists can be a virtuosos, although they do not improvise. Each performance is carefully studied. Virtuosity in a classical setting consists of complete mastery, including musicality, of something that the composer has carefully written down. This guy is a "virtuoso of the very highest order" without a doubt. He excels at his style of guitar playing. Other guitarists excel at improvising.

[lauker]

@dondijazz first he didn't learn from sheet music, cause he composed his own version of this piece, second when you are on scene playing one piece you master on the way you did write it, there is no place for improvisation.

Place him in a context where he can improvise with others musicians and he will do.

To finish listen to Stochelo Rosenberg who is famous for his interpretations of Django, and you will see he plays always the solo parts the same way. Cause he is a professionnal in a concert !

[themusic2020]

love hes style of playing amazing

[themusic2020]

my great uncle pip got his picture taken with him not long ago uncle pip is 80 and is a drumer at west kent colladge lol legend

[sclogse1]

wish this was in tune..i just tuned my guitar during this to check...cannot play along....

[DaveLeoni]

tune to him and play along

[paulf56]

Really nice version love his intro, its all in the arrangement !!

[milesdavis1964]

From Madrid ... Thanks !!!

[GodlyFood]

he has classical guitar finger nails and jazz right hand technique...i love it!

[lightmyfire55]

he reminds me of manny from black books

[davrocks68]

martin taylor is a tube!

[davrocks68]

looks like he is surounded with marijuana plants cool man.....

[TLPnega]

not really......

[HammondB200]

they don't even look like marijuana plants. i can now it, i'm from amsterdamm...

[rrichko5049]

martin you sound great ,as usual

[JeromeMaatz]

gipsys are the best guitar players

[oldpython]

In what way are they the best? There is no best. All guitarists are great because we all love the insturment so much that we are willing to prove how stupid we can be sometimes. I'll bet you are capable of being one of the best guitarists even if you are a gypsy. I wish guitarists were more open to other players. Maybe there would be a market then that we could make a living in.

[JeromeMaatz]

martin taylor is a gipsy and the world most gratest jazzguitar player Bireli Lagrene and Stochelo Rosenberg too ;)

[oldpython]

There are many great players who we don't get a chance to hear or see on

youtube. I admire your dedication to those players and I agree they are very good. But they are not the the only great guitarists.  There is much more than a few nice chord melody arrangements and some fast picking. Thank you for the information regarding Martin Taylor's back ground.

[tomdeforbach]

martin is gypsy

[bobthemage]

Martin has made many records with Stephan Grapelli, but I belive he is no Gipsy. You can hear the gipsy influence, but Martins style is much broader and and he "lacks" the gipsy-minor sound. You can't be Gipsy without this sound

greez Bob

[Rhyn86]

I think you will find, and this is a FACT that Martin does indeed have Romani Gypsy blood that descends from his fathers heritage. And you can quote me on that.

[Jazzwayze]

It's all a matter of style. Ability isn't in it.

All these guys are way beyond the norm to begin with. Let's just enjoy them. And listen to Genil Castro on the 'tube too..

[JeromeMaatz]

the greatest

[jkip44]

There are no words!!!

[ptuner120]

what model yamaha is it?

[ubernaffa]

It's a Yamaha AEX1500.

[Jazzdug77]

It never ceases to amaze me how people on YouTube have to decide who is best and who is better than who and what rank everyone has....this is not what art is about, that is what "American Idol" and other stupid contest shows have done to people's understanding and value of artist's work. Can't anyone just say that this guy is a fabulous artist without having to compare him to other fabulous artists in order to enjoy them? It's very weird to me....wow....

[violinoscar]

I agree. Furthermore, everyone, regardless of ability has something to offer music. Music is one of the few things in life that is still free. I feel it should always be a level playing field.

One of the reason gypsies play so well is that they are totally unfetered by nerves. They just want to share the beautiful music.

[taildragger51]

Jazzdug77: You are 100% correct.

Those "reality/talent" shows have turned us into whinging, moaning minnies. I also, i'm ashamed to say, get involved with this way of thinking and it's totally no-productive & negative. It's weird though. One never hears sax players ot pianists making as many absurd criticisms. It's nearly a unique fault amongst guitar players. Martin IS great guy though. Has a sharp sense of humour in person.

[washburntelecaster]

@Jazzdug77 agreed

[OEDBrowser]

@Jazzdug77 I couldn't agree with you more !! Long live !Real Talent! and not somebody created and marketed by a very powerfull !Intertainment Industry! which is all got to do with imagery and hype, bombarding the population and especially the young ! with !The Greatest! the Best! !Star Quality! Celebrity etc !!!!!!

[StephenEllam]

@Jazzdug77 I agree a THOUSAND times, this 'vs' that, who cares!

[ninetymilesaway]

@Jazzdug77 well said man!!!!

[legatoman]

@Jazzdug77 Yes it's true. Tv has destroyed the art and everything is a competition these days.

[legatoman]

Tv has destroyed the beauty in art. Everything is a competition nowadays. That's true.

[zymoon]

@Jazzdug77 You are ABSOLUTELY right!!! You can put your comment on nearly every youtube-video!

[mfbown]

@Jazzdug77 I've been wondering the same thing lately. What does it even mean for an obviously professional and accomplished guitarist to be "better" than another one? Is blue better than red? Is apple pie better than a pizza? It probably depends on the situation. Sheesh.

[jazzman3071]

@Jazzdug77 well said. Truth is about 98% of us commenting on these videos could not even think about playing like this. Fantastic work. Very pianistic in approach.

[Ikonoclasto]

@Jazzdug77 hey bro study the artist and then give your opinioin

You cannot say what have to think others

[hahabass]

@Jazzdug77 Wow!  I know this was said a year ago and all, but it was so well said. You speak for millions. Mind you, you must admit, he'd make a good Henry VIII, but what a player.

[Modes9]

He's obviously great, but not necessarily better than Joe Pass or George VanEps were or Ralph Towner is.

[dickmace]

Martin is the best chord soloist, barring none, I have ever seen!

Dom Minasi

[harpguitarist]

"Martin" & "Taylor" playing on a "Yamaha"

[guitargod97]

If there is any finer jazz guitarist on the planet, please tell me. Martin Taylor is beyond brilliant. Just phenomenal. No one creates the dimensions in a song as deep and vast as Martin. What I wouldn't give to study with him for just a while...

[ashvagosha]

Well, given the right set of criteria, you are certainly right. But your criteria obviously aren't the same as mine. For my ears, there are some guitar players who are much more interesting to listen to.

[jimjet57]

Excellent - I got it! Thank you!!!!

[fourweeldrive]

("Immagine, a guy named "Martin" & "Taylor"- ends up being a guitar player".) Good catch there ShalomYal. Probably why he is so smooth and plesant to listen to.

[ShalomYal]

I'm sure I'm not the first to post this but -- Immagine, a guy named "Martin" & "Taylor" --- ends up being a guitar player!!

go figure

[luzdaluamusic]

Great , this is my faforite sing . Martin , Your cordmelod is fantastic !!!!! A big hug from Brsil. Take care

[fourweeldrive]

The GtrWorkShp channel is one of my fovorite sites on youtube. Guitarists like Martin Taylor are the reason I keep watching. I don't realy need lessons, but I do enjoy jaming with the vids. It is a privlage to play along with these talented people.

[fourweeldrive]

Thank you. You truly are a master of the jazz guitar.

[junka22]

yea, he's amazing and seems like a chill guy and he's a great teacher as well