National Music Critic Rick Sanders interviewed Martin Taylor for Moving Tone News. Copies available from Heffers Sound Shop Trinity Street, Cambridge; Ken Stevens Music Shop, Sussex Street, Cambridge; or Brian Jordan, Music Books, Green Street, Cambridge; Wood, Wind and Reed, Russell Street, off Hills Road, or by post from Moving Tone Ltd. address below.

Internationally renowned guitarist jazz Martin Taylor will open this year's popular Moving Tone Sessions in Cambridge when he appears at Emmanuel United Reformed Church on Sunday May 21.

Dr Martin Taylor MBE first came to prominence in the late 1970's through his eleven year collaboration with the legendary violinist Stephane Grappelli. He now tours the world with his dazzling live performances.

He began playing at age four when his father, bassist Buck Taylor, gave him a small acoustic guitar as a present. A totally self-taught guitarist, he learned to play by listening to his father's records and trying to imitate what he heard. Seven years later he was playing in local bands and gained the respect and admiration of professional musicians who were amazed by the young boy they called "The Guitar Wizard".

Following this, Martin produced two solo albums, one of which made it to the HMV No.1 chart position for six weeks. This established him as one of the most popular and biggest selling acoustic guitarists in the UK.

In 1994 Martin formed his group ‘Spirit of Django'. The band's first recording included their version of Robert Palmer's ‘Johnny and Mary', which was used for the famous cult TV ads with 'Nicole-Papa!' for the Renault Clio. In 1999 he signed a recording contract with Sony Music, going on to make two critically acclaimed albums, ‘Sarabanda' and ‘Artistry'.

Martin has recorded with many great artists such as; George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Nelson Riddle, Michel Legrand, Yehudi Menuhin, Peggy Lee, Chet Atkins, Bryn Terfel, Dionne Warwick, Sacha Distel, Chris Rea, Bill Wyman and Liza Minnelli.

He has also added several film soundtracks to his anthology including the Louis Malle movie ‘Milou en Mai' and ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' starring Steve Martin and Sir Michael Caine.

In 2002, Martin was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to music, in The Queen's Jubilee Birthday Honours List.

Issue by Moving Tone Ltd., PO Box 899, Comberton, Cambs CB3 7WQ. 01223-262775.

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