Like Joe Pass' Virtuoso series, Artistry is a vehicle for Taylor's amazing technical ability. His transcriptions, particularly "Georgia On My Mind," are superb, but occasionally his playing feels cluttered, as he squeezes in too many details. Elsewhere he is terrific: "Teach Me Tonight" is subtle and swinging, and "The Dolphin" features an astonishing range of colors, from simultaneous chordal and single-note runs to harp imitations that are surprisingly true. It doesn't provide the pure pleasure of his work with Stephan Grapelli (where he is clearly most inspired), but Artistry is a great example of Taylor's incredibly refined, creative guitar work. - Jim Smith
Tracks
01. Polka Dots and Moonbeams (Johnny Burke/James Van Heusen)
02. Stella by Starlight (Ned Washington/Victor Young)
03. Teach Me Tonight (Sammy Cahn/Gene DePaul)
04. The Dolphin (Luis Eça)
05. Georgia on My Mind (Hoagy Carmichael/Srtuart Gorrell)
06. They Can't Take That Away from Me (George Gershwin/Ira Gershwin)
07. Here, There and Everywhere/Day Tripper (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
08. Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me) (Duke Ellington/Lee Gaines)
09. Gentle Rain (Luiza Bonfá)
10. Cherokee (Ray Noble)
11. A Certain Smile (Sammy Fain/Paul Francis Webster)
MARTIN TAYLOR guitar
Recorded at Langley Studios Devon, England on May 20, 21, 22 1992.
Linn Records - AKD 020