I found this book an interesting read; I have followed
Martin Taylor’s career with much interest from his early days with
Stephane Grappelli. He even did a couple of guest appearances with
my Big Band, when he was not that well known on the jazz scene and
it was obvious to all that here was a world class musician on his
way to the top.
Throughout the book, the reader is struck by the
huge amount of natural ability that he has on his chosen instrument.
He can do quite easily that which is almost impossible for the average
musician. He also had the good fortune to come to the notice of Stephane
Grappelli at a very young age and to benefit from playing in such
august company for some 11 years. He joined as a virtually unknown
musician and left as a guitar superstar. Once you are in that league
of course you get to know the other top musicians and life ascends
to another plane.
Apart from Stephane’s death after a long and remarkable
career and a period of boredom with his chosen occupation, Martin’s
life has generally proceeded well,
I was interested to read that his reason for playing
solo guitar was that he was not happy with some of the people he had
to play with. I can well believe that this may have come into the
equation, but my own much more limited experience has shown that the
fewer people there are in the band, the more money you get paid! Many
pianist friends who do solo piano work confirm this to be true, for
most however it would not be their first choice, as a way to work.
The book outlines the excellent work that his son
has done as Martin’s agent and manager, I am sure he must be better
than the man from the Scottish Mafia I spoke to when I tried to book
Martin for the Coventry jazz festival a few years ago!
The message that the book, which is a most interesting,
brought clearly into focus is that to succeed in making a rewarding
career as a jazz musician, three things are essential.
- You need enormous natural talent, practising twelve hours a day
is no substitute.
- You need your whole family behind your endeavours.
- You need to concentrate entirely on what you want to do not what
others may want you to do.
These three things are the main reason that most
of us don’t make it.
In the book Martin looks forward to the next 25 years,
I hope I’m around to read it!
Don Mather
CD Reviews
Sanctuary
Publishing 
