by Alex Henderson
In the 1990s, jazz tribute albums could be incredibly predictable, with young tenor saxophonists paying tribute to John Coltrane by emulating his tone and playing his best-known songs exactly like he played them, or young trumpeters saluting Miles Davis by trying to sound like a carbon copy of him on yet another version of &So What& or &Solar.& Spirit of Django is Martin Taylor's tribute to fellow guitarist Django Reinhardt, and thankfully, this is one tribute album that's interesting and unpredictable instead of cliché-ridden. Though Taylor's love of Reinhardt's legacy is evident throughout the album, the guitarist never sounds like an outright clone. His individuality comes through on Reinhardt pieces (including &Nuages& and &Minor Swing&), as well as Fats Waller's &Honeysuckle Rose& and the standards &Night and Day& and &Lady Be Good.& To his credit, Taylor makes some unlikely choices. Pat Metheny's &James,& for example, isn't something you'd expect to hear on a Reinhardt tribute, yet Taylor's interpretation fits in perfectly. This excellent CD is highly recommended to admirers of both Taylor and Reinhardt.