两大吉他演奏天王携手演奏
弹指之间 传奇再现
◎ 澳洲吉他大师与英国爵士吉他手联袂演绎,2013年双吉他演奏专辑
◎ Guitar Player Magazine读者票选「最佳演奏吉他手」全新企划大作,收录14首展现两代大师精湛完美的演奏神技
◎ 欧美传媒好评不断,2013年当代爵士吉他演奏专辑最佳首选必备碟
澳洲吉他演奏传奇大师汤米艾曼纽,以其复杂多变的弹指风格及充满活力的现场表演,除先后获得两次葛莱美音乐奖提名肯定外,作为当代爵士吉他演奏的代表人物,他细腻精湛的演奏功力,几乎已是当代Acoustic吉他演奏的典范,自2008年至2010年间,在Guitar Player Magazine读者票选中连续获选为「最佳演奏吉他手」的殊荣,更成为他演奏功力锦上添花的又一成就。
90年代末期,汤米艾曼纽在澳洲电视节目中发掘了来自英国的爵士吉他演奏新锐马丁泰勒,汤米回顾首次听见马丁的情景,「听见他的演奏让我马上拿起电话打给电视节目询问他的联络方式,我随即和他联络上并邀请他和我同台演出。」两人打破「王不见王」的瑜亮情节,汤米深厚的蓝调摇滚演奏背景,也和马丁扎实纯熟的爵士风格一拍即合,同时也促成此辑的完美诞生。
马丁丰富的演奏经历,除了曾和Martin Carthy、Gordon Giltrap等大师合作过外,更曾获英国女皇授勋,被视为是爵士吉他之神Joe Pass的最佳继承乐手。此回在汤米艾曼纽的邀请下两人各自展现出神入化的弹指神技,其投入流畅的演奏录音,甚至能隐微听见两人在录音时难掩兴奋的惊叹声,而那也正是伟大艺术令人慑服的由衷美赞。专辑收录14首精彩的吉他演奏作品,包含四首由马丁泰勒亲自谱写的作品及纽约民谣摇滚歌手Don McLean的〈Wonderful Baby〉、Paul Williams与Roger Nichols共谱,曾由木匠兄妹演唱过的〈I Won't Last A Day Without You〉、美国早年爵士歌手/演员Tiny Bradshaw等人共谱的〈Jersey Bounce〉、爵士摇摆乐代表性人物Benny Goodman谱写的〈A Smooth One〉和美国极具代表性的作曲家Irving Berlin的〈Heat Wave〉等,绝对是喜爱当代爵士吉他演奏乐的乐迷,2013年最佳首选必备碟。
Theres an implicit sense of mutual admiration behind the titling of this album collaboration between two of the worlds gifted -- and certainly most decorated -- fingerpicking guitarists. Named in relation to Emmanuels status as an honorary Kentucky Colonel and Taylors lettered English roots, The Colonel & The Governor is primarily a collection of the duos favorite jazz standards and pop classics, delivered in a way that betrays not only their shared virtuosity, but also their sense of playfulness. In the immediate years leading up to this release, while Emmanuels studio output has been relatively sparse -- bar the impressive 2010 solo album Little by Little and the 2011 John Fahey nod that was All I Want For Christmas -- Taylor has been more prolific, collaborating with such jazz luminaries as Frank Vignola and Alan Barnes. Although Emmanuel and Taylor are both notoriously comfortable in the art of genre-hopping, its Taylors gentle Django Reinhardt- and Stéphane Grappelli-influenced jazz heredity that forms the basis of this set. So even though were occasionally given brief glimpses of Emmanuels accomplished folk and country leanings -- mainly through his tasteful rhythm-cum-lead playing -- its clear that jazz is the order of the day on this release. When the duo run through &Jersey Bounce& -- a 40s swing hit for Benny Goodman -- and the jazz standard &Bernies Tune,& its equally clear that Emmanuel is more than at home in this territory. Among the pop material on display here is the duos inventive take on the early-60s Kathy Kirby hit &Secret Love.& Built around Emmanuels singular use of harmonics, its a clear highlight of the disc. Elsewhere, Taylor contributes two original compositions to the album in the form of the tender ballad &True,& and the addictive, Caribbean-influenced &Down at Cocomos.& More than anything its the duos sheer enthusiasm for guitar playing that resonates across this release, and although their audible nods of approval to each others contributions can occasionally be distracting, this is an album that should impress any listener with guitar virtuosity high on their agenda.