Martin Taylor's first CD of live dates as a leader proves to be very rewarding listening. With his delightful Spirit of Django band, he sticks exclusively to the acoustic guitar throughout the release, giving a new look to pieces either written by
Django Reinhardt ("Tears" and "Nuages") or performed by the late Gypsy guitarist ("Chicago" and "Sweet Sue Just You"). But that's not all -- the opening medley centers around
David Grisman's engaging "The Tipsy Gypsy," and there are several strong originals by
Taylor as well, including the mellow but upbeat "Chez Fernand." Accordion player
Jack Emblow and saxophonist Dave O'Higgins (who is especially compelling on soprano) are also strong soloists who complement
Taylor's work; hopefully
Taylor will keep this group going in addition to his fine work as a solo performer.