Martin Taylor
Widely considered to be the world’s foremost exponent of solo jazz and fingerstyle guitar, Martin Taylor is a virtuoso guitarist, composer, educator and musical innovator whom Acoustic Guitar magazine calls ‘THE Acoustic Guitarist of his Generation’. He dazzles audiences with a signature style that artfully combines his virtuosity, emotion and humor with a strong, engaging stage presence. Taylor has enjoyed a remarkable musical career spanning across five decades, with more than 100 recordings to his credit. Completely self-taught beginning at the early age of 4, he has invented and developed a unique way of playing the guitar that is greatly admired, and often emulated, by guitarists all over the world. In addition to his solo concerts and recordings, he has also collaborated with musicians from many different musical genres, including: Stephane Grappelli, Jeff Beck, Tommy Emmanuel, Bill Wyman, Chet Atkins, David Grisman, George Harrison, Jamie Cullum, Bryn Terfel, Dianne Schuur and Gary Burton. He has been awarded two honorary doctorates, a BBC lifetime achievement award, Top 10 albums in both the USA and Europe, a record 14 British Jazz Awards and in 2002 he was appointed MBE 'For Services to Jazz Music'. As one of the world's most recognized online guitar teachers his innovative online guitar school with its headquarters in Napa, CA has been featured on NPR, BBC, Fox News and the LA Times and is subscribed to by guitarists in over 58 countries.
Robin Nolan
Robin Nolan is one of the world’s best known and most admired gypsy jazz guitarists and has been praised for his musical genius and creativity by Willie Nelson, Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman, and the late George Harrison. Robin became one of George Harrison’s favorite guitarists and was his ‘secret weapon’ at many a party thrown at his English country estate Friar Park. Legendary in the Django Reinhardt world, Robin has headlined every major gypsy jazz festival across the globe & Nolan’s music is taking gypsy jazz into the 21st Century beyond Django Reinhardt and incorporating influences of The Beatles, Ravi Shankar and AC/DC. Robin Nolan is a favorite at jazz festivals around the world and brings his powerhouse swinging sound to more than twenty countries every year. Born in Vietnam in 1968 to musical parents who were entertaining the US troops at the time, Robin was instantly immersed into the life of a working traveling musician. First taught by his father at the age of six in Hong Kong he began his musical journey. Back in 1992 Robin relocated from London to Amsterdam where he played on the Leidseplein gaining many new fans and admirers. It was here on the streets of Amsterdam where he was discovered and invited to festivals and concerts in Japan, USA, Iceland, Spain, Canada and even the house of George Harrison. His new groundbreaking album ‘Sin City’ features gypsy jazz versions of 12 AC/DC classics. Robin cites Angus Young and Django Reinhardt as his favorite guitarists. In addition to his busy schedule as a performer, Robin is also well known as a passionate instructor. He has published some of the most important gypsy jazz instructional books and video courses that have been the foundation of study and jam sessions for thousands of guitarist worldwide. His new digital magazine Gypsy Jazz Guitar Secrets features highly in the iTunes charts and reaches a wide global audience.
