Bman's Blues Report: Tommy Emmanuel and Martin Taylor announce UK Tour

24 Hour Box Office: 0844 478 0898
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
www.tommyemmanuel.com
www.martintaylor.com

“Tommy Emmanuel is unquestionably one of
the most gifted artists of our time”
- Acoustic Guitar Magazine

“Martin Taylor out-shred's all of us put together ...
I've never seen anything like it”
- Jeff Beck

Two of the world’s greatest acoustic guitarists, Tommy Emmanuel and Martin Taylor, embark on a collaborative UK tour in March 2013 entitled: “The Colonel & The Governor.”

Photo Credit: © Allen Clarke

The tour will see both guitarists playing together and separately. The tour is also the name of Emmanuel and Taylor’s collaborative acoustic guitar album scheduled for February 2013 release.
The 16-date UK tour starts Thursday 7th March at the Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury. Tickets are on sale from the 24 hour box office 0844 478 0898 and www.thegigcartel.com.

Photo Credit: © Allen Clarke

While they are both serious "men of letters" with Tommy Emmanuel being an honorary Kentucky Colonel, a CGP (Certified Guitar Player), an Order of Australia Medalist (AM) and the holder of an honorary masters (MA) and Martin Taylor being an M.B.E. (Member of the British Empire) and holder of two Honourary Doctorates, they honour each other affectionately with these titles. Both acoustic guitarists are leaders of music in their respective countries - Australia and the UK. Call it a British Commonwealth thing!
Known for his complex finger-picking style, Tommy Emmanuel is an Australian guitarist who performs energetic concerts, and is highly regarded for the use of percussive effects on the guitar. In 2008 and 2010, Guitar Player Magazine’s Readers Poll voted him Best Acoustic Guitarist.
Martin Taylor is a multi-award winning guitarist and Acoustic Guitar magazine calls him, “the acoustic guitarist of his generation.” He dazzles audiences with his solo shows, which combine virtuosity, emotion, humour, and a strong stage presence while his inimitable style has seen him recognised as the world’s foremost exponent of solo finger style guitar playing. Taylor has invented and developed a way of playing the guitar that is admired, and often imitated, by guitarists all over the world.
Collaborations with artists including Jeff Beck, Bill Wyman, Jamie Cullum, David Grisman and Bryn Terfel have seen him garner 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’ by Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain.
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.
2012 saw the London premiere of Martin Taylor’s ‘Spirit of Django’ orchestral Suite at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms.

“Martin Taylor is one of the most awesome solo guitar players in the history of the instrument. He's unbelievable.”
- Pat Metheny

“No matter how complex or daring, Taylor's interpretations never short change the melodies; indeed his remarkable fluid touch embues a seamless beauty. Martin Taylor is something to behold.”
- The Washington Post

Throughout his career, Tommy Emmanuel has played with many notable artists including Chet Atkins, Eric Clapton, Sir George Martin, Air Supply, John Denver, Les Paul and Doc Watson.
Tommy and his brother Phil performed at Sydney’s closing ceremony at the Summer Olympics in 2000. The event was televised worldwide to an estimated 2.85 billion viewers.
Tommy has said that even at a young age he was fascinated by Atkins’ musical style of playing bass with the thumb and melody parts with the first two or three fingers at the same time. This technique became the basis of Tommy's guitar style.
While Tommy has never had formal music training, his playing ability has won him fans from all over the world. He is known to play percussion parts on the body of his guitar. As a solo performer he never plays to a set list and uses a minimum of effects. He usually completes recordings in one take.

“Tommy Emmanuel's steel-string fretwork
is technically dazzling and atmospheric.”
- Chicago Tribune

Emmanuel frequently uses his left thumb to fret bass notes on the 5th and 6th strings as well as playing chords such as Am and E with just two fingers. He uses a thumb pick mostly, a flat pick or just fingers.
His main guitar is a small-bodied custom Maton EBG808 that is fitted with a pickup and an internal condenser microphone, to which he has given the nickname "Mouse" due to its quieter volume unplugged but massive sound when plugged into an amp. Two of his three main stage guitars, notably his signature TE1 Maton dreadnought, are battered and worn from his excessive playing and percussive techniques on them. He once stated that all three of his stage guitars have been broken and repaired numerous times over the years.
As a young man in Australia, Tommy wrote to his hero Chet Atkins in Nashville. Eventually Atkins replied with words of encouragement and a longstanding invitation to drop by to visit.
In 1997, Emmanuel and Atkins recorded as a duo and released the album The Day Finger Pickers Took over the World, which was also to be Atkins' last recorded album before he died in 2001. In 1998, a year after the album was released it won Best Country Instrumental Album at the Nashville Music Awards.

“Blessed with impeccable taste and exceptional technique,
he’s able to perform folk, rock, jazz, country and blues
with fluid ease and impressive authority.”
- San Diego Union Tribune

In July 1999, at the 15th Annual Chet Atkins Appreciate Society Convention, Chet presented Tommy with a Certified Guitar Player award, an honor Atkins has bestowed on other guitarists. This award gains its fame from being bestowed by Atkins himself, a widely recognized leader in guitar music. The award states: "In Recognition of his Contributions to the Art of Fingerpicking." Tommy performs at the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society in July each year in Nashville.
“Tommy is about the only guitarist I’ve heard,” said Chet Atkins, “who can come close to what Lenny Breau did with harmonics, and he’s got a style all his own. I think he’s probably the greatest finger-picker in the world today. He’s inventive, fearless and has a flawless sense of rhythm. He’s a great showman, too.”
Emmanuel’s duet with Chet Atkins, Smokey Mountain Lullaby, was nominated for the 1998 Grammy award for Country Instrumental Performance. In 2006, Emmanuel received his second Grammy award nomination for Best Country Instrumental Performance for Gameshow Rag.
Tommy Emmanuel’s last album Little By Little was released in 2010. The deluxe 2xCD set features special guests Pam Rose, John Knowles cgp, Victor Wooten, Doyle Dykes and many more. The album is available to purchase from www.tommyemmanuel.com.

Photo Credit: © Allen Clarke

24 Hour Box Office: 0844 478 0898
Book Online: www.thegigcartel.com
www.tommyemmanuel.com
www.martintaylor.com

Thursday 7th March
Aylesbury, Waterside Theatre
Tickets: £22 / Box Office 0844 871 7607
Stage Time: 7:30pm
www.atgtickets.com/venues/aylesbury-waterside-theatre
Exchange Street, Aylesbury,
Buckinghamshire, HP20 1UG

Friday 8th March
Gateshead, The Sage
Tickets: £20 / Box Office 0191 443 4661
http://thesagegateshead.org
St Mary's Square, Gateshead Quays,
Gateshead, NE8 2JR

Saturday 9th March
Manchester, Bridgewater Hall
Tickets: £20 / Box Office: 0161 907 9000
www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk
Lower Mosley Street,
Manchester, M2 3WS

Sunday 10th March
Wolverhampton, Robin 2
Tickets: £20 / Box Office: 0190 240 1211
www.therobin.co.uk
26-28 Mount Pleasant, Bilston,
Wolverhampton, WV14 7LJ

Tuesday 12th March
Barnstaple, Queen’s Theatre
Tickets: £21 / Box Office: 0127 132 4242
Stage Time: 7:30pm
www.northdevontheatres.org.uk
Boutport Street, Barnstaple,
North Devon, EX31 1SY

Wednesday 13th March
Exeter, Corn Exchange
Tickets: £20 / Box Office: 0139 266 5938
Stage Time: 7:30pm
www.exeter.gov.uk/cornexchange
Market Street, Exeter, EX1 1BW

Thursday 14th March
Bristol, Colston Hall
Tickets: £20 / Box Office: 0117 922 3686
Stage Time: 7:30pm
www.colstonhall.org
Colston Street, Bristol, BS1 5AR

Saturday 16th March
London o2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Tickets: £22.50 / Box Office: 0844 477 2000
Stage Time: 7pm
www.o2shepherdsbushempire.co.uk
Shepherd’s Bush Green,
London, W12 8TT

Sunday 17th March
Folkestone, Leas Cliffe Hall
Tickets: £21 / Box Office: 0844 847 1776
Stage Time: 7:30pm
www.atgtickets.com/venues/leas-cliff-hall
The Leas, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 2DZ

Monday 18th March
Crawley, Hawth Theatre
Tickets: £20 / Box Office: 0129 355 3636
Stage Time: 7:30pm
https://tickets.hawth.co.uk
Hawth Avenue, Crawley, RH10 6YZ

Wednesday 20th March
Ipswich, Corn Exchange
Tickets: £20 / Box Office: 01473 433 100
Stage: 7:30pm
https://apps.ipswich.gov.uk/PEO
King Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 1DH

Thursday 21st March
Chesterfield, Winding Wheel
Tickets: £20 / Box Office: 0124 634 5334
Stage Time: 7:30pm
Email: box.office@chesterfield.gov.uk
www.windingwheel.co.uk
13 Holywell Street, Chesterfield,
Derbyshire, S41 7SA

Friday 22nd March
Halifax, Victoria Theatre
Tickets: £21 / Box Office: 0142 235 1158
Stage Time: 7:30pm
www.calderdale.gov.uk/victoria
2 Fountain Street, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX1 1BP

Sunday 24th March
Ulverston, Coronation Hall
Tickets: £20 / Box Office: 0122 958 7140
Email: ulverstontic@southlakeland.gov.uk
Stage Time: 7:30pm
www.corohall.co.uk
Coronation Hall, County Square, Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 7LZ

Tuesday 26th March
Aberdeen, Lemon Tree
Tickets: £20 / Box Office: 01224 641 122
Stage Time: 7:30pm
www.boxofficeaberdeen.com/venues/the-lemon-tree
5 West North Street, Aberdeen, AB24 5AT

Thursday 28th March
Edinburgh, Queen’s Hall
Tickets: £20 / Box Office: 0131 668 2019
Stage Time: 7:30pm
www.thequeenshall.net
85-89 Clerk Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9JG

TOMMY EMMANUEL - OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY

Two-time Grammy nominee Tommy Emmanuel is one of Australia's most respected musicians. The legendary guitarist has a professional career that spans almost five decades and continues to intersect with some of the finest musicians throughout the world. A household name in his native Australia, Tommy has garnered hundreds of thousands of loyal fans worldwide.
Tommy's unique “finger style" is akin to playing guitar the way a pianist plays piano, using all ten fingers. Rather than using a whole band for melody, rhythm, bass, and drum parts, Tommy plays all that - and more - on one guitar. Guitar legend Chet Atkins was one of the first to inspire Emmanuel to try this "fingerpicker" style as a child. Decades later, Atkins himself became one of Emmanuel's biggest fans.
Emmanuel's unusual talent and life are common lore in Australia. Born into a musical family, Tommy and his older brother Phil were considered child prodigies. Tommy got his first guitar at age 4 and was taught by his mother. He learned by ear, with no formal instruction, and has never read music.
By the age of 6, he was already working as a professional musician in the family band, variously named The Emmanuel Quartet, The Midget Surfaries and The Trailblazers. Tommy played rhythm guitar and his older brother Phil played lead, along with their brother Chris on drums and sister Virginia on slide guitar. The Emmanuel siblings earned the family's sole income for several years. Tommy doesn't remember such responsibility as a hardship. "I've spent all my life from the age of four playing music and entertaining people. I never wanted to do anything else." By age 10, Emmanuel had played his way across Australia.

In 1962, Tommy heard Nashville guitarist Chet Atkins' music for the first time and was riveted by the complexity of Atkins' solo sound. He spent hours trying to figure out the "fingerpicking" style and gobbled up each of the American star's albums as they came out. Shortly after his father's death in 1966, Tommy even wrote Chet a letter and, to his surprise, the famous artist and producer wrote him back. Chet would grow to become Tommy's mentor and primary influence, but it would be another 15 years before the two would finally meet in person.
After his father died, the Emmanuel family was approached by Australian country music star Buddy Williams, who took them on the road until they were forced by the Australian child welfare department to stop travelling. The children were then sent to a regular school. Tommy played in The Trailblazers on weekends. He also taught guitar and made several TV appearances in musical competitions. Emmanuel's first brush with fame came when The Trailblazers won two TV talent contests and produced an album.
Leaving school and home in his early teens, Tommy embraced big city life in Sydney in order to pursue his career as a professional guitarist. By the 70's, he was playing in clubs all over the city and soon found himself in high demand as a session player and sideman. During the mid 70s through the early 80s, Emmanuel played on recordings for Air Supply, Men at Work and dozens of other popular bands and artists, as well as thousands of commercial jingles. He soon became known as one of the best modern guitarists in Australia. Some of his most notable appearances were on the Air Supply hit singles Lost in Love, All Out of Love, Every Woman in the World, and Now and Forever.
In 1985 Emmanuel joined one of the decade's biggest Australian rock bands, Dragon, and recorded the platinum-selling album Dreams of Ordinary Men. In 1987, Dragon toured with Tina Turner on her 'Break Every Rule' tour. As a songwriter (co-writing with 1960s Australian star Steve Kipner), his compositions have been recorded by Olivia Newton-John, Al Jarreau, and Sheena Easton. It is for his successful solo career, however, that Emmanuel is best known.
In 1980 Emmanuel made a trip to America and finally met and got to play with his hero, Chet Atkins, in Nashville. From that moment forward, the Tennessee master guitarist and producer took the twenty-something Australian ace under his wing and began introducing him to other guitar legends. Tommy speaks of his mentor with the love and gratitude of a son and Atkins' influences are evident throughout his music and personal philosophy. Emmanuel's technical precision, his virtuosic improvisations and his unusually broad repertoire - which encompasses not only country and bluegrass, but pop, jazz, blues, gospel, even classical, flamenco, and aboriginal styles - bespeak Chet Atkins' legacy.
Emmanuel got his solo instrumental career off the ground with the release of the gentle and textural Up from Down Under album (1988). In the 90's his efforts blossomed and became recognized and rewarded by the Australian music industry and media. Sales of his albums set records that have yet to be broken.
His versatility has taken Emmanuel from international Jazz Festivals to shows with the Sydney Philharmonic, The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, and performances for the Masai people in remote areas of Kenya. Tommy's dream of recording with Chet Atkins came true in 1996 when the pair made an album titled The Day the Finger Pickers Took Over the World, for which Emmanuel received his first Grammy award nomination.
Tommy was well-known in Australia, Asia, and Europe long before his presence was felt in America. By 1997 his album Midnight Drive was in the top five for 16 weeks, which made him the “most added artist” on the NAC radio charts that year. In Nashville in 1999, Tommy was honoured by his mentor, Chet Atkins with the title of “Certified Guitar Player” for his contribution to fingerstyle guitar, a rare distinction shared by only three other people in the world (Jerry Reed, Steve Wariner and John Knowles).
After Tommy's appearance with his brother Phil in the Closing Ceremonies of the Sydney Olympic Games and his debut at the famous Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas, in late 2000, Americans wanted to know who this mysterious Australian guitar virtuoso was. In 2001, Emmanuel released his first solo-acoustic album, ONLY, and in 2002 it debuted in America.

Emmanuel's popularity in the US has grown by leaps and bounds in the last few years, aided by a non-stop touring schedule and increasing exposure in the media. 2005 kicked off a stream of US honours and awards. Tommy was inducted into the National Thumbpickers' Hall of Fame in Muhlenberg, KY (the only non-American ever to be selected) and awarded with Thumbpicker of the Year and Album of the Year by the group, as well.
He played Carnegie Hall for Les Paul's 90th birthday Tribute Concert. His The Mystery album earned a Grammy nomination in 2006 for Best Country Instrumental for 'Gameshow Rag/Cannonball Rag'. In 2008, Guitar Player Magazine and Acoustic Guitar Magazine named him Best Acoustic Guitarist and Gold Medalist - Fingerstyle category in the Readers' Choice and Players' Choice Awards, respectively.
His last solo album and DVD Center Stage (2008) is based on the popularity of Emmanuel's episode of a PBS series called Sierra Center Stage filmed live at the famous Sierra Nevada Brewery venue in Sierra Nevada, CA. Tommy's Center Stage video has been featured on PBS stations around the country during 2009, drawing ever-larger sell-out crowds at his concerts. Tommy was also honoured with Guitar Player Magazine's most prestigious annual Guitar Legend award in 2009, as well as being named Thumbpicker of the Year for the second time. Most recently, Guitar Player's 2010 Readers Choice awards named him Best Acoustic Guitarist for the second time.
Emmanuel's catalogue includes 20 musical recordings that include solos, duets, ensembles, cover tunes, originals, both electric and acoustic guitar. He has made three live performance DVDs, three additional instructional DVDs, and regularly teaches master classes on the road.
At 54, performing live is more important to him than ever and he tours constantly, playing over 300 concerts a year for the last five years. Guitar players of all levels come to his shows to watch the magic hands of the 'guitar Wizard of Oz,' but his appeal goes far beyond musicians. His live shows are known for their humour, passion, and infectious joy. The power of his charismatic showmanship will be an enduring part of Emmanuel's legacy. Tommy Emmanuel's message is pure love for the music and his delight in sharing it with the world, one audience at a time.

MARTIN TAYLOR - OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY

Multi award winning guitarist and composer MARTIN TAYLOR has established a unique musical career as an internationally acclaimed musician, and his inimitable style has seen him recognized as the world’s foremost exponent of solo jazz guitar playing.
Although completely self taught, he has enjoyed a remarkable musical career spanning across five decades, and during that time has invented and developed a way of playing the guitar that is admired, and often imitated, by guitarists all over the world. As well as being a true guitar innovator, he is also a master concert performer, dazzling audiences with his solo shows, which combine virtuosity, emotion, humor, with a strong stage presence.
He spends much of the year traveling the world, playing in concert halls in Europe, North America, Japan, Asia, and Australasia as well as presiding over the uniquely innovative Martin Taylor Guitar Academy Online.
As well as his solo concerts and recordings, he has also collaborated with musicians from many different musical genre including, Stephane Grappelli, Jeff Beck, Chet Atkins, Bill Wyman, George Harrison, Dionne Warwick, Diane Schuur and Jamie Cullum.

From 1979 to 1990 he toured the world and recorded over 20 albums with the French jazz violin legend STEPHANE GRAPPELLI. Their album with Vassar Clements “Together At Last” won a Grammy Nomination in 1987.
Monsieur Grappelli described him as “A great artist, rich in talent and elegance”
His ground breaking solo album ARTISTRY, produced by Steve Howe, was released in 1992 to much critical acclaim. It was No 1 in the HMV Jazz Charts for a record 12 weeks and launched his career as an international solo artist.
After two very successful albums for Sony/Columbia, KISS AND TELL and NITELIFE, he went on to record several albums for The Guitar Label.
In 1999 he was made an Honorary Doctor of the University of The West of Scotland and in 2002, was appointed MBE “For Services To Jazz Music”, in The Queen’s Birthday Honours List, which he received personally from Her Majesty The Queen at an investiture at Buckingham Palace.
In 2007 he received the prestigious BBC Radio 2 “Heart of Jazz” Award in recognition of his career in music, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the North Wales Jazz Guitar Festival for his “Contribution to Jazz Guitar Worldwide”.
He has also received a record 14 British Jazz Awards as a guitarist, and as a composer he was nominated for “Best Contemporary Song” in the BBC Folk Awards in 2009. The prestigious Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama made him an Honorary Doctor of Music in 2010.
When not touring he divides his time between Scotland and California, where the Martin Taylor Guitar Academy is based.
His film credits include the French comedy “Milou En Mai” directed by Louis Malle, and more recently his composition “Green Lady” is featured in the Andrew Piddington movie “The Killing of John Lennon”
His many TV credits include the theme music for “After You’ve Gone” featuring Nicholas Lyndhurst and Celia Imrie, and the cult “Nicole-Papa” TV commercials for the Renault Clio.
His recent collaboration with Guy Barker saw the debut of their “Spirit of Django Orchestral Suite” which they performed for the first time in November 2010 with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
Outside of his work as a musician he is also involved in several charities including the Child Bereavement Charity, is Patron of the My Wish Foundation of Sri Lanka, and is a Trustee and Vice President of Scotland’s Buddhist Vihara.
His autobiography “Martin Taylor- Autobiography of a Travelling Musician” was recently released.
2010 saw the launch of the uniquely innovative Martin Taylor Guitar Academy online. 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.

Tommy Emmanuel – Official Website
www.tommyemmanuel.com

Tommy Emmanuel – Official Facebook
www.facebook.com/tommyemmanuel

Martin Taylor - Official Website
www.martintaylor.com

Martin Taylor - Official Facebook
www.facebook.com/martintaylormbe

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Monday, October 1, 2012

Tommy Emmanuel and Martin Taylor announce UK Tour

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