Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *
They don’t come much more rich and musically exotic as Tommy Emmanuel and Martin Taylor, two men whose work ethic and contribution to music is outstanding and what better way to enhance their reputation to in effect stratospheric proportions than by working together on the outstanding album The Colonel and The Governor.
The sound they put together is inviting, homely and truly incredible. The images each tune throws up is one of stimulating and carefully loved enticement, designed to relax the listener whilst at the same time giving a sense of hope and off beat gentleness. It is a design that works so well that the listener can only but dream of the days when Jazz not just ruled the world but also annoyed those that couldn’t see past the unstructured way of composition.
Having worked together before, the friendship, both personal and musically is strong and it shows throughout the album. Whether on tracks that have been taken from personal favourites or old recording such as Jersey Bounce or Lullaby of Birdland or original songs there is no doubting the mastery both men display in bringing about the desired effect.
The element of cool slow building passion strums through the air on tracks such as Bernie’s Tune, The Nearness of You, the sublime Down at Cocomos and the brilliant I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free, so much so the only thing missing from this incredible recording is the jazz club feel itself, the final ingredient in an intoxicating and well preserved sound.
Even if you don’t think you enjoy Jazz, Tommy Emmanuel and Martin Taylor will certainly give it a real good go to change your mind and on the evidence of this album are more than up for the challenge.
The Colonel and The Governor is available from March 4th 2013 on Mesa/Bluemoon recordings. Tommy Emmanuel and Martin Taylor go on tour from March 2nd starting in Belfast. Fans in the Northwest can catch them at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall on the 9th March.
Ian D. Hall