Martin Taylor & Bireli Lagrene | KNKX Studio Session

Both Martin Taylor and Bireli Lagrene have been called “undisputed champions” of the guitar. In the KNKX Studio X, the two sounded much more like teammates than opponents.
Taylor and Lagrene were visiting Seattle on their first ever tour together. It was a long time coming for this pair who first met through violinist Stephane Grappelli, the co-founder with guitarist Django Reinhardt of Hot club-style jazz in the 1930s. Taylor was 23, and Lagrene was just 13.
The demanding music of Django’s music may have been good preparation for their successful careers, but both Taylor and Lagrene have shown versatility far beyond a single genre.
At this point, the pair are certainly masters of the guitar. However, they both shared with the KNKX studio audience that neither of them really practices. It just so happens play all the time because they love it.
Taylor and Lagrene played four wonderful duets in Studio X, “like we’ve never played before and never will again,” Taylor laughed.
Toots Thielemans’ hit “Bluesette” found the pair sharing solo and rhythm duties while the ballad “Body and Soul” was a study in melody and harmony, not to mention dexterity.
“Swing ‘42” by Django Reinhardt was a delightful reminder of Taylor and Lagrene’s shared musical background, as each had filled the guitar legend's role on this song when they were much younger.
The two concluded with a deconstructed “All the Things You Are,” a jazz standard loved by Tommy Dorsey swingers, Charlie Parker beboppers and even Barbra Streisand and other pop stars.
After the song, Taylor reacted to the audience’s positive response with surprise. “I thought that was a little ‘out’,” he smiled.
Enjoy this exclusive studio session from these masters of the guitar whose music is always ‘in’.
Musicians:
Martin Taylor (‪@MartinTaylorMBE‬) - guitar
Bireli Lagrene - guitar
Songs:
00:00 Bluesette
04:56 Body and Soul
11:51 Swing '42
18:22 All the Things You Are
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[@johncalo5856]

...saw the show when they came to Bakersfield(!). They had just flown in from Minneapolis that afternoon and must have been really beat. But they put on a great show. Disappointed that there was no merch table to say hi, I left for the parking lot and there was Bireli having a smoke. A real gentleman who had a minute for a fan and very warm....made my year.

[@Gieniusze]

Hi from "the other site of the globe" Poland near Ukraine border (40km as the crow fly). I met personaly Bireli at backstage of Krakow Filharmonia before the show. It was not oficial - I asked him to sign his first record (vinyl ofcourse) I bougt in Belgium many years ago. He was much surprised but it was a nice, warm moment. Its so good to see how he is evoluting in play and composing Polish regards

[@TheCompleteGuitarist]

Martin is not a showy player and Bireli can be when he wants but he's so beautifully restrained. A delight to hear these two greats together.

[@tonyloraine3144]

On top of 100 years of experience, talent, expression and taste, there is just the "knowing". Nothing else like it.

[@pjjmsn]

There is high level playing and there is the highest. This is the latter. Bireli is a monster and the inspiration he is receiving from Martin is beautiful to see, and Martin from him as well. This is the most rarified of sessions and I am grateful for it.

[@christophermitchum6829]

Smooth... like a smoothie with a spritz of 😎🔥👍

[@olivegog78olive65]

what a pleasure to listen these two top artists together

[@chrrev1]

Taylor's incredibly clean playing...

[@victorsaumarez3714]

Much better than when I saw them in Mission Viejo recently. Two contrasting players. Bireli a power house. Martin's sensibility. Yet they found the common ground. A lesson for us all.

[@guitarraflamenca8810]

Voilà la guitare de jazz que j’affectionne particulièrement avec deux guitaristes d’exception. Un grand merci messieurs et un grand merci à la chaîne pour l’agréable post 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@lukasmaierhofer4034]

So beautiful! Unbelievable comping and soloing ❤❤❤

[@h.e.r.o8670]

what a BEAUTIFUL performance by these two masters. just 👌

[@alankeish6420]

This is the best especially for guitar players,melody, harmony and rhythm

[@guitargod6997]

Two masters of their instrument! Lovely!

[@pacucoreyes7268]

Qué grandes! cómo se entienden, un verdadero lenguaje bello e inspirador… gracias por compartir !

[@jeanvoisine7313]

Amazing virtuosi, you are so good together.🤩

[@eastonpeter1242]

Bereli's using the thumb throughout was gorgeous, ala Jim Mullen and, of course, Wes.

[@NoraGermain]

Jim Mullen is a giant. Played w/ him a few times in London. Just heavenly.

[@Kanariepiet-rq7lt]

Actually if you look carefully you will see him using a pick on the solo sections...

[@babinm]

I didn’t know Jim mullin was with Gene Harris before Ron Eschete

[@acme.videos]

2 brilliant musicians!🤩😎

[@alanpickering4497]

sublime Martin and great to see you working with another French Jazz virtuoso hero.

[@FabioMariani]

Biggest Duo in tour … ❤

[@Raz-Sekeles]

I love you both ❤🧡💛💚💙💜

[@gadymarcus2362]

Magnifico.👑👑👑👑👑👑

[@aldostella7585]

Meraviglioso! Due grandi! Ascoltare loro si impara ad amare il jazz, gli standard ! Che gusto!!!

[@hienbossa1065]

❤❤

[@brandonlewisguitar]

Yessssssssss

[@fredericbordier6970]

💜

[@zagortriplex100]

Swing'42 is too nice and funny!

[@bensherwood777]

Two of my favourite players ever, what a treat! Such different styles and yet an unbelievable synergy between these two legends. Does anyone know what guitar is Bireli playing please?

[@mattelijah2615]

I have seen Martin a few ocassion at the Stables in Wavenden. I can safely say he's a humble man but he has a great musical talent.

[@precijazz]

So judging by a lot of comments down below I‘m a cretin who is easy to impress but I feel these two are vibing hard and blending their individual styles perfectly while playing on the highest level. Maybe they are too successful making it seem effortless so some people confuse this with a lack of enthusiasm.

[@timoroj285]

🎸🎸👑👑💪💪

[@ondaride777]

Martin Taylor... some name for a guitar player huh! Just really missing TM next to each name LOL!!

[@eastonpeter1242]

I don't understand.

[@ondaride777]

@@eastonpeter1242 learn about major guitar brands first, then you will understand it.

[@normalizedaudio2481]

Sounds good. -10DB on this. Still sounds good.

[@alisonCNboy]

Tytytytytytyty❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@kmc7239]

the music, the art is not for opponents!!!

[@cjmadridtv4289]

Blunt

[@christoguichard4311]

😴😴😴🤭

[@grantgre]

Burrelli's blonde L5 sounds better than those good guitars

[@franbestguitrplayerinthewo5027]

I am sorry but those two togheter they do not blend properly it is not any offence because they are both virtuosi

[@simonpeter2223]

These guys are two of the best guitar players on the planet. But them playing together is lacking something. Don't know what it is. But them as a duet doesn't work for me

[@moonsama395]

Are you the simon peter who plays the guitar? I think i get you, it’s too safe but at the same time very good, easy listening, and tonz for vocabulary

[@simonpeter2223]

Yes I play guitar. These guys are awesome. But I don't think they compliment each other if that makes sense. For straight ahead jazz. Martin is hard to beat. Birelli is on another level any type of music he plays. Still great listening but just not feeling the duet

[@josueraquinard9550]

Des musiciens essoufflé 😢... quand i à plus la niac c'est triste .

[@chrrev1]

Ben va ecouter zztop, le jazz c'est ptet pas ton truc...😂

[@nicknelson9450]

Etrange pour moi ce commentaire, car c'est vrai que parfois on entend de très bons guitaristes comme ceux-ci plutôt ressasser de vieilles idées mais en l'occurence j'ai justement trouvé qu'ici ils en ont trouvé beaucoup de nouvelles. Une autre dimension que j'ai particulièrement apprécié c'est qu'ils n'ont pas eu trop recours à la vitesse, la flambe ou les citations et d'avoir simplement pris le temps de respirer et de s'écouter. Ca serait qui, pour toi, un guitariste de jazz qui aurait plus de gniaque que ces deux là, par exemple? ...curieux d'entendre ça, moi. 🤔🙂

[@kubagalinski8724]

I'm a fan, but they look and sound bored.

[@SPRoadmap]

Huge fan of Bireli but I thought the same thing. Uninteresting and lifeless. Great players for sure, but nothing moved me. Sorry if you read this Bireli. Not my kind of format or feel

[@IRACEMABABU]

Who cares ? 😂@@SPRoadmap

[@StewbieDewbie]

These guys are phenomenal, tell me what to listen to that is much better than this?

[@kubagalinski8724]

@@StewbieDewbie Oh there's even a live set from last month of these 2 guys that was uploaded recently. Just type "Bireli Lagrene Martin Taylor" and it should come up, fantastic music. I was just saying that knowing both these guys' capabilities, this performance was pretty tame.

[@raylangley4842]

@@StewbieDewbie Joe pass, that's what the trying to sound like.

[@paulwhetstone0473]

Too much doodlin for my taste.

[@nicknelson9450]

If, by doodling, you mean letting their inspiration take them wherever it might take them, isn't that one of the principles of jazz? I think it was in fact quite masterful to what extent they were able to wander while still managing not to get lost. Would you rather they had just played the themes and nothing else then? 🤔 Or maybe you mean that you're just not that into jazz in general and prefer other styles of music, which would, for me, better explain your comment.

[@paulwhetstone0473]

@@nicknelson9450I’m just getting pickier in my older age when it comes to jazz improv. Also after becoming a “serious” social dancer I’ve become biased towards the great arrangements of big and medium sized bands that play swing, salsa, hustle and other social dance forms.

[@davidmiller4078]

These guys may be doodling but at lrast they are doing on an actual tune or cord progression as opposed to am for 30 minutes ?

[@markbraxton1289]

Amazing players but I would rather listen to paint dry than their totally boring song selection

[@jinpeter2961]

Wow