Spirit of Django

by Alex HendersonIn the 1990s, jazz tribute albums could be incredibly predictable, with young tenor saxophonists paying tribute to John Coltrane by emulating his tone and playing his best-known songs exactly like he played them, or young trumpeters saluting Miles Davis by trying to sound like a carbon copy of him on yet another version of "So What" or "Solar." Spirit of Django is Martin Taylor's tribute to fellow guitarist Django Reinhardt, and thankfully, this is one tribute album that's interesting and unpredictable instead of cliché-ridden. Though Taylor's love of Reinhardt's legacy is evident throughout the album, the guitarist never sounds like an outright clone. His individuality comes through on Reinhardt pieces (including "Nuages" and "Minor Swing"), as well as Fats Waller's "Honeysuckle Rose" and the standards "Night and Day" and "Lady Be Good." To his credit, Taylor makes some unlikely choices. Pat Metheny's "James," for example, isn't something you'd expect to hear on a Reinhardt tribute, yet Taylor's interpretation fits in perfectly. This excellent CD is highly recommended to admirers of both Taylor and Reinhardt.