Nitelife by Martin Taylor - DeepRiffs

ALBUM

Martin Taylor has done his share of label-hopping; after recording for labels that range from Linn to Milestone/Fantasy, the guitarist joins the Columbia roster with 2001's Nitelife. Produced by Steve Buckingham and Kirk Whalum, Nitelife is one of Taylor's more commercial efforts. Jazz is often blended with pop and R&B, and much of the CD is obviously aimed at the NAC/smooth jazz market. But Nitelife isn't without integrity. Although uneven and inconsistent -- there are a few throwaways here and there -- the album has more plusses than minuses. Nitelife's most memorable offerings range from the Celtic-influenced "Across the Pond" (a Taylor original) to sensitive interpretations of Hoagy Carmichael's "I Get Along Without You Very Well" and Edith Piaf's "Hymne a l'Amour" (a French standard that American jazz artists have tended to overlook). Unfortunately, the producers really louse things up on Dionne Warwick's 1979 hit "Deja Vu" -- Taylor's playing is fine, but Buckingham and Whalum make the mistake of overdubbing a programmed reggae/hip-hop beat. The end result is a major train wreck; the programmed groove might have worked on something funkier and more aggressive, but Taylor's take on "Deja Vu" is too introspective, too laid-back for that type of thing. His guitar solo is smothered by the production, and the same thing happens on an equally disappointing version of Earth, Wind & Fire's "That's the Way of the World." Instead of giving Taylor's guitar playing room to breath, Buckingham and Whalum insist on producing the tune to death. But on the whole, Nitelife isn't bad. Although far from one of Taylor's essential releases, Nitelife isn't the total disaster it might have been.
© Alex Henderson /TiVo

1. Chaff & Grain

by Martin Taylor

Composer: Matt Mcguire; Composer
Drums: Chester Thompson; Performer
Guitar: Martin Taylor; Performer
Keyboard: John Stoddart; Performer
Performer: Martin Taylor; Performer
Soprano Saxophone: Jim Reid; Performer
Lyricist: Matt Mcguire; Composer
Assistant Engineer: Thomas Johnson; Production
Assistant Producer: Jennie Carey; Production
Viola: Kirstin Wilkinson; Performer
Violin: David Angell
David Davidson; Performer
Mixing Engineer: Gary Paczosa; Production
Programmer: Kirk Whalum; Production
Primary Artist: Martin Taylor; Main Performer
Producer: Steve Buckingham
Kirk Whalum; Production

2. Doctor Spin

by Martin Taylor

Guitar: Martin Taylor; Performer
Primary Artist: Martin Taylor; Main Performer
Performer: Martin Taylor; Performer
Composer: Martin Taylor
Finian Greenall; Composer
Lyricist: Martin Taylor
Finian Greenall; Composer
Assistant Engineer: Thomas Johnson; Production
Assistant Producer: Jennie Carey; Production
Mixing Engineer: Gary Paczosa; Production
Producer: Steve Buckingham; Production

3. That's The Way Of The World

by Martin Taylor

Primary Artist: Martin Taylor; Main Performer
Guitar: Martin Taylor; Performer
Performer: Martin Taylor; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Kirk Whalum; Performer
Composer: Maurice White
Charles Stepney
Verdine White; Composer
Lyricist: Charles Stepney
Maurice White
Verdine White; Composer
Assistant Engineer: Thomas Johnson; Production
Assistant Producer: Jennie Carey; Production
Mixing Engineer: Gary Paczosa; Production
Producer: Steve Buckingham
Kirk Whalum; Production
Programmer: Kirk Whalum; Production

4. Déjà Vu

by Martin Taylor

Bass: David Hungate; Performer
Electric Guitar: Mike Durham; Performer
Guitar: Martin Taylor; Performer
Keyboard: Brian Siewert; Performer
Arranger: Brian Siewert; Composer
Composer: Isaac Hayes
Adrienne Anderson; Composer
Performer: Martin Taylor; Performer
Lyricist: Isaac Hayes
Adrienne Anderson; Composer
Assistant Engineer: Thomas Johnson; Production
Assistant Producer: Jennie Carey; Production
Drums: Chester Thompson; Performer
Mixing Engineer: Gary Paczosa; Production
Primary Artist: Martin Taylor; Main Performer
Producer: Steve Buckingham; Production

5. Hymne a L'amour

by Martin Taylor

Guitar: Martin Taylor; Performer
Primary Artist: Martin Taylor; Main Performer
Performer: Martin Taylor; Performer
Viola: Kristin Wilkinson; Performer
Violin: David Angell
David Davidson; Performer
Composer: Marguerite Monnot
Édith Piaf; Composer
Lyricist: Édith Piaf
Marguerite Monnot; Composer
Assistant Engineer: Thomas Johnson; Production
Assistant Producer: Jennie Carey; Production
Mixing Engineer: Gary Paczosa; Production
Producer: Steve Buckingham; Production

6. Nitelife

by Martin Taylor

Guitar: Martin Taylor; Performer
Composer: Kirk Whalum
Martin Taylor; Composer
Keyboard: John Stoddart; Performer
Performer: Martin Taylor; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Kirk Whalum; Performer
Viola: Kristin Wilkinson; Performer
Violin: David Angell
David Davidson; Performer
Lyricist: Martin Taylor
Kirk Whalum; Composer
Assistant Engineer: Thomas Johnson; Production
Assistant Producer: Jennie Carey; Production
Mixing Engineer: Gary Paczosa; Production
Programmer: Kirk Whalum; Production
Primary Artist: Martin Taylor; Main Performer
Producer: Kirk Whalum
Steve Buckingham; Production

7. Green Lady

by Martin Taylor

Primary Artist: Martin Taylor; Main Performer
Guitar: Martin Taylor; Performer
Keyboard: Brian Siewert; Performer
Viola: Monisa Angell; Performer
Violin: David Angell; Performer
Arranger: Brian Siewert; Composer
Performer: Martin Taylor; Performer
Composer: Martin Taylor; Composer
Lyricist: Martin Taylor; Composer
Assistant Engineer: Thomas Johnson; Production
Assistant Producer: Jennie Carey; Production
Mixing Engineer: Gary Paczosa; Production
Producer: Steve Buckingham; Production
Programmer: Brian Siewert; Production

8. Beboptimism

by Martin Taylor

Guitar: Martin Taylor; Performer
Composer: Kirk Whalum; Composer
Keyboard: John Stoddart; Performer
Performer: Martin Taylor; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Kirk Whalum; Performer
Viola: Kristin Wilkinson; Performer
Violin: David Angell
David Davidson; Performer
Lyricist: Kirk Whalum; Composer
Assistant Engineer: Thomas Johnson; Production
Assistant Producer: Jennie Carey; Production
Mixing Engineer: Gary Paczosa; Production
Programmer: Kirk Whalum; Production
Primary Artist: Martin Taylor; Main Performer
Producer: Kirk Whalum
Steve Buckingham; Production

9. Across The Pond

by Martin Taylor

Alto Saxophone: Jim Horn; Performer
Baritone Saxophone: Jim Horn; Performer
Bass: David Hungate; Performer
Drums: Chester Thompson; Performer
Arranger: Brian Siewert; Composer
Composer: Martin Taylor; Composer
Lyricist: Martin Taylor; Composer
Assistant Engineer: Thomas Johnson; Production
Assistant Producer: Jennie Tourel
Jennie; Production
Guitar: Martin Taylor; Performer
Keyboard: Brian Siewert; Performer
Performer: Martin Taylor; Performer
Soprano Saxophone: Jim Reid; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Jim Horn; Performer
Vocals: Michelle Anne Williams; Performer
Mixing Engineer: Gary Paczosa; Production
Programmer: Brian Siewert; Production
Primary Artist: Martin Taylor; Main Performer
Producer: Steve Buckingham; Production

10. I Get Along Without You Very Well

by Martin Taylor

Guitar: Martin Taylor; Performer
Primary Artist: Martin Taylor; Main Performer
Performer: Martin Taylor; Performer
Composer: Hoagy Carmichael; Composer
Lyricist: Hoagy Carmichael; Composer
Assistant Engineer: Thomas Johnson; Production
Assistant Producer: Jennie Carey; Production
Mixing Engineer: Gary Paczosa; Production
Producer: Steve Buckingham; Production

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

10 tracks available

Type

ALBUM

Format

Digital Media

Duration

57 minutes and 51 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 600x600 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

CD Quality (Lossless)

16bit / 44.1 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

Only 1/10 tracks has lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

No synced lyrics found

Genres

Pop/Rock, Jazz, Electronic, Contemporary Jazz, Crossover Jazz

Label

Jazz

Music Distribution Service

Sony

Country

United Kingdom

Language

No linguistic content

Popularity

Release Date

Jul 23, 2001

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

5099750332122