Neck And Neck - Chet Atkins/Mark Knopfler

Advantages: Great guitar, good jazz, relaxing
Disadvantages: few

...Martin Taylor is one of the - if not the - best jazz guitarists in the world. And that is not me talking, it is as voted, repeatedly, by jazz fans. He came to fame when he released his first album, "Taylor Made", in 1978 and was invited to tour with the great Stefan Grapelli, a partnership which continued through the 1980s. Taylor played on a number of albums with Stefan Grapelli but also went on to release several albums himself, some with his own band and others mainly solo. He has also worked with a number of other great musicians such as Chet Atkins (who features on three of the tracks on Portraits) Taylor is a self taught guitarist; he has developed a unique style of playing in which he picks several parts simultaneously. Listening to a solo piece, hearing a bass line, rhythm part and a lead melody all going at the same time... Read review

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Advantages: Easy listening, Great playing techniques
Disadvantages: Probably aimed more at the Didgeridoo enthusiast

...Imagine you are in the dusty outback of Australia, The sun is just beginning to set, the wind is calm and then from a distance you start to hear the eerie drone of the Didgeridoo. To me there is no sound like it but then I have been a Didgeridoo player and enthusiast for over 8 years now and to me it is the true sound that can make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and send shivers through your skin. The Didgeridoo is said to be the oldest wind instrument in the world and is also the closest instrument to nature as it is purely a single log of wood which has been hollowed by termites found in the northen parts of Australia. This album is one of my favourites in my collection played by who I think is one of the best Australian Aboriginal players around - Mark Atkins. Mark Atkins is from the Yamitiji tribe from western... Read review

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Advantages:
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...Mark Knopfler's new album - "Sailing to Philadelphia" is his second solo album, the first was called "Golden Heart". Both seem to have been released with minimal publicity. This album's got a country and blues feel with, of course, Knopflers unmistakable guitar. It also features duets with Van Morrison - "The Last Laugh" and James Taylor on the title track. There's nothing new or exciting in this album, but most people wouldn't expect that from Knopfler. Still, its a professional, accomplished album. If you still like Dire Straits - especially the Love Over Gold type stuff, you'll like this album.... Read review

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