Simpson/Taylor song "One Day"

Stewart Iain Taylor 1984 - 2005

My pal Martin Simpson has just released a new CD "True Stories" on Topic Records. Everyone is going wild about the track that Martin and I wrote together "One Day".

It started out as a melody that I wrote after my son Stewart died in 2005. I tried to put a few lyrics to it but then decided to ask Martin to build on the melody and the opening lyrics that I'd already written. He wrote the most profound, and as the critic from fROOTS magazine has said "a song of such exposed pain"

Martin, with the help of the legendary Danny Thompson on bass has turned the song into a magical masterpiece.

We're quite overwhelmed by the critical acclaim that One Day is getting from the music press.

Here's details....

Martin Simpson - True Stories
Topic Records Ltd TSCD578
www.topicrecords.co.uk
www.martintaylor.com

Carol & Mark Bailey

I've been to visit my friends Mark and Carol Bailey at Bailey Guitars. I've given Mark one of my old guitars to totally customize.
I told him just to let his imagination run wild and he's making something that's going to be very special. Watch this space!

Barney Kessel 1991

The photograpeher Robert Burns has just sent me this photo of Barney Kessel and I in concert in January 1991.
It was so nice to have this reminder of those great times I spent working with Barney.

Airports & Other Nightmares

Air travel is becoming more and more unpleasent. Airlines treat you like you are some kind of irritation that's come along to spoil their day. Gone are the days when you were treated as valued customers.

Airport security staff always make a big show that they're doing such a great job when in actual fact they seem to me to be fairly incompetent. The important thing for them is to look like they're efficient, which is why, I can only guess, they stop little old ladies and elderly vicars and put them through the full search treatment. It doesn't impress me, and it certainly doesn't make me feel safer.

Ok, ok...I've had my moan and minor rant. On a positive note...it's always great when I'm in the middle of one of my airport nightmares to bump into fellow troubadours. This photo was taken last week at Stockholm Airport (a surprisingly pleasant place with very helpful staff) with Robin Nolan, Nomi Rosenburg, our Swedish promoter Svante, and the rest of the Djangofest gang.

Life in the Bus Lane

The garden in Scotland is starting to look good. The plants are starting to grow, and Baxter is enjoying leaving messages all over the place. I'm enjoying having time off from touring and living life in the bus lane. Rock n' Roll!

My old friend Danny Godfrey came to see me today. Danny and I first met in the 1970's. He's been a big jazz fan for years and we used to have some great jazz nights at Danny's house in Glasgow. There would always be a few musicians there and we'd play music well into the wee small hours. Great sessions. Danny also introduced me to golf many years ago, and I've been annoying myself with my trusty "Mashie Niblick" eversince.

He's now enjoying his retirement as a gentleman of leisure.

Djangofest, Sweden

Just back from Eskilstuna, Sweden where I played a set with Andreas Oberg at the Djangofest.

I met up with Robin Nolan. I haven't seen Robin in years. We first met about 25 years ago when he was a young lad who came up to me and asked if he could play a tune with me at the end of my set.

We played a blues together, and he played some tasteful blues licks on his Gibson Les Paul. A couple of years later he sent me his first CD. He'd completely changed musical direction and was playing Django style.
Robin is now one of the top exponents of Gypsy Jazz Guitar. A great player.

This is a photo of us at Amsterdam Airport on our way back from Sweden.