Years Apart

Personnel: Martin Taylor (acoustic guitar); Stéphane Grappelli (violin); Claire Martin (vocals); John Goldie (acoustic guitar); Jack Emblow (accordion); Dave O'Higgins (saxophone); Gerard Presencer (flugelhorn); Terry Gregory (acoustic bass guitar); James Taylor (percussion).
Liner Note Author: Stéphane Grappelli.
Recording information: Acousti Studios, Paris, France (03/25/1996-03/27/1996); Castle Cava Studios, Pencaitland, UK (03/25/1996-03/27/1996); Wyndales House Symington, UK (03/25/1996-03/27/1996); Acousti Studios, Paris, France (03/29/1996); Castle Cava Studios, Pencaitland, UK (03/29/1996); Wyndales House Symington, UK (03/29/1996); Acousti Studios, Paris, France (04/08/1996); Castle Cava Studios, Pencaitland, UK (04/08/1996); Wyndales House Symington, UK (04/08/1996).
Arranger: Martin Taylor.
This 1996 Scottish release predates the CD Celebrating Grappelli (released under Stephane Grappelli's name shortly after his death on Dec. 1, 1997 but with Taylor, in fact, as the leader) by over a year, yet it overlaps considerably with that album. Several tracks that were dropped to make room for additional material with Grappelli are found on this disc: the easygoing ballad "Going Home Again," the Gypsy-flavored "Monti," and an additional vocal by Claire Martin on the well-crafted "Hi Lily, Hi Lo," a piece rarely heard in a jazz setting. Years Apart should be acquired instead of Celebrating Grappelli because most fans will already have the Grappelli-Taylor duets heard on the latter album, which were repeated from their earlier Linn CD, Reunion. ~ Ken Dryden