Charlotte Taylor and Gypsy Rain
Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Music
Press
Charlotte Taylor writes and sings tales of cheating and longing, low-down, dance-floor-ripping originals like Wild Child and 88 Miles to Memphis and big ballads Try and Faith keep standards high, while the lush slow blues When I'm Dreamin' applies the formula to a pure 12-bar pattern. (Tom Hyslop) Blues Revue - Blues Revue
"Charlotte Taylor can take it from a whisper to a scream at will." - Blues On Stage
Charlotte Taylor and Gypsy Rain followed Waters’ set. Taylor and Gypsy Rain were the SCBS’ rep to the IBC in the band category. In predictable fashion, Taylor belted out original tunes and sultry blues covers. Taylor has a solid band highlighted by Brian Detherow on guitar and John Weir on the trumpet. With a set of pipes reminiscent of something between Janis Joplin and Etta James, Taylor tore up the toasty afternoon crowd. Headliner EG Kight and her tour manager, Teresa Wade, were downtown, several blocks away from the festival when Taylor was playing. Upon hearing her singing, Wade said, “…we didn’t know who it was but we headed to the festival grounds to find out. That girl has a powerful set of pipes on her
- Nightflying
Taylor and Martinez - Hi Records
This is a historic record in that it represents the first new release on the legendary Hi label. For the past 20 years it has survived on maintenance and licensing of the back catalogue, an indication of the quality and timelessness of the product from their hey day.
That this duo should be selected for the first release shows the confidence that the label has in them. Vocalist Charlotte Taylor and guitarist George Martinez also wrote all the material on the album with the exception of the cover of the standard 'Cry me a river'.
The duo are billed as being soul, blues, pop but for me they veer towards the Blues. I prefer the slower numbers where Charlotte's vocals are prominent such as 'Try', with a laid back Otis Redding style track - even lyrical similarities.
The musicianship is tight which is what you would expect from Memphis and George's guitar is varied and excellent and comes to the fore on various Blues styles - jump Blues of Way Down Yonder, slow Blues of 'When I'm Dreamin' -a good track with excellent vocal, and duetting with the harp on 'Wild for your love'.
Some tracks were mixed by the legendary Willie Mitchell and even though he is not the producer of the album (except on Cry Me) his mark is stamped. Somehow he can create 'space' on a track, it sounds less cluttered, clean and unmistakable. This was his hallmark from days gone by and it's clearly still here.
The personal anthem of the duo is 'Faith', lyrically fine and mellow guitar and laid back vocal over a sparse Willie Mitchell mix - nice.
Closes with the rockin' '88 miles to Memphis'
I understand that these two regularly play clubs around the Memphis area - Catch them if you can because I get the impression that they would be very good live.
I hope that this album signals the resurgence of the Hi label although personally I would have preferred something more in the Soul field - but that said there was an awful lot of Blues and Deep Soul material on the original Hi.
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ROCK & BLUES NEWS
Taylor and Martinez (Hi Records).
First all, it's a pleasure to see Memphis' truly legendary Hi Records back in the business of recording new acts. Charlotte Taylor and George Martinez are from Heber Springs and Searcy, Arkansas, and they have blended the best elements of Southern blues and soul music. They also wrote 11 of the 12 songs on the CD. Charlotte's voice has all the requisite qualities of a soul diva with strong blues overtones.
An uptempo cover of Julie London's Cry Me A River is a pleasant surprise with its Stax-Volt sound helped out by the Memphis Horns. A slow blues version of Try highlights Taylor's fine voice in a song which bears a striking resemblance to Otis Redding's Try A Little Tenderness. Faith is a ballad which demonstrates the wide variety of musical influences that make up the so-called Southern sound. Here Charlotte moves into a gospel-soul direction. 88 Miles to Memphis has elements of the musical style that made Stax, Volt and Hi premier Southern labels in the 1960s. Martinez' guitar sparkles on most tunes but on Wild For Your Love he really comes alive and blends with Taylor's raw gut vocal.
Hi Records with the help of Jud Phillips and the production team of Dan Penn-Spooner Oldham influence is launching a new soul-blues act that should have little trouble achieving commercial success. Thank goodness some forces don't die out. The debut Taylor and Martinez is a soul masterpiece.
(Howard A DeWitt)
- Rock and Blues News
Discography
Taylor and Martinez Hi Records
Released May 2000
www.hirecords.com
www.amazon.com
Charlotte Taylor and Gypsy Rain
Live! in Little Rock EP
October 2004
March 2009 Live! in Argenta!
Photos
Bio
Charlotte Taylor and Gypsy Rain
Blues performer and singer-songwriter Charlotte Taylor fronts this dynamic original blues band from Little Rock, Arkansas.
Performing since an early age, Taylor sings a wide range of styles including blues, soul, jazz, rock and country. Singing on stage since age 16, Charlotte is a singer's singer, and was influenced by all the great female vocalists like, Billie Holliday, Aretha Franklin, and Janis Joplin, but also the blues rock band frontmen, Robert Plant and Stephen Tyler. Getting hooked deeply on the blues, Charlotte formed the blues band "Project Blue" in 1995 which opened for Blue Oyster Cult and Nazareth at the Arkansas Jam before landing a recording contract in Memphis with the famed Hi Records. Recording her first CD entitled "Taylor and Martinez" with George Martinez on guitar, "Taylor and Martinez" were the first new act on Hi Records in 25 years. The CD features 10 original songs written by the duo. Taylor's vocal style and performance have been compared to Ann Wilson of Heart, blues legend Etta James, and even pop blues singer Maria Maldaur. A songwriter at heart, Charlotte enjoys writing and performing her own songs, and also works as an acoustic duo with Matthew Stone.
After several changes in the line-up of Charlotte Taylor and Gypsy Rain, the band has continued to perform on a regular basis.
CTGR have had many great shows since their beginning in 2003, playing the Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival (King Biscuit Blues Festival) several times, Blues Eureka, The Spa City Bluesfest and the Riverwalk Blues Fest in Ft. Lauderdale. In clubs in Memphis on Beale St. like B.B. King's, The Rum Boogie, and Blues Hall and in Little Rock at Juanita's, Sticky Fingerz, Cajun's Wharf and more.
CT&GR have opened for blues legends Guitar Shorty, The Holmes Brothers, Buckwheat Zydeco, Malford Milligan, John Lee Hooker Jr., Duwayne Burnside, and Arkansas great, Michael Burks.
With a show that includes tunes that range from hardcore blues and rock, to sweet jazzy numbers, and some singer-songwriter americana styles, to some jam band vibe dance songs, Charlotte Taylor and Gypsy Rain promise an intense and real good time!
Gypsy Rain features great players such as skillfull and hard-hitting drummer John Roach. A 30+ year veteran of the Arkansas music scene. "John has real soul" says Taylor, "and great dynamics", "He plays with a lot of feeling, totally getting into the groove". John's influences include John Bonham and Buddy Rich.
On lead and Rhythm guitar is Matthew Stone.
Way beyond his years in ability, Matthew is an awesome musician with talents in all genres including blues, soul and jazz. Matt plays with a lot of passion combined with knowledge that is great to see and hear. Whether playing his Gibson 335, a Telecaster, or somtimes a lap steel, mandolin or banjo, Matthew Stone is always burning it up on a stringed instrument.
Also playing guitar is Phil Link. Self-taught and inspired by such guitar legends as Jimi Hendrix and Carlos Santana, he began playing In Little Rock, AR during the early 70's with classic rock bands and then the hotel circuits Playing a variety of styles including rock, country, funk, and jazz. He then went on the road with a Florida based southern rock show band followed by moving to Baton Rouge, Louisiana only to be influenced even more by the delta blues and the cajun scene.
Returning to Little Rock, he performed top 40 and disco music where he was the guitarist for Jennifer Flowers and Linda Bailey.
With over 30 years of performing, Phil Link has developed his own tasteful style that is enjoyed by all who hears him play.
Joel Sorrels is the latest add to the group holding down the bass postion. Joel is a soulful player with a love of the blues and funk. He is also a talented vocalist and has been known to sing a few hot numbers.
John Wier trumpet has recieved many accolades in the jazz community for his outstanding mastery of the trumpet. Holding a masters degree in trumpet performance, John is always exciting and inspiring to be heard.
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