BIOGRAPHY - MATT TAYLOR BAND

From 2001 - 2006 Matt played with an incredible variety of artists including Jamie Cullum, Lemar, Sam Brown, Boy George, Dane Bowers, Suggs, Mica Paris, Tony Christie, Oliver Darley, Paul Young, Lulu, Rick Parfitt (Status Quo), Jo Omeara (S Club 7), Mikey Graham (Boyzone), Faye Tozer (Steps), Mark Shaw (Then Jerico), Hugh Cornwell (The Stranglers) and Shane McGowan (The Pogues). He has also played with bluesmen Otis Grand, Joe Bonamassa and Jon Amor and has toured in Europe, Russia and North America with the French superstar Patricia Kaas.

In 2006 Matt found he had come full circle. Having absorbed many different influences over the last few years Matt returned with keyboard player Jonny Dyke and drummer Pete Radcliff and their unique blend of blues, country and soul, with influences ranging from Freddie King and Chuck Berry, through Clapton, Dylan, The Band and The Allman Brothers to Paul Simon, Tom Waits and James Taylor with honourable mentions to the likes of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Prince, Robert Cray and Sheryl Crow. Although a versatile and eclectic musician, The Blues is, if Matt were given an ultimatum, the only music he cant live without - Blues is, the roots of all modern popular music and there is no doubt that Matt Taylor is a thoroughly modern bluesman.

Matt began honing his skill as a musician and artist and with a new band featuring Jonny Dyke on keys and Pete Radcliff on drums, Matt was back playing his blues again. Matt, Jonny and Pete spent several months laying down tracks in various recording studios in London and beyond to complete the much anticipated new album entitled "No Trouble At All". It features twleve tracks including seven new original songs plus the bands' take on songs by artists including The Allman Brothers, Bob Dylan and the first single, Sheryl Crow's "Everyday Is A Winding Road".

In the last year this astonishing trio has been seen at various venues and festivals in Britain, including The Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival and The Maryport Blues Festival. Wherever they go they attract rave reviews and add to their supporters. They also recently appeared at The Royal Albert Hall backing former England cricket star turned blues/soul singer/guitarist Mark Butcher.

Martin Townsend...Sunday Express
The British blues movement is thriving - and one or two of the seven self-penned tracks here suggest that Matt Taylor should be at the forefront. Matt is a quick, fluid guitarist with a strong Paul Weller-like voice. "Get Outta My Way" and "You Are The Only One" - with a killer chorus that could have been lifted straight off Fleetwood Macs Rumours - are outstanding.

Pete Sargeant, Fairhearing.co.uk
Mixing own compositions with some well-picked and unclichéd versions of others’ works, MTB deliver a 12-tracker with some extra radio edits to round out the package. Already a creditable live act, these studio tracks test the band’s ability to capture their sound.

Matt Taylor’s sonic armoury takes in guitar, bass, mandolin, ukulele, lapsteel and percussion and doubtless this all affects his compositional efforts and range. Jonny Dyke contributes all manner of keyboards, drums and percussion are in the hands of Pete Radcliff. Recorded all over the place, it’s perhaps the roadwork that determines the band feel. Taylor’s mid-range voice is well-recorded and sounds strong over the busy lines, the band’s sound not being far from Matt Schofield’s ensemble. I don’t know who Matt's influences include but gladly there’s no obvious single source. My guess would be Robben Ford and as the latter’s best work is impassioned to say the least how bad can that be ?. The mellow and easy-paced ballad "Let Your Hair Down" adds a James Taylor touch and a beautiful warmth – I always hope that an album’s slow tracks won’t go the Gary Moore overkill facepulling route. (But they do, too often!)

The Dylan number "To Be Alone With You" runs very close to Alvin Lee with its delivery and vocal delay setting ; the latin sleaze cruise of "Snakes" is easily the set's best and most original moment and offsets the album’s more traditional/mainstream passages. Fine piano figures here and a curiously addictive twisting chorus. Bravery has its own rewards, boys…Lovestain is another winning original [sic], its unhurried slide runs making it atmospheric and a ‘play again’ track. So, always competent and pretty often startlingly original, thumbs up from us.

Toxic Pete.com
"Matt Taylor Band don't do the blues for the blues' sake, Matt Taylor Band are more subtle than that - Matt Taylor Band err on the side of chilled, rockin', funked-up blues - blues with modernity - blues with a soul - blues with a clean face and well heeled boots. No Trouble At All is gentle contemporary blues - mature, considered and well crafted, "-No Trouble At All" is a real worker - this baby grabs you when you're not expecting it, it pulls you in carefully and quietly. And, once in you won't wanna leave - this is really cool stuff!"

"There's a decent mixture of Matt Taylor originals and a few interesting and possibly unexpected covers here - and with that mixture there's a whole load of vibes comin' off the player - this is a classy album, an album of distinction, an album to enjoy in its entirety just for exactly what it is - a piece of gritty modern music with real heart and soul! Matt Taylor Band are just a three-piece but sound bigger comprising Matt Taylor (vocals, guitars, bass, mandolin, ukulele, lapsteel, percussion and programming), Jonny Dyke (piano, hammond, Wurlitzer and synth bass) and Pete Radcliff (drums, percussion and technology), the trio work supremely well together to give off a sound that's polished, refined and very wholesome feeling. The keys take almost as much limelight as the guitars here - the combination is excellent, the mix brilliant and the end result superb. It makes a pleasant change for the 'name' of the band not to completely swamp the fellow members with guitar histrionics and solos. Taylor uses his privileged position to heighten rather than lead-he plays with control and respect for his fellow players -the result is stunning and refreshing."

www.matttaylorband.com