| CD REVIEW Taz Taylor Band |
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Band: Taz Taylor Band Hailing from the Nothingham area in England, Taz Taylor’s earliest memories in music are of Gary Moore’s “Parisienne Walkways” and even more so of Rainbow’s “Since You’ve Been Gone” (which he watched on the telly in a totally cathargic/ hypnotised condition). He picked up playing guitar soon after discovering Michael Schenker through the live UFO album Strangers In The Night! ‘t Was the beginning of the ‘80s, and additional influences were soaked up through albums by Michael Schenker Group, Gary Moore, Van Halen, and Ozzy Osbourne (with Randy Rhoads). In contrast to other musicians, Taz was something of a recluse, honing his skills on his own in the confines of his room…moving to San Diego (California) in January ’97. Eventually this resulted in the recording of Taz’ solo debut Caffeine Racer, an instrumental album (released through Guitar Nine Records) which he promoted by getting together the necessary musicians: keyboardist Bob Miller, bassist Dirk Krause, and a host of alternating drummers…and doing the equally necessary amount of gigs! By the time enough music was composed to pass onto recording a new album, the whole band wanted to do this with the addition of a singer. So, thinking he had just as well start at the top of his want-list, Taz put in a call to Graham Bonnet (whom happens to live in Southern California, by the way)…and a couple of days later the latter actually got in touch, the two hitting it off quite instantly. The resulting album Welcome To America was released during 2006 through Escape Music to some worldwide success (something only in part attributable to Bonnet’s presence on the album). Current drummer Val Trainor joined the band right after the album’s recording sessions, and he immediately had to pass the fire test, as TTB (wíth Graham Bonnet) went out on a worldwide tour in support of the album (dates lasting til into 2008). Now even though the tour wàs successful, Bob and Dirk left after the tour, their musical tastes having altered somewhat since they first met Taz, and both willing to start doin’ something different. Bonnet also left, wanting to concentrate on a new version of Alcatrazz (an album of which would be in stores in the very near future), so the band kinda fell apart…leaving only Taz and Val. Which however did not deter Taz, as he’d come from a one-man project anyway! So he set to writing new stuff (in addition to what he’d already on the side from before they’d gone out on the European tour in 2008) and demoing it on his own with the aid of a drum machine. The thought behind it all was to make an album filled with material that would be fun to take on tour, an idea he’d taken from seeing a Motley Crüe show on tv…and realizing that what that band was doin’ was just play simple “straight up” (aha…) hard, riff oriented Rockers! He then took the stuff to Val, and the two had a total of 8 rehearsed over a 6-week period, after which all material was thoroughly reheased. Val also recorded all these sessions, recordings which Taz then loaded into his multitrack recorder to add the bass, keyboards and lead guitar parts, developing the songs as time went on. Except for the vocals, the two then already knew what the album would sound like. When they did enter the studio, they were só well-rehearsed they were able to record all rhythm guitar parts and drums for the 11 tracks in only two days (doing the larger part of ‘em in just the one take), and the bass parts on the next (adding lead guitar and some nominal keyboards a week later in his home studio). So then came the time to find themselves a new singer. During Summer of last year, Taz and Val talked to several singers and managers, but nothing really came out of that. Then Taz remembered that one Keith Slack had been the singer for MSG (let’s not forget that Schenker happens to be one of Taz’ favourite axe slingers) on the 1999 Unforgiven World Tour album, so he checked out that album again to refresh hios memory, and then made contact. Following his stint with MSG, Keith (who’d previously fronted Mike Slamer’s Steelhouse Lane and Mudpie), had continued to release a 2007 a solo album (besides fronting Start A Fire), which he then sent over for Taz & Val to listen to. What they got to hear instantly blew the guys away, and so Keith’s role in TTB was secured! Well, when you’ll listen to the tracks posted at myspace.com/taztaylorband (“The Fugitive” and “Information Overload”, next to 2 tracks off each of the previous albums) and myspace.com/keithslack (again “Information…” and “Razor Edge”, alongside Keith’s solo stuff and some Start A Fire…making for a total of three songs off the new TTB album), you’ll probably understand why Taz and Val felt Keith’s raspy voice would be a good replacement for Bonnet. And during a couple of the songs (“One More Night”, for instance) his voice indeed creates a certain remeniscence…but overall you’ll have to agree with the fact that Keith is not at all of the same standard. On top of which the music is perhaps a bit tóó straight-up, you know, too concentrated on the rhythm guitar. It’s a pity, because the leads Taz brings show he’s well up to far more superior guitar play. In essence, he perhaps chose for a wrong approach anyway? I mean, 20 years ago this would’ve been a very acceptable album, and one which would even have met with very decent success…but these days the music buying public llikes to spend their hard-earned money to more exciting releases! Although I àm a bit disappointed, I suspect a following album will be sounding much better again…always providing the singer gets to put in his two cents in the evolution of the songs as well! One detail I didn’t mention before (because on our download promo copy there’s the two last tracks on the album missing…and so I haven’t been able to hear ‘em!), is that the album ends in the instrumental title track…originally meant as a 5-minute song, then shortened to a purely music piece, with Taz’ hero Don Airey (see Deep Purple, Ozzy Osborne, etc…whom he met when Don came to see his friend Graham – they were in Rainbow together – while on tour in the UK during 2008) guesting on the keyboards. 78/100 Tony. |