Hi Folks,

I thought it would be a good idea for me to start posting more regular Blogs here and let you know what I'm up to through these blog updates.

Well, 2017 started off real busy for me with concerts in Florida, Seattle, Mount Vernon, and my annual Guitar Retreat in Benicia, California.

I had hoped to go into the ArtistWorks studio in Napa after Benicia to film some more lessons for the site, but plans unexpectedly changed and I had to go to LA.

In February and March I was guest soloist with the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England for a concert, and also played shows in Paris with Ulf Wakenius.

I've just played three solo concerts in the UK and am now back in my studio writing and recording music for TV with a brilliant Scottish keyboard player called Steve Hamilton.

Steve tours all over the world as keyboardist with Billy Cobham, so it's great to have the opportunity to get Steve into my studio and create some beautiful musical soundscapes together.

I've been using my 1969 Conde Hermanos classical guitar on these recordings. It's a bit of a departure for me playing nylon string, but the guitar sound fits so well with the atmospheric sounds Steve creates on synth.

This summer I will be playing more concerts and festivals in the UK, Europe, Scandinavia, and China, as well as holding another guitar retreat at Full Moon Resort, Big Indian, New York.

Later in the year I will be back touring in the USA, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, and Korea.

If I'm playing somewhere near you please let me know so we can arrange a Meet & Greet session. I always love to meet my online students when I'm on the road.

You can find my tour dates on my website www.martintaylor.com

Even when I'm touring I still manage to film responses for the ArtistWorks site. Sometimes the venue for my video responses can be in a backstage dressing room, my hotel room, and I've even been known to film responses in my hotel bathrooms! The important thing is that I continue give helpful critiques and and advise, and most of the time I successfully keep to my response time of 7 to 10 days even when I'm on the road.

I know ArtistWorks has some more exciting plans ahead for the site which I'm looking forward to and know will be great additions to the site.