Two of the greatest jazz guitarists in the world, Martin Taylor & Ulf Wakenius, have joined forces for duo of unforgettable live shows at the Forest Arts Centre, New Milton, tonight and the Concorde Club on Wednesday March 14.

Combining Martin Taylor’s award-winning virtuosic finger style with Wakenius’ jaw-dropping technique, the evening features solo and duet performances by acknowledged masters of the jazz guitar.

Together they bring a unique legacy in European jazz from years of touring and recording with Stephane Grappelli and Oscar Peterson.

Martin Taylor worked with Stephane Grappelli for 11-years, filling the guitar chair for Django Reinhardt while Ulf Wakenius worked with Oscar Peterson for 10-years, filling the guitar chair for Joe Pass, Herb Ellis and Barney Kessel.

In addition, Taylor and Wakenius have also collaborated with greats including Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, Jeff Beck, George Harrison, Mike Brecker, Jamie Cullum, Ray Brown and Michel Legrand, to name just a few.

With top 10 albums in both the USA and Europe, a record 15 British Jazz Awards and an MBE, Martin Taylor is recognised as the world’s foremost exponent of solo fingerstyle jazz guitar playing.

Born in Halmstad, Sweden, Ulf Wakenius is a jazz guitarist extraordinaire acclaimed and celebrated all over the world.

Between 1997 and 2007 Ulf held what may have been the most prestigious spot in jazz for a guitarist: a chair in the Oscar Peterson Quartet. Wakenius guitar duo Guitars Unlimited rocked Scandinavia in the early 80s, culminating in the 1985 Melody Grand Prix, which was seen by 600 million viewers, probably the largest audience a jazz guitar duo ever had.

Tickets for Forest Arts Centre can be booked online at www.forest-arts.co.uk or via the venue’s Box Office by calling 01425 612393, and for the Concorde Club, please visit: www.theconcordeclub.com or call 02380 613989.