Photos: Dean Pollard, Rob Fortunato, Kristin Barlowe |
 Welcome to our May newsletter!
This month, James is delighted to introduce a periodic newsletter feature in which he profiles individual musicians and crew members from his "Band of Legends." Having just returned from a highly successful tour of Europe with pianist Larry Goldings, it is only fitting that James begin this series with a profile of Larry. Also this month, James announces his association with Tickets-for-Charity®, providing a charitable sale of premium seats for his summer band tour. Each ticket through Tickets-for-Charity® is available at face value plus a donation which you can direct to one of several charities including the Natural Resources Defense Council and MusiCares®. Click here for more details. James on Larry Goldings: "I've performed with a number of excellent keyboard players but, when I heard Larry's solo on 'Mean Old Man' the first time through, he pinned it. It was incredible. That was our introduction and he's been my first call ever since. Larry Goldings IS my 'One Man Band'." Q: How did you first meet James?
Larry: James was in the early stages of recording October Road and his producer, Russ Titelman, suggested bringing me in to play on "Mean Old Man." Russ is known mostly as a pop producer (Randy Newman, Rickie Lee Jones), but he's also a knowledgeable jazz fan. We first met years ago when I was playing with jazz guitarist, Jim Hall. When he heard a demo of "Mean Old Man," Russ thought of me. I remember when they sent me the demo. I thought, "Wow! This is a swingin' jazz tune! Right up my alley!" I met James for the first time at the session for that song (I also ended up playing on "Merry Little Christmas "); and as nervous as I was, I guess I made a good impression because he started calling me for symphonic gigs and then asked me if I would join the band. I really owe it to Russ for making the introduction. Q: The "One Man Band" experience must be very different from playing with James and the full band. Tell us about that. LG: Playing with James in the One Man Band context presents the unique challenge of being not only his keyboardist, but also his bassist and, because of the absence of a drummer, a rhythm player of sorts. (Of course, James' phenomenal guitar playing fills that role in a large way too.) Basically, I have a much meatier role, with a lot of brain-splitting (e.g., right hand piano player, left hand bassist). Also, James has left it to me as to how to arrange and to distill his music for this intimate setting, which leaves me lots of room to explore. This is how we ended up with my current instrumentation: a midi acoustic piano (from which I can trigger a synth bass and a few other sounds), organ, and Indian harmonium. I'm very flattered he trusts me in this way. From a production standpoint, seeing One Man Band go from idea to fleshed-out show has been fascinating. James has such a brilliant, creative mind. The drum machine, which he designed, is a work of art. Witnessing him develop all the aspects of the show, like the logistical challenges of playing with pre-recorded film clips and the beautifully intergrated "slide show" that ties the songs together...and the story-telling parts - alternately witty and poetic....it's all so well conceived, and like everything James does, very genuine.
Q: How about the experience of making the DVD/CD of the 'One Man Band'?
Q: Can you think of one moment from your experience with James that really stands out? LG: Hmm. Well, during my first tour with the band, when I was still feeling a little insecure about whether I was "cutting it" or not, we were onstage playing....I don't
remember the song...But it was something that had an instrumental section where the band was just grooving on a few chords. I'm playing the organ, and I look up and there's James, playing guitar, and staring at me - a really kind of glazed, lost look. I panicked a bit, thinking I must have been playing something terribly wrong. Not knowing how to react, I gave him a nervous smile, and immediately, his blank stare melted into a huge, almost blissful grin. I realized then that the STARE had been that of a musician completely lost in the joy of making music with others. You know, there's James Taylor, the songwriter, the singer, the entertainer; but ever since that incident, I realize what pulls him on stage year after year, is that he just LOVES making music. He thrives on the give and take that exists between musicians, he loves to groove....he gets lost in it. This quality of James comes through so deeply when he performs....that genuine love of making music.
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