James Taylor takes the stage at MACC’s A&B Amphitheater May 5
A quintessential American singer/songwriter, James Taylor first came to prominence in 1970 with the seminal album “Sweet Baby James.” With his engaging blend of folk, R&B and jazz influences, Taylor established a distinctive, easy-going style which endeared him to audiences around the world.
Over time this consummate artist has earned more than 40 gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards, and 6 Grammy Awards, delivering such treasures as “Fire & Rain,” “Country Road,” “Something in the Way She Moves,” “Carolina In My Mind,” “You Can Close Your Eyes,” “Mexico” and “Copperline.”
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000, Taylor was featured in Rolling Stone’s list of 100 Greatest Singers, with David Crosby noting, “he’s up there as a songwriter alongside Lennon and McCartney, Dylan and Joni Mitchell the best of the best.”
Returning to the Maui Arts and Cultural Center on May 5, in a previous Maui News interview Taylor expressed praise for the MACC. “It’s such an amazing place, so beautiful, a remarkable venue. It’s one of those unique places like Red Rocks in Colorado or The Gorge on the Columbia River.”
Taylor’s recording career began with help from the Beatles. He had traveled to London in 1968 and was the first artist signed to band’s Apple Records label. “I was the Beatles’ fan of the world,” he recalled. “I listened to everything so carefully and emulated as much as I could. I got an audition with George (Harrison) and Paul (McCartney) and I played them ‘Something in the Way She Moves.’ They said, ‘fine, let’s go, we’ll sign him.’ George and Paul played on a couple of the songs on my first album, so it was the mother of all big breaks. Dreams do come true.”
Following his Grammy-nominated “Sweet Baby James,” success continued with a string of gold-selling albums from “Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon,” and “Gorilla” through to “JT” and “Dad Loves His Work.” During the 1980s, he released the excellent “That’s Why I’m Here” backed by Joni Mitchell, Don Henley, and Graham Nash, and “Never Die Young” in 1988.
His most recent album, the Grammy-winning “American Standard,” was released in 2020. It featured interpretations of classics like “Ol’ Man River,” “God Bless the Child,” and “My Blue Heaven,” which Classic Rock Magazine praised as a “classy, impeccably executed album of covers.”
Known for his compelling, reflective work Taylor reported he found tapping the creative muse a fairly easy process. “I don’t think I’d do it if it wasn’t easy,” he suggested. “Sometimes, initially it’s easy but you have to go back and visit it. It’s either a relief or a delight, something that makes it worth doing.”
Sometimes dreams and sleepy states have spawned these gems. “I once wrote a song called ‘Millworker’ which I wrote about three o’clock in the morning,” he recalled.
“I woke up, went down stairs, picked up a pen and pencil and it came out in about 15 minutes and I went back to bed. I felt as though that came from a dream. Often losing consciousness and coming back with something is part of writing.”
Taylor arrives on Maui with his All-Star Band which includes legendary drummer Steve Gadd. Acclaimed as one of the most influential drummers of his time, Gadd’s remarkable credits include playing with Peter Gabriel, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon (“Graceland” and Rhythm of the Saints”), Steely Dan (“Aja,” “Gaucho”), and George
Benson. He first recorded with Taylor in 1991, and most recently played on “American Standard.”
Bassist Jimmy Johnson has worked with Rod Stewart, Madonna and Ray Charles. He has played on Taylor’s albums since “New Moon Shine,” while guitarist Dean Parks’ credits include Steely Dan, Michael Jackson, and David Crosby and Graham Nash. The band also includes Kate Markowitz and Dorial Holley on vocals, acclaimed fiddle player Andrea Zonn (Vince Gill, Alison Krauss and Yo Yo Ma), and jazz pianist Kevin Hays.
“The world needs the James Taylors of the world more than ever to unlock treasured memories, bring a smile and put a spring back into our step,” praised an Australian Mucian Magazine review of his recent Melbourne show.
James Taylor and his All-Star Band perform at the MACC’s Alexander & Baldwin Amphitheater on May 5 at 7 p.m. Gates will open at 5. Tickets are $65 general admission, and $85 and $135 for reserved seats, and a limited number of Gold Circle seats at $195, plus applicable fees, available at mauiarts.org.