Sweet Baby James

So I don't think I have ever posted what would qualify as an actual review of a concert here, and I guess this isn't exactly that, but it comes close. Fair warning to all - if you do not appreciate 'sappy' - stop reading now - turn around and don't look back!

The soundtrack of all of my earliest memories is James Taylor (and Van Morrison).
The song my Dad used to sing to me at bedtime is Sweet Baby James by James Taylor.
My first concert (with my parents when I was about 7 yrs old) was James Taylor.
The first songs that made me fall in love with music were James Taylor.
On days when the world all seems too big and everything seems too much, I reach for James Taylor.

He inhabits the warm corner of my soul where I am eternally 8 years old; sitting on a grassy hill with my parents and sister eating a picnic lunch, driving overnight in the car to a family vacation taking turns keeping my Dad awake, where all boo boos can be kissed better and all broken things fixed. He is, for lack of more appropriate characterization - my 'happy place' and he has been for about 25 years.

Last night I went to see James Taylor with my sister. It is probably about the 6th or 7th time I have seen him in the past 10 years, however, it is the first time my sister has seen him since our childhood and the nostalgia of that factor was not lost on me. His music is truly beautiful to listen to, no matter what your taste in music. His arrangements were fabulous - his harmonies have always been an excercise in genius - with the more than capable assistance of Arnold McCuller, Andrea Zonn, Kate Markowitz and David Lasley.

I was moved to tears several times - for those keeping score, Sweet Baby James (of course), Shed a Little Light and Your Smiling Face (the breakdown was AMAZING). He proved over and over again that at age 60, he has still 'got it' - particularly noteable during Steamroller - the man has skills people. Despite our periodic joking about the probablility of him breaking a hip if he jumped again, contemplating if either of us ever remember him having a full head of hair or the fact that last week a friend of mine emailed me this youtube from the late 70's and commented that I probably saw this when it originally aired because I would in fact have been the target audience for Sesame Street at that time, the man is an artist in the truest sense of the word and was just as relevant and talented last night as he was when I was 7 years old.



The fact that I was there with my sister, and she is present in my earliest memories and by extension, my memories of falling in love with the art that is James, made the night that much more magical. Also, Mother Nature decided to let her presence be known by dumping rain in monsoon fashion and provided the addition of a natural light show with fantastic bolts of ligthening (which made me thankful that we did not have lawn seats).

I could go on all day and I do in fact need to go to work, so I will wrap this up. I love my job and the people I work with about 355-360 days of the year. The other 5-10 days of the year, I think my job sucks because I would so rather hit the road with an artist like James Taylor. On this particular day, I sense the oncoming feeling that my job sucks.

If you have never seen him live, or even if you have just never heard any of his music, I suggest you do both. Once again, I say music is magical and live music is transporting. Even further, reliving the music of your childhood live sitting beside your sister is a profound experience.

"And recognize that there are ties between us
All men and women
Living on the Earth
Ties of hope and love
Sister and brotherhood
That we are bound together
In our desire to see the world become
A place in which our children
Can grow free and strong
We are bound together
By the task that stands before us
And the road that lies ahead
We are bound and we are bound"

**It should be noted that the two and a half bars of Bob Marley that are tattooed on my arm are indeed there because the above 16 bars simply would not fit.