While there have been a number of unhealthy trends in the music business over the past few
years, the volume of artists participating in acoustic projects has been a positive trend. Radio programs including Morning Becomes Eclectic and NPR’s Live At The World Cafe have proved popular platforms in this movement. James Taylor’s One Man Band (Hear Music) - a project similar to Jackson Browne’s 2005 release Solo Acoustic, Vol. 1 - finds the legendary singer/songwriter revisiting some well-worn songs in an intimate setting.
Packaged as a CD/DVD, One Man Band finds Taylor and keyboardist Larry Goldings covering nearly 40 years of material. Songs including “You’ve Got A Friend,” “Copperline,” “Fire And Rain,” and “Shower The People” appear alongside lesser-known tracks “Mean Old Man” and “Line ‘Em Up.” In addition, Taylor uses the relaxed setting to reminisce and expound on his career and songs.
If you’re not a fan of Taylor’s, then One Man Band likely won’t change your mind about him. But existing fans will see the disc as an essential addition to his extensive catalog. Perhaps Taylor describes it best in a recent press release: “Performing these songs in their original, stripped-down form in small halls is like going to the well for water. It reconnects me to the music and puts me back in touch with the audience.” www.hearmusic.com
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