James Taylor Excels Playing ‘Small’

James Taylor's "One Man Band" performance at the Colonial Theater in Pittsfield, Mass., was a great example of the way "small" can result in a "big" musical experience. Photo: PBS.org

This past Christmas I received a gift of a James Taylor DVD called “One Man Band.” This recent recording was filmed at the Colonial Theater in Pittsfield, Massachusetts in July 2007. In this performance, JT goes back to his roots – a guitar, a voice, and an audience. Watch a portion of the DVD here (this contains nice clips of JT talking) and watch his full performance of “Something in the Way She Moves.”

I’ve heard many James Taylor performances but this is, by far, my favorite. I think he is at his best when he works, in his words, “small.” Piano, guitar, and voice sustained the entire show. The sound was magnificent, the dialogue clever, and the theater was intimate and beautiful.

He seems to be happy and content at this point in his life. A good marriage and a solid career with creative freedom no doubt contribute significantly to the mood that he projects.

If you want to hear a singer-songwriter with great songs, a unique guitar style, and a compelling voice, One Man Band[CD + DVD]is something you may want to own.