James Taylor “Showers the People” with Love at Ravinia Festival

Oh, what a beautiful evening it is. Night 1 of James Taylor’s sold out 2-night residency at Ravinia Festival, and what madness! As everyone rushed to take their seats, you know the band is just about to take the stage!

The first person you see is James Taylor greeting the crowd walking back and forth saying hi to the audience. Then he walked center stage, picked up his acoustic and went right into a beautiful rendition of “Something in the Way She Moves.” Song after song, you can tell Taylor just loves playing and he loved playing with his band as well. Taylor’s All-Star band included legendary drummer Steve Gadd (Steely Dan, Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney), percussionist Luis Conte (Phil Collins, Madonna, Pat Metheny Group), Jimmy Johnson (a member of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section) on bass, Larry Goldings (Ray Charles, Norah Jones, Herbie Hancock) on keyboards, Michael Landau (Pink Floyd, Michael Jackson, Steve Perry, Seal, Richard Marx) on guitar, Lou Marini (The Blues Brothers Band, Frank Zappa, Steely Dan, Blood, Sweat & Tears) on horns, Walt Fowler (Frank Zappa) on horns and keyboards, Andrea Zonn (Alison Krauss, Amy Grant, Lyle Lovett, Neil Diamond) on backing vocals and violin, Arnold McCuller (Phil Collins, Bonnie Raitt, Todd Rundgren, Carole King) on backing vocals, Kate Markowitz (Billy Joel, Diana Ross, Kenny Loggins, Neil Diamond) on backing vocals and songwriter David Lasley (Luther Vandross, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Bette Midler) on backing vocals. How about that for an all-star band!!!

Taylor’s set list included a lot of his hits including “Everyday (Buddy Holly cover),” “Country Road,” “Carolina in My Mind,” “Sweet Baby James,” “You’ve Got A Friend,” “You and I,” “Handy Man,” “You Are My Only One,” a beautiful acoustic rendition of “Fire and Rain,” “Up on the Roof,” “Mexico,” and “Your Smiling Face” among others. He performed a 2 and a half hour set with 3 encores including “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You),” “Shower the People” and “Lassie Will You Go.”

Taylor also premiered new songs like the great “Today, Today, Today” and the bluesy “One More Go Round,” which makes you want to go out and buy the new album already. Throughout the show, Taylor was talking to the audience like he’s talking to his friends, telling stories of being on the road, working with Carole King, and how much he loved The Beatles. You can tell he was comfortable on stage and comfortable with the crowd. To prove that, during the 15-minute intermission, he even came out to the front of the stage to sign autographs and take pictures with fans!

The best song of the night by far was “Steamroller.” This is one of Taylor’s early bluesy songs, but it’s one of those songs that you can feel how he feels onstage. Michael Landau killed it on guitar during this song, as he’s able to show off playing the blues. But I have to give it to the rest of the band as well, because not only were they amazing, but you can tell they were having so much fun onstage. Especially the backup singers! At one point at the end of the show, Taylor even brought out his wife and his son to sing backup as well! Another highlight for me was a song Taylor wrote called “Mill Worker” for a musical by theatre composer Stephen Schwartz calledWorking.

Overall, this was one of the best concerts I’ve seen at Ravinia. Having grown up with James Taylor’s music, it was a real treat to see it live. It was almost like a celebration of some sorts. Hopefully, the people that went the second night will feel the same way I felt this first night!