His return to jazz is up for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album consideration as the video for the title track debuts.
Guitarist Joe Taylor didn’t have GRAMMY® nominations in mind when he recorded his first contemporary jazz album in seventeen years. “Westside Chill,” the Moonwatcher Music album that he released earlier this year, is indeed up for GRAMMY® consideration as Best Contemporary Instrumental Album.
The category itself is fitting for how Taylor’s music has evolved over the years. He was one of the core artists when Billboard first introduced a smooth jazz chart in the 1980s. Prior to “Westside Chill,” Taylor’s last release was 2015’s “Sugardust in the Devil Wind,” which wasn’t a jazz album. His last contemporary jazz outing was 2007’s “Accidental Sugar.” In the interim, Taylor played, wrote, produced, recorded, and performed in a variety of settings spanning rock, pop, blues, country, classical, and Celtic music.
While Taylor remains an instrumentalist who incorporates contemporary jazz, there’s a strong presence of blues licks and Americana folksiness in the mix on “Westside Chill.” Taylor’s sound and style are uniquely branding while labeling his recordings as “jazz” doesn’t tell the entire story.
Four-time GRAMMY® winner Steve Rosenthal produced “Westside Chill.” Anchoring the beats on the album is GRAMMY® nominated drummer Steve Holley (Paul McCartney & Wings). The rest of the lineup on the set are seasoned professionals, including jazz pianist Jeff Franzel (Frank Sinatra, Josh Groban, Shawn Colvin), bassists Woody Lingle and Brian Stanley (Bryan Adams), flutist John Ragusa, and percussionist Blair Shotts. Rosenthal and the musicians on the album aren’t only long-time Taylor collaborators, but they are long-time friends.
“Considering that ‘Westside Chill’ is a return to my roots as an instrumental artist, any acknowledgement from my peers via a GRAMMY® nomination would be greatly appreciated. That said, it is an even greater reward to have my dear friends and long-time compatriots join me on my records. Their confidence in me and their contributions are invaluable,” said Taylor, who wrote ten songs for the album.
Taylor used to divide his time between living in the South Carolina Lowcountry and New York City, both of which factor in prominently on “Westside Chill.” The music heard on the collection reflects the diversity of these two vastly different locales. Taylor deftly finds the balance of the gritty edge, bustle, and big city energy with the laidback, downhome earthiness of the country confines that now serve as his primary residence. His songs were equally informed by both locations.
Big Apple observations include the title cut, which sprang from a late-night walk up Broadway on the Westside of the city as the wind blew off the Hudson River; “Jaco’s Court,” inspired by seeing the late bass great Jaco Pastorius playing playground basketball; and “Twenty-Two Rivers,” which Taylor describes as “a big city murder ballad.”
Musical meditations from life in the slower lane emerge as “Menemsha Fog,” “The Cut,” inspired by a bobcat sighting along the water’s edge; “The Waterman,” written about Taylor’s friend Captain Baldwin; and Taylor’s tribute to the late 6-time GRAMMY® winner Glen Campbell titled “Mr. Campbell.” “Available Light” could apply to either location while other songs sprang from his passion for his wife and wine, “She’s The Moon” and “The Cooper and the Thief” respectively.
Taylor just premiered a video for the album’s first single and title track, “Westside Chill.” The clip perfectly captures the ethos of the collection - from the lo-fi nocturnal city images in color to the arresting black and white footage of Taylor playing his D’Angelico guitar in the corner of a dimly lit juke joint. Watch the “Westside Chill” video at https://youtu.be/l8iknRu2Lx0.
Last month, Taylor began recording his next album with what he calls “a stellar bunch of friends.” Rosenthal remains in command of the producer’s chair from which he directs Taylor, Franzel, drummer Ray Marchica (Barbra Streisand, James Brown, Southside Johnny), and bassist Paul Adamy (Carly Simon, Robben Ford, Gladys Knight). With completion expected early next year, look for the album to drop next spring.
Please visit Taylor’s GRAMMY® FYC page to listen to “Westside Chill.” http://www.joetaylormusic.com/fyc-.html
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