Former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor stops in at Iridium.
Mick Taylor knows that serious Stones fans consider him to be the best lead guitarist the band ever had. Certainly, hes the most fluid, melodic and expansive. But when asked about it, he pooh-poohs the notion.
Well, they only had three leads Brian Jones, Ron Wood and me, he says. And I think Ron is very underrated. Maybe they didnt write the kinds of songs that leave space for a guitar solo after Wood joined. At the time, they used to write some songs that needed a solo just because I was there and I can play.
Thats an understatement.
For proof, listen to Taylors driving and fleet runs in songs like Sway and Cant You Hear Me Knockin, or his contributions throughout the 1970 live disc Get Yer Ya-Yas Out. His fierce and spiraling solo in Sympathy for the Devil could still send aspiring guitar heroes reeling in awe. For all the skills he showed with the Faces, Woods work with the Stones mainly finds him playing second rhythm with Keith Richards, mirroring him rather than goading him.
Many fans also consider Taylors era with the band 1969 to 1974 to be their creative peak. While Taylor hasnt had a decent media profile since, he has continued to hone his six-string skills in a dizzying array of projects, including an ongoing band with Jack Bruce, touring gigs with Bob Dylan or his original band leader (John Mayall), and on solo albums like his celebrated 2000 disc, A Stones Throw.
Still, its been years since Taylor played an extended gig with his own band in New York. (He thinks the last time may date back to the final days of the defunct Bottom Line). That makes it especially sweet that Taylor will front his latest group (which includes members of one of Jeff Becks 70s bands) at 12 shows at the intimate club Iridium. Hell also play a gig there with the house band, who backed the late Les Paul.
Taylor will perform songs that touch on all of his influences, from blues-rock to Latin-jazz, with plenty of room left for melodic instrumentals.
Like Jeff Beck, Taylors skittish and broad resume has robbed him of a more lucrative career. Im a reluctant band leader, he says. I just like to stand there and play guitar. Sometimes I like to have fun and sing and dance around, but Mick Jagger is much better at that kind of thing.
Not only does Taylor say he retains a warm relationship with Jagger and Richards, he downplays the friction that led him to quit the worlds greatest rock n roll band to begin with.
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