Mouse over the Testimonials button for more words on Strings Attached
Thank you so much for the beautiful music at the wedding. I loved every bit of it. Our song sounded amazing as well as the rest of the music. It really made the wedding a very happy and fun event. Thanks so much! I will always recommend you! - Jason and Christine
Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful music on my wedding day. The music was wonderful and added elegance to the ceremony. Several people have come up to me relaying how much they enjoyed your music. They as well as I felt your music made my special day come alive. I appreciate your professionalism and have recommended you to others. - Debra Rebec
We want to sincerely thank you for the beautiful music at our wedding in April. Your trio really filled and warmed that little country church. You were wonderful and we could not have been more pleased. - D. & S. Swenson
Thank you so much for all your effort in making our wedding such a wonderful night. You & your band played beautifully and made the ceremony exactly how I dreamed it would be! - T. Leon
Thank you so much for providing the beautiful music for my daughter's wedding. It was so refreshing to have live strings with Beethoven! - J. Taylor
"Donnie and I wanted to thank you for playing so beautifully at our wedding ceremony. The strings were such a special part of our ceremony." - J. Howard
"Thank you all very much for the beautiful music you provided for our wedding. We were very pleased with your services and wanted to say thank you!" - Q. Biggs
"I want to thank you for the great job you did for my wedding (under difficult circumstances) . . . your judgment on the music was right. It was really lovely." - B. Bailey
"We want to sincerely thank you for the beautiful music at our wedding in April. Your trio really filled and warmed that little country church. Thank you so much for your contribution to our celebration. You were wonderful and we could not have been more pleased." - D. & S. Swenson
"Joy String set the tone for a great wedding and reception. All of our guests had pleasant things to say about the music." - Karen Farabee
"Thank you for gracing Kathryn and George's wedding with your beautiful music. Please thank the other members of the quartet and tell them everyone commented on the excellent quality of the music. We were extremely pleased and appreciate the fine work of your art." - Jane Koock
". . . Taylor has managed to make [jazz viola] work through his deft touch and improvisatory skills. " The Washington Post
Imagine what might happen if you dared to blur all these boundaries between pop music and jazz, between rock music and classical music, between the musical realm and the lyrical realm, between the honky-tonk and the church, and in the spirit of art and fun and experimentation, you reached out for something . . . transcendent? more. . . .
The last few years have seen local strings player/composer Will Taylor engaged in numerous musical collaborations, many jazz-based, some pop-oriented, a few highly curious, and all, in the end, responsible for the creation of some wonderful new music. more. . . . Austin Chronicle
"Austin's claim to being the live-music capital might be hyperbolic, but this finely nuanced, gorgeously recorded CD by violist Taylor speaks volumes for that city's scene. . . . there's still much to love, from the imaginatively reworked "Cherokee" to the pensive, original "Raga". " Entertainment Weekly
" Local jazz viola virtuoso Will Taylor is one of the most unusual and exciting young instrumental talents on the national scene. He swings, he soars and he never ceases to amaze. " Austin American Statesman
". . . a well-rehearsed and sensitive ensemble, one whose members demonstrate professionalism as well as cohesiveness." Jon Poses Columbia Daily Tribune
". . . Taylor possesses a versatility, drive and passion that would be the envy of musicians twice his age." Albuquerque Journal
". . . Will Taylor is a serious composer who bridges classical and jazz traditions. His "Bob and Dave" partakes of Stravinsky and Ravel without really imitating them, yet is a full-fledged jazz composition for string quartet and jazz band." Mike Greenberg San Antonio Express-News
". . . [Taylor's] instrumental music melds jazz, pop, and classical influences into a thoroughly original hybrid. . ." Dallas Observer
". . . what lifts Taylor, beyond the novelty category is the originality of his Music. . . . he somehow manages to take some of the swing of Stephane Grappelli and the Hot Club of France into bracingly modern territory that avoids fusion and avantgarde cliches." Boston Globe
"Taylor is breaking all the rules, in a good way. . . . Simple Gifts is haunting, engaging, sexy, intelligent and even humorous. There's a distinct possibility that Taylor will join the ranks of Harry Connick, Jr. and the Marsalis brothers as a classically-trained young artist with mass appeal. " Shepherd Express
". . . a jazz violist and composer who absolutely transcends his instrument's stereotypical European refinement and restraint. His work is dynamic, colorful and, yes, even edgy." Houston Post
". . . There's no one else doing what he's doing and the chance to hear the rich sounds at the edge of jazz is something you'll wish you could wrap up and take home." Austin Chronicle
As to the quality of the music and the professionalism, this production is far superior over the numerous recordings issued by the major record companies. Esquire, Dutch Version
WIll Taylor & Strings Attached with James McMurtry
St. James Episcopal Church, Jan. 14
If there are any pitfalls to the concept of Austin's Strings Attached, it's that Will Taylor's group can at times overwhelm the artists they work with. A match with A-town's feral songsmith James McMurtry, then, posed an interesting question. Would he bland out or would they turn it up and meet him in the middle? A spin of McMurtry's magnificent new album, Childish Things (Compadre), offered an easy answer. On it he's branched out a bit from the guitar, bass, and drums he uses live to include fiddle, organ, and horns, each an important part of Strings Attached. In front a nearly full church, Taylor's quintet opened the performance with a couple of jazzy originals that flaunted the act's impressive ability to work as an ensemble. McMurtry was then introduced and immediately put any fears to rest by pronouncing half seriously, "Remember, if it's too loud, you're too old." Ringing with tunes from Childish Things and with Strings Attached augmented by Ronnie Johnson, McMurtry's bass player, the altar at St. David's rocked like it seldom, if ever, has before. One thing Taylor's group is best at is bringing out undiscovered nuances from the songs of others, and the String-benders' magic was in full bloom, especially on the two-stepping "Memorial Day" and a jam that approached liftoff in the middle of "Choctaw Bingo." With the church's refined acoustic setting, McMurtry's lyrical genius – his ability to grasp distinct moments of time – was explicit on acoustic versions of the lonesome "Lights of Cheyenne" and fervent "Holiday." The encore, electric protest "We Can't Make It Here," a roaring fiddle fueled freakout, served as the perfect nightcap for a hallowed helping of art and grit.
Will Taylor and Strings Attached
with Ruthie Foster and Cyd Cassone
I'd heard Will Taylor's name mentioned several times on KUT, but I never knew what he or his group, Strings Attached, were really all about. My first real musical exposure to Will was hearing some string arrangements on Tucker Livingston's CD. I then saw Will perform live with Tucker, and realized just how much it adds to have a viola, cello, etc. backing a singer. There is an added texture that makes the songs sound richer and more complete.
I learned that Strings Attached would be performing with Ruthie Foster. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to see the group in action. I've heard Ruthie's CD, Runaway Soul, and have seen her live on a number of occasions. Now was my chance to see what real differences arise when Strings Attached is part of the mix.
Even before the performance began, many factors made this experience different. I'm used to seeing Ruthie at festivals or clubs—typical venues for Austin artists. This performance was held at St. David's Episcopal Church, one block north of 6th Street. My wife and I sat about 15 pews back from the stage. We were given a program, and told that there would be a 30 minute intermission after the first set. This was shaping up to be more like an evening at the symphony rather than a typical club outing. There would be no fighting the crowds to get a bartender's attention or navigating through fans to find a better spot. I was pleased knowing that I would not be leaving smelling like I'd rolled around in an ashtray.
A little after 8:00, the house lights were dimmed, and the performers took their positions on stage. Strings Attached (Will Taylor: viola, violin, piano, and arrangements; Steve Zirkel: bass and trumpet; Brad Evilsizer: percussion; and Charles Prewitt: cello) began the evening with a classical piece that lead into Ocean of Tears, a song that showcases the strength of Ruthie's voice. The song is full of emotion, with Foster belting out a multi-syllabled "Mama". What could bring out more emotion but an echoing cello to supplement the singer? Ruthie continued with a few originals like Crossover with it engaging chorus, as well as covers like Billie Holiday's God Bless the Child.
Cyd rested on God Bless the Child, but Strings Attached provided an opportunity for Ruthie to sing a song that is not suited for her typical band setup. Steve opened the song with the unique tone of a muted trumpet. Brad lent a hand with the soothing rhythm of swishing brushes on the drums. Ruthie added her standard vocal perfection. And Will moved to piano to throw some more jazz elements into the mix. When I arrived home after the show, I dug up an old Billie Holiday CD to compare it while the performance was fresh in my mind. My assessment: I think Billie would have preferred having Strings Attached backing her.
The first set concluded with Joy. I've heard this many times, but never with someone periodically plucking the strings of their violin. The arrangement was well received by everyone.
The second set included the infectious Another Rain Song and an unlikely crowd pleaser, Oh Sussanna. As a kid, you learn "Oh Sussanna, oh don't you cry for me, cause I come from Alabama..." Ruthie has modified the traditional melody into a genuine piece of art, barely recognizable from the elementary school sing-alongs.
Ruthie and Cyd sat out briefly while Strings performed a new arrangement of an Irish traditional that Will estimated was 250 to 300 years old. Aside from it being a truly beautiful piece, it confirmed that each member of Strings is an accomplished and professional musician, and the group has plenty to offer even without bringing in guest musicians.
The set ended with Full Circle, which brought the house down. Ruthie ends the song with a single-breath, never-ending note. The crowd went crazy and showed their appreciated with a standing ovation. Will stated, "I've never heard it so loud in here."
The evening closed with an encore. Woke Up This Mornin' had the entire audience absorbed as they clapped along and sang, "I'm walkin' and talkin' with my mind stayed on freedom." Midway through, the song changed tempo to become a swing number. Ruthie had ended the evening by energizing the audience. All along, Will Taylor and Strings Attached had added their stamp to Ruthie's songs; improving on an already impressive collection of music.
Ruthie had commented at some point in the evening that she really enjoyed performing with such talented musicians and said, "We should do this again." If that becomes a reality, I strongly encourage anyone who appreciates true talent to go to the show. In the meantime, I suggest that you attend another performance with Will Taylor and Strings attached regardless of who the guest performer may be. I found the Strings Attached's performance to be one of the best Austin music experiences I've ever had; talented artists, uniquely arranged songs, in a venue that allows you to focus on the music—not the distractions typical in the club scene.
Will has Extra talent all over the stage.. upcoming super soulful Nakai, multi talented John Pointer, and the beautiful Natile Zoe are all singing back up and lead at special moments. World class drums and percussion from Pat Mastelotto and Jason Mckenzie. Shawn Sanders on cello with Steve Zirkle on trumpet and Glen Roach on Bass round out Will's highly ambitious quartet and these guys pack a huge punch so wear proper head gear! Overall the collage mixed with live cameras light show and the church itself mixed in with the performance to give me a feeling I remembered having in the late sixties when the underground all age psychedelic dungeons of Houston Texas forever shaped my mind. And when Phil and the crew did their encore..ARE YOU EXPERIENCED...it was truly one of the best things I have heard in this century. One of the most amazing things happening in this was John pointers unbelievably cool microphone hip hop mouth orchestration..he was doing backwards drums and vocals that sounded like five thousand dollars worth of rack mount gear...keep it up John!!! So do yourself a favor and visit myspace.com/stringsattached or philbrownguitar.com and maybe you can obtain the live recording from this performance...or anything else you can get your hands on!
- Fred Mitchim
