Taylor tailors tunes to a maturing audience

Spencer Patterson

Friday, Oct. 10, 2003 | 9:04 a.m.

The calendar has turned to October, so it's fitting that James Taylor's winding "October Road" leads him to Las Vegas this weekend.

The 55-year-old singer/songwriter performs at Mandalay Bay Events Center at 8 p.m. Saturday, the 60th U.S. stop on his world tour.

Taylor experienced something of a rebirth with last year's "October Road," his first album of new material in five years. The disc debuted at No. 4, the highest first-week charting of the Boston native's storied career.

In April, Taylor hit record stores with, "The Best of James Taylor," his third authorized greatest hits package.

Along with such 1970s classics as "Fire and Rain," "You've Got a Friend" and "Shower the People," the 20-track compilation included one new composition, "Bittersweet."

Taylor also contributed a song, "Jellyman Kelly," to the recently released "Sesame Street" boxed set, "Songs From the Street: 35 Years of Music."

Taylor, a four-time Grammy award winner, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. His presenter, who boasts some impressive musical credentials of his own, was Paul McCartney.

Who: James Taylor.

Where: Mandalay Bay Events Center.

When: 8 p.m. Saturday.

Tickets: $35, $55, $85. Call: 632-7580.

Opening act: None.

Personnel: James Taylor (vocals, guitar).

Additional Musicians: Luis Conte (percussion), Walt Fowler (trumpet), Steve Gadd (drums), Larry Goldings (keyboard), Jimmie Johnson (bass), Michael Landau (guitar), Lou Marini (saxophone), Kate Markowitz (vocals), Arnold McCuller (vocals), Andrea Zonn (violin/vocals).

Latest release: "October Road" (2002, Sony).

Album feedback: "At a time when veteran stars are routinely propped up with upstart guests and gimmicky grooves, Taylor and (producer Russ) Titelman's tasteful restraint is refreshing." (Rolling Stone, 4 stars); "(Taylor's) warm, if slightly deepened, tenor ... and that acoustic guitar, with its sparkling, unhurried fingerpicking, remain the most prominent elements in the sound." (All Music Guide, 4 stars).

Essential releases: "Sweet Baby James" (1970), "Greatest Hits" (1976).

What to expect: Around two hours of music, divided into two sets, separated by a 20-minute intermission. Taylor generally plays most of his biggest hits, a handful of tracks from last year's "October Road" and a smattering of other songs from his 35-year recording career.

Recent set list: Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Kansas City, Kan., Aug. 17: (First Set) "First of May," "Something in the Way She Moves," "Copperline," "October Road," "Shower the People," "Raised Up Family," "Mean Old Man," "Bittersweet," "I've Got to Stop Thinking About That," "You've Got a Friend," "Shed a Little Light." (Second Set) "Jump Up Behind Me," "My Traveling Star," "Whenever You're Ready," "Oh Baby," "Don't You Loose Your Lip On Me" / "Mescalito" / "Steamroller," "Carolina in My Mind," "Up On the Roof," "Fire and Rain," "How Sweet it is (To Be Loved By You)." (Encore) "Mexico," "Your Smiling Face," "In the Midnight Hour," "Sweet Baby James." (Kansas City Star).

Tour feedback: "His 10-piece backing band seemed like it could be overkill, especially given that Taylor is most powerful with just his voice and an acoustic guitar. But they're crack players all and restraint was the word of the night." (Rocky Mountain News); "The last half of the second set turned out to be the heart of the show, starting with a blues medley ... in which Taylor gave his backup musicians ample room to show off." (Kansas City Star).

Recent Las Vegas appearances: Aug. 18, 1998 (MGM Grand); Oct. 13, 2001 (Mandalay Bay).

Says Taylor: "If you think (my music) is sentimental and self-absorbed, I agree with you. If you like that kind of thing, then listen to it. If you don't, you don't have to remove it from the face of the earth. It's not for everybody. But to me, there's still something compelling about doing it." (Entertainment Weekly, 2001).