Boston Globe
Taylor and friends toast Carnegie Hall
By Sarah Rodman
Globe Staff / April 13, 2011

NEW YORK – James Taylor is no stranger to Carnegie Hall. Indeed, he made his first appearance in 1970, but last night he admitted with a chuckle from that venerable stage that he was a little hazy on the details of that debut.

That was all that the seminal singer-songwriter was unsure of, as he and an all-star supporting cast of friends, including Bill Clinton, gathered to celebrate the venue’s 120th anniversary with a superb, nearly two-hour tour through its history with popular music. The performance was also the first in a four-part “Perspectives’’ series dedicated to aspects of Taylor’s career that will include shows April 20, May 6, and May 9.

Taylor proved an excellent host and centerpiece, kicking things off with a sly, acoustic take of “There’s No Business Like Show Business.’’ Sometimes Taylor and his stellar backing band were the main attraction. At other points he played the happy sideman.

Aided by archival projections on the back wall, Taylor told the tale of the many names who practiced enough to earn the Carnegie Hall stage, from red-hot vaudeville mama Sophie Tucker, given voice by a sassy Bette Midler, to jazz greats like Billie Holiday, represented by Dianne Reeves in a breathtaking, unamplified rendition of “Don’t Explain,’’ and pop acts like the Beatles – Sting did the honors on “Penny Lane.’’

Broadway legend Barbara Cook performed a stunning duet with Taylor on “Not While I’m Around’’ from “Sweeney Todd.’’

Steve Martin provided comic and musical entertainment, needling Taylor, introducing Kevin Pollak to perform an excerpt from Lenny Bruce’s Carnegie Hall live album, and strapping on a banjo for the Flatt and Scruggs classic “Foggy Mountain Breakdown’’ and his own “Jubilation Day.’’

Taylor closed the evening with “Over the Rainbow,’’ in tribute to another famous Carnegie Hall alum, Judy Garland.