James Taylor — Auditorium Conciliazione, Rome, 1998

Live capture of American singer James Taylor at the Auditorium Conciliazione in Rome on February 11, 1998. A tutelary figure of folk and the singer-songwriter tradition, James Taylor has embodied since the 1970s an intimate art of song, all melodic finesse and delicate acoustic guitar. This filmed live concert, from a period camcorder recording, restores the hushed atmosphere of an Italian hall and the closeness that marks his performances. The full concert lets us hear the warm, measured voice of an artist who left a lasting mark on North American music, between introspective ballads and standards from his repertoire. A raw document rather than a polished production, this archive is valuable for its authenticity and for the testimony it offers of a late-1990s European tour. For fans of live folk, the singer-songwriter tradition and acoustic concerts, this filmed live concert in Rome is an endearing archive piece, faithful to the stripped-down, warm spirit of James Taylor on stage.