I am dismayed to find and hear that Leonard is unwell, and is suffering from a compressed lower back injury.
I was stupid enough to miss his recent performances in Los Angeles and Coachella. I was, however blessed with the experience of rehearsing at SIR, and on visiting the restroom (lavatory to us Brits) standing next to a very elegant gentleman in the process of relieving himself. Thoughtlessly my eye was involuntarily drawn his way. I nearly dropped mine..... Leonard was human, after all.
I had to exchange niceties, as to leave without engaging the living god would have been inconceivable.
I did not have time to divulge that I had been a fan for many many years (prior to my knowledge of Jeff, actually) and had finished a recording of his most heart breaking moment: Joan Of Arc with my friends Sofizel and Victoria Butterfly. Anyhow, I have sent the version to Cover me, who recently posted my covers of Darling Nikki and Cracked by Joaquin Phoenix. Hopefully you can hear it soon!
Showing posts with label Joaquin Phoenix. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joaquin Phoenix. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Joaquin statement.... followup to E! interview
Just to put a few more things straight. I was definitely misquoted/misunderstood on a few things in transition between interview and publication.
Firstly, It was Alan McGee - svengali and record company owner (Creation Records) who introduced Scott and I to Joaquin AND Antony.
The songs were written by Antony and Joaquin together, I now understand.
Antony was the very able singer of the project.
Joaquin's input was focused on lyrics/songwriting and producer/directing.
I am also definitely not claiming to be a bosom buddy of either Joaquin OR Antony, as I have had no contact with them since the sessions.
I played piano, percussion and sang on the record along with Scott Fairbrother (Adamandevil) who played bass/guitar and sang.
I stand by the praise that I rather liberally heaped upon the record, and hope for it one day to be released so as to silence the critics.
Julian Shah-Tayler
Firstly, It was Alan McGee - svengali and record company owner (Creation Records) who introduced Scott and I to Joaquin AND Antony.
The songs were written by Antony and Joaquin together, I now understand.
Antony was the very able singer of the project.
Joaquin's input was focused on lyrics/songwriting and producer/directing.
I am also definitely not claiming to be a bosom buddy of either Joaquin OR Antony, as I have had no contact with them since the sessions.
I played piano, percussion and sang on the record along with Scott Fairbrother (Adamandevil) who played bass/guitar and sang.
I stand by the praise that I rather liberally heaped upon the record, and hope for it one day to be released so as to silence the critics.
Julian Shah-Tayler
Friday, January 22, 2010
E! Interview featuring me...
Inside Joaquin Phoenix's "Brilliant" Long-Lost Album
Thu., Jan. 21, 2010 3:50 PM PST by Natalie Finn and Lindsay Miller
Joaquin Phoenix Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Long before it was all about the beard, it was all about the music.
More than a year before Joaquin Phoenix set a new standard for lethargy on Letterman and said he was abandoning the movie biz to pursue a career in hip-hop, the Oscar-nominated actor wrote and recorded what sounds like a masterpiece.
"He's a Beatles, Oasis, Bowie-style songwriter. I hold it in that high esteem," L.A. musician Julian Shah-Taylor, who collaborated on the album with Phoenix, exclusively tells E! News.
Well, if that description is accurate, so would we...if we ever get to hear what he's talking about!
"He's accomplished just about everything anyone could accomplish as an artist," Shah-Taylor continued, hypothesizing why Phoenix's musical artistry may remain long lost.
"So coming out with a brilliant album of great music would not surprise anybody, and I think that's maybe why he didn't release it...And I think it's better to have some secrets, and I think Joaquin's secret is his prodigious music talent."
Shah-Taylor says that he met the Walk the Line star through Spacehog member Anthony Langdon (Liv Tyler's almost-ex-brother-in-law) and producer Alan McGee.
Over the course of a couple of months in 2007, they recorded eight tracks, most of them at Phoenix's in-house recording studio at his L.A. home, Shah-Taylor says.
Never mind what was to come, the musician tells us that Phoenix wasn't withdrawn at all, but was instead "bubbly" and "effervescent."
And not only was he a crackerjack singer-songwriter, he apparently also produced the hell out of the album.
"He was one of the most demonstrative producers I've ever worked with," Shah-Tayler says. "He would absolutely take you through the mental process of getting through it. Brilliant. He got exactly what he wanted and he got some of the best work out of me, as a pianist, that I have ever performed."
As for Phoenix's hip-hop aspirations, Shah-Taylor believes "he's quite capable of whatever he turns his hand to...Whatever it is, it will be genius, because I think he's close to genius."
We shall see. A rep for Phoenix's pal Casey Affleck told E! News last week that the documentary he was shooting about his friend's foray into hip-hop is now in postproduction.
Listen to Shah-Taylor's cover of "Cracked," penned and originally recorded by Phoenix and Langdon with Shah-Taylor on piano, right here.
http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b163337_inside_joaquin_phoenixs_brilliant.html
Thu., Jan. 21, 2010 3:50 PM PST by Natalie Finn and Lindsay Miller
Joaquin Phoenix Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Long before it was all about the beard, it was all about the music.
More than a year before Joaquin Phoenix set a new standard for lethargy on Letterman and said he was abandoning the movie biz to pursue a career in hip-hop, the Oscar-nominated actor wrote and recorded what sounds like a masterpiece.
"He's a Beatles, Oasis, Bowie-style songwriter. I hold it in that high esteem," L.A. musician Julian Shah-Taylor, who collaborated on the album with Phoenix, exclusively tells E! News.
Well, if that description is accurate, so would we...if we ever get to hear what he's talking about!
"He's accomplished just about everything anyone could accomplish as an artist," Shah-Taylor continued, hypothesizing why Phoenix's musical artistry may remain long lost.
"So coming out with a brilliant album of great music would not surprise anybody, and I think that's maybe why he didn't release it...And I think it's better to have some secrets, and I think Joaquin's secret is his prodigious music talent."
Shah-Taylor says that he met the Walk the Line star through Spacehog member Anthony Langdon (Liv Tyler's almost-ex-brother-in-law) and producer Alan McGee.
Over the course of a couple of months in 2007, they recorded eight tracks, most of them at Phoenix's in-house recording studio at his L.A. home, Shah-Taylor says.
Never mind what was to come, the musician tells us that Phoenix wasn't withdrawn at all, but was instead "bubbly" and "effervescent."
And not only was he a crackerjack singer-songwriter, he apparently also produced the hell out of the album.
"He was one of the most demonstrative producers I've ever worked with," Shah-Tayler says. "He would absolutely take you through the mental process of getting through it. Brilliant. He got exactly what he wanted and he got some of the best work out of me, as a pianist, that I have ever performed."
As for Phoenix's hip-hop aspirations, Shah-Taylor believes "he's quite capable of whatever he turns his hand to...Whatever it is, it will be genius, because I think he's close to genius."
We shall see. A rep for Phoenix's pal Casey Affleck told E! News last week that the documentary he was shooting about his friend's foray into hip-hop is now in postproduction.
Listen to Shah-Taylor's cover of "Cracked," penned and originally recorded by Phoenix and Langdon with Shah-Taylor on piano, right here.
http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b163337_inside_joaquin_phoenixs_brilliant.html
Friday, January 15, 2010
I love it when.....
I find a tune that is worth listening to, and does something perfect and beautiful. Try Hot Chip's new one:
http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/11653-take-it-in/
Avatar also was incredible against all my better judgements.
I have been working with Cameron on her masterwork: The Big I Am (Should that be in ALL capitals)
I have also agreed to be interviewed by E! network on my experiences working with Joaquin Phoenix, and consequently revisiting his songs that I played piano and percussion/sang on. Joaquin was not vocalising, but Antony Langdon from Spacehog was doing a fantastic job of that himself.
I think I am going to do a cover of the song "Cracked" so anyone who is interested might have the opportunity to hear Joaq's prodigious and most respectable songwriting talent.... alongside my best efforts of course!
The song, "Show me your soul" which I wrote for Antony Green's painting of Imelda Marcos' shoes is finished, and he is going to present her with it, and prepare a PR campaign for the whole project in the Phillippines asap alongside a worldwide press release! I will be publishing a limited edition "Greatest Hits" EP for Bandcamp so people can download and listen. Maybe I will put the Joaq cover on that..... two birds with one pebble...... Here are the lyrics for that song:
Also, going with Scott to meet Danny Saber to discuss the terms of the publishing that we are looking at with Music Sales.
http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/11653-take-it-in/
Avatar also was incredible against all my better judgements.
I have been working with Cameron on her masterwork: The Big I Am (Should that be in ALL capitals)
I have also agreed to be interviewed by E! network on my experiences working with Joaquin Phoenix, and consequently revisiting his songs that I played piano and percussion/sang on. Joaquin was not vocalising, but Antony Langdon from Spacehog was doing a fantastic job of that himself.
I think I am going to do a cover of the song "Cracked" so anyone who is interested might have the opportunity to hear Joaq's prodigious and most respectable songwriting talent.... alongside my best efforts of course!
The song, "Show me your soul" which I wrote for Antony Green's painting of Imelda Marcos' shoes is finished, and he is going to present her with it, and prepare a PR campaign for the whole project in the Phillippines asap alongside a worldwide press release! I will be publishing a limited edition "Greatest Hits" EP for Bandcamp so people can download and listen. Maybe I will put the Joaq cover on that..... two birds with one pebble...... Here are the lyrics for that song:
Show Me Your Soul - A song for Imelda
I've seen empires rise and fall out of the sky,
I've watched history unfold like the iron butterfly
I've danced through life with diamonds on my feet
Along the road that runs right to my destiny
If you wanna walk a mile in my shoes
Show me your soul
One of these days they'll walk all over you
Show me your soul
I am the morning star that brightens up the sky
I am the rose that plucks the thorns out of your side
I am the muse to blinks the angels to your eye
As the sorrow that we face defines our joy
If you wanna walk a mile in my shoes
Show me your soul
One of these days they'll walk all over you
Show me your soul
And your laughter fills with tears
And they're falling through the years
As the world keeps turning round
And there's no time left to cry
So your sorrow fills with joy
As the road keeps rolling on
I've watched history unfold like the iron butterfly
I've danced through life with diamonds on my feet
Along the road that runs right to my destiny
If you wanna walk a mile in my shoes
Show me your soul
One of these days they'll walk all over you
Show me your soul
I am the morning star that brightens up the sky
I am the rose that plucks the thorns out of your side
I am the muse to blinks the angels to your eye
As the sorrow that we face defines our joy
If you wanna walk a mile in my shoes
Show me your soul
One of these days they'll walk all over you
Show me your soul
And your laughter fills with tears
And they're falling through the years
As the world keeps turning round
And there's no time left to cry
So your sorrow fills with joy
As the road keeps rolling on
Also, going with Scott to meet Danny Saber to discuss the terms of the publishing that we are looking at with Music Sales.
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