My last concert of the summer was both a surprise and a delight. A friend provided a ticket at the last minute to a performance at the local amphitheater by James Taylor and his band (and thus, the surprise), and the concert itself was pure delight. First, the weather couldn’t have been better. Sunny and a little too warm most of the day (low 90s), the temperature eased off as the sun dropped down and, softened by a pleasant breeze, was perfect for an evening under the stars. Arriving at the venue about two hours before the music was to start, I staked out a perfect spot on the grass with my lawn chair and blanket. Well back from the stage but just opposite the center mic, I enjoyed a great vantage point for both people-watching and concert viewing. As I mentioned yesterday, I’ve always enjoyed Taylor’s music; he takes that clear, pure, emotive voice and wraps it around an assortment of genres (blues, folk, rock, jazz, country) and makes them his own. This was my first chance to see him in a live performance, and while I was pleased that the playlist included his most well-known and -loved songs (“Fire and Rain,” “You’ve Got a Friend,” “Sweet Baby James,” “Carolina in My Mind”),  I enjoyed the variety of other tunes it included. We got a sampling from his latest Covers album as well as a few folk songs from the first half of the last century and what Taylor jokingly referred to as a few “state fair” numbers. Taylor was backed by four superb voices. David Lasley has been singing with James Taylor for nearly three decades, but check out his bio to see what a remarkable career he’s had as a solo artist, song writer and backup for other performers. And Andrea Zonn provided vocals as well as beautiful fiddle/violin accompaniment throughout the show. Larry Goldings on keyboards provided great, jazzy sound; and Bob Mann (guitar) and Jimmy Johnson (bass) showed great versatility whether in rock, blues or country mode. It was interesting to compare the acoustics on this night with that of Tuesday’s Crosby, Stills & Nash concert, and I really didn’t notice any of the unpleasant qualities from that earlier performance. I’m sure Saturday’s near-sold-out audience helped buffer some of the ambient sound, and fewer speakers may also have contributed to better sound. Most importantly, though, just has to be the fact that James Taylor still has excellent control of a voice that is just as strong and true as it was at the start of his career, and he has assembled great musicians and vocalists to help him deliver the music. Playing straight through for more than two hours, together they presented a truly fine evening of music. I really can’t imagine a much better way to end the last full week of summer than with such a great evening. The memories will carry me through the dark, wet days of winter and keep me looking forward to more great outdoor events next year. –Patty Vanikiotis, proofreader