By April MacIntyre Dec 20, 2008, 15:57 GMT
If you have not caught Sundance Channel's excellent series hosted by Elvis Costello, you are missing one of the most insightful "chat" shows ever broadcast.
With Elvis Christmas Eve- James Taylor - Arrivals - Lincoln Center Plaza - New York City, NY, USA © Anthony G. Moore / PR Photos
Costello is a musician and asks the smart questions you want hear, and has pulled out some great interviews from artists such as Lou Reed, Elton John and even Bill Clinton, America's musical Rhodes scholar ex-President.
This coming Christmas Eve sees Declan (Elvis' real name) talk to Sweet baby James: the pride of Cape Cod, James Taylor.Spectacle: Elvis Costello with... airs on Wednesdays at 9:00pm EST
New Years Eve sees Declan talking with Tony Bennett, on "Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Tony Bennett" which premieres Wednesday, December 31
From Sundance:
Elvis welcomes the iconic James Taylor, who epitomizes the term "singer-songwriter", and in this rare, in-depth interview, he sheds light on the various influences that have shaped his music over the past 40 years or so.
With a guitar readily at hand throughout the hour, Taylor shifts from conversation to performance mode, playing some of his best-known songs ("Fire and Rain", "Sweet Baby James") and some of his favorites by other writers, including Carole King and George Jones.
Elvis joins James in song a couple of times. The intimate conversation includes the very personal (Taylor's upbringing, family and occasional struggles with personal demons) and, naturally, the very musical (influences, collaborations and inspirations). Throughout it all, the pure, sweet James Taylor voice that has seduced music fans for four decades now remains a thing of beauty and comfort.
Elvis rings in the New Year by welcoming American icon Tony Bennett, who now in his ninth decade, is not only the steward of the Great American Songbook, but one of the last living connections to it.
In this seductive and utterly charming hour, Tony and Elvis discuss with warmth and affection many of the great songs and the colorful people responsible for them. Accompanied by (in Bennett's estimation) "the finest jazz pianist today", Bill Charlap, Tony sings several classics, and pulls a very special surprise guest from the audience for a spontaneous and irresistible duet.
For more highlights from episodes 4 and 5, go to LINK
In addition, be sure you check out former Senior Writer for Rolling Stone Alan Light's weekly comment on each episode, exploring the relationship between Elvis and his guest - LINK
Season 1 of Spectacle: Elvis Costello with... is as follows:
Episode 6 - January 7th"Spectacle: Elvis Costello with The Police"
Episode 7 - January 14th "Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Rufus Wainwright
Episode 8 - January 21st "Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Kris Kristofferson, Rosanne Cash, Norah Jones, John Mellencamp
Episode 9 - January 28th "Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Renée Fleming"
Episode 10 - February 4th "Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Herbie Hancock"
Episode 11 - February 11th "Spectacle: Elvis Costello with She & Him, Jenny Lewis, Jakob Dylan"
Episode 12 - February 18th "Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Diana Krall"
Episode 13 - February 25th "Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Smokey Robinson
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