James Taylor, O2 Arena 06/Jul/09 - "Rockabye, Sweet Baby James"

James Taylor and band members played a nostalgic set at the O2 Arena. His voice, still pure and all James Taylor, echoed my memories from countless listening in the late seventies and early eighties.
The last time I saw him was 1980. I remember, at the time, I was shocked that he had lost his hair and looked old. The hair is still gone, and he looks older, but music keeps him young. He is obviously still in love with his work.
The set lists were a mixture of covers and JT classics. His interaction with the crowd was sometimes a bit geeky and bit stiff, but it was obvious he had done this many times before and he graciously inserted a request for "Only One" into the set.
The backup vocals by Katie Markowitz, Andrea Zahn (also on fiddle), and Arnold McCullough were stunning. Jimmy Johnson on bass and Larry Goldings on keyboards rounded out the ensemble of talented musicians onstage.
His song introductions gave me a new understanding and appreciation into why he had written them. Sweet Baby James, written as a lullaby for a nephew named after him, was sung with a sweetness as if he was setting eyes on the baby again for the first time.
It was a bit of a time warp at the O2 last night, I was comfortably teleported back and happily lulled to tranquility. It looks like this was recorded for DVD, I'll be looking for it. "Rockabye Sweet Baby James", and thank you.

Set List
SET 1
It's Growin
Sea cruise
Country Road
Whiskey before Breakfast (Andrea Zahn - fiddle solo)
Stop thinking bout that
Wichita Lineman
Why Baby Why by George Jones
Only One - audience request
Everyday by Buddy Holly
Oklahoma By Rogers and Hammerstein
You've got a Friend by Carole King
Mexico
Shed a Little Light
Set 2
Hound Dog by Big Momma Thorton
Down in the Hole
I'm a roadrunner
Sweet Baby James
Fire n rain
Up on the Roof by Carole King
Steamroller
Carolina
Shower the People
Your Smiling Face
ENCORE
Walking Man
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
Midnight Hour
????