“Fresh off the 50th anniversary all-star concert at Carnegie Hall celebrating the music of Jimmy Webb, Jimmy set off on a solo tour of Australia. The shows are all sold out and the reviews are outstanding! Here’s the latest:
A capacity house turned up to see Jimmy Webb on the first night of his current Australian tour. One of the grand masters of twentieth century American songwriting, Webb took the stage alone. With just a piano, a gift for storytelling and a set list loaded with bona fide classics, Webb held the audience enthralled from the moment he began with his opening number, ‘The Highwayman’. The song illustrates Webb’s unique narrative gifts and also what he can do with a melody.
The opening gambit led to a story about the country outlaw Waylon Jennings that showed Webb, despite his many accolades, is quite comfortable poking fun at himself.
Although he’s made many fine solo albums, the Webb legend was built on the songs he wrote for others. ‘Up, Up And Away’, a hit for the Fifth Dimension, was an early highlight. The accompanying story – which we won’t give away here – tells a lot about time, place and the bond of a good parent. When Webb struggled to hit the top note … he asked the audience to help him. The result was melodic bliss. (more)