MUSIC

Anderson Fair presents Will Taylor and Strings Attached.

Beginning in 1999, Will Taylor implemented a new idea after brainstorming with other local Austin musicians. Taylor began collaborating with both local and nationally renowned artists, rearranging their known material, brought in his own crew of seasoned jazz and contemporary roots musicians to play, and moved the performance venue from the traditional smokey club scene to the beautiful interior and excellent acoustics of a church sanctuary.

Since then Will Taylor and Strings Attached have presented over 50 concert collaborations to over 12000 audience members, countless more through four KGSR Live Radio broadcasts, and many appearances on KUT, KLBJ, KMFA and KOOP Radio. The the last few years they've expanded the repertoire to include Album/Band tribute shows where again the music is re-arranged and reinterpreted by Will and the ensemble. In 2006, over 1600 Beatles fans saw them re-create the entire White album. They've also presented the music of Led Zeppelin, Joni Mitchell, Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel and Jimi Hendrix. Guest artists we’ve collaborated with include: Shawn Colvin, Joe Ely,Dar Williams, James McMurtry, Fastball's Tony Scalzo, Jimmy Dale Gilmore, Ruthie Foster, Abra Moore, Darden Smith, Tish Hinojosa, Sara Hickman, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Eliza Gilkyson, Slaid Cleaves, Suzi Stern, Beth Ulman, Kellye Gray, Patrice Pike, Guy Forsyth, Michael Fracasso, Jimmy LaFave, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Albert and Gage, Jon Dee Graham, John Aielli, Barbara K, Kimmie Rhodes, Ian Moore, and Chip Taylor and Carrie Rodriguez.

Mission Statement

1. Our mission is to bring the experience of dynamic cross-genre music to a wider audience of Austin youth and adults, regardless of socio-economic background while imparting a deeper understanding of its roots and history.
2. Provide positive role models for Austin youth and culture.
3. Inspire renewed community support for traditional and cross-genre music.
4. Create new artist collaborations that stretch beyond familiar boundaries by giving guest artists ample rehearsal time, a highly flexible ensemble, arrangements unique to their traditional stylistic approaches, and an ideal performance environment.

A majority of the concerts have been recorded to 16 track digital audio. During season Three we began interviewing audience members about their experiences and impressions of the shows in addition to an in depth interview with each of the guest artists. This audio is being prepared to be made available for free on the strings attached website.

From 1999 – 2001 Will Taylor and Strings Attached in collaboration with One World Theatre, presented the educational show “American Roots” to over 20 public schools through Austin. This program takes a spirited trip across the colorful landscape of American popular music with an adventure through the "root” music out of whose textural, stylistic, melodic and harmonic structures emerged the wonderful diversity of American music. This highly interactive show includes an introduction of the instruments, a question-and-answer period, and introduction and performance of several musical genres including fiddle music, blues, rock, funk and jazz. At the end of the show, the band invites students to sit in with the ensemble and students are invited to come on stage to try the instruments and ask more questions.

We have released 3 CD recordings. The most recent album entitled: “Live Vol. One” is a collection of live performances taken from the concert series. All proceeds from the recording benefit CASA of Travis County.

And though these individual group members are accomplished soloists, when they team up as Strings Attached, the landscape changes completely, as they expand the collaborative artist's vision into an other-worldly territory, without sacrificing the intent or spirit of the original works.