Get ready to be blown away when you hear Ben Taylor’s soon-to-be-released CD, “The Legend of Kung Folk — Part I.”
In a world where every progeny of a musical great thinks he has a unique musical contribution to give — and is frustrated and bitter if the public disagrees — Taylor’s music and creativity truly live up to his parents’ brilliant history. But unlike some of his contemporaries who seek to distance themselves from musically great parents, Taylor is the first to doff his metaphoric cap to parents James Taylor and Carly Simon.
“You have to be proud of what you come from and honor that legacy,” Taylor said. “I cover a different song of each one [of my parents]. I know a lot of fans come to see me because of my parents.”
Chances are good the scale will soon tip to concert audiences seeking out Taylor’s music as it stands. One listen to Taylor’s deep, rich voice singing his catchy yet natural, unforced lyrics and choruses, and it’s clear he’s no musical also-ran. But Taylor is more than an amazing voice. His creativity is evidenced by his smooth, melodic tunes, some of which hover near blues and R&B sounds such as on “Dangerous Girl” and “Something for Nothing.”
And for all those who have concerns the album, which is slated for release Sept. 16, might be a bit too — well, serious — for their tastes, consider the fun ditty “Wicked Way,” with lyrics that include: “I just want to take you out and get you drunk so I can have my wicked way with you.”
“Oh, that’s completely biographical,” Taylor said with a laugh, adding he first wrote the song from a woman’s perspective. “I write songs about whatever inspires me.”
Not that Taylor was always comfortable in that musical role. The practicalities of the music business and the obvious pressures he and his sister, Sally — also a musician and child of James Taylor and Simon — face seemed too daunting. Yet as Taylor matured, he began to express himself more consistently — and publicly — through music.
“It has taken me a long time to get there,” Taylor said. “I started late, and I’m catching up. You can be born with a certain musical talent, but there are no substitutes for experience. … The benchmark for me is to grab on and hold tight.”
If you go
Ben Taylor
- Venue: Mount Vernon’s Place Park, 600 Charles St., Baltimore
- When: 5:30 p.m. Thursday
- Details: Free; bentaylormusic.com
