2006 American Idol winner Taylor Hicks was a headlining act at the 35th Telluride Jazz Celebration earlier this month. Hicks and his band The Little Memphis Blues Orchestra dazzled fans while performing on the Paquito D’Rivera Town Park Stage. In fact, they followed D’Rivera himself, the legendary Cuban saxophonist and composer who was the 2011 Guest of Honor. Among the other headlining acts at this year’s Telluride were Tower of Power, Allen Toussaint, and Rita Coolidge. That’s damn impressive company for a guy who’s been the butt of countless jokes in the mainstream media.
Those who recoil at the sight of “American Idol winner” and Telluride Jazz Celebration in the same sentence have perhaps never witnessed what Hicks is capable of on the concert stage. Possessing serious chops, not only as a vocalist but also as musician and bandleader, Hicks is a true anomaly among winners of America’s favorite singing competition.
Doubters should check out his full eighty-minute set, still available for viewing courtesy of Telluride Jazz. That’s not a slight against other talents that have emerged from Idol, but the fact is they’re not headlining at Telluride. And don’t miss Hicks dueling on harmonica with fiddler Lisa Haley (who played Telluride with her band The Zydekats) during “Seven Mile Breakdown.”
In the midst of planning a new album, his first since 2009’s The Distance, Hicks and I discussed his various projects earlier this summer.
How do you feel at this point, beginning the new album?
What’s so great about this particular process for me is that there's no big vehicle that I have to hop on to be able to sell my record. The last one had the vehicle of the Grease tour: 18 months, eight shows a week, 12,000 people a week, and trying to sell records to ten percent of the 12,000. I love big vehicles because financially they're great, not going to lie. But does it help the organic process of writing a record? It doesn't help it because it puts a time constraint on the process.
Do you like songwriting?
To be honest, I enjoy writing. But it's not easy. Writing is tough. It wipes me out, mentally, writing all day. I would rather be wiped out from performing a song then from writing one.
You didn’t write with anyone on your pre-Idol material, did you?
Article comments
1 - Connie
Great interview with a great entertainer, Chaz! Thanks! ;p
2 - carole
A great interview. I loved your questions. Loved Taylors answers too. I'm so excited about the new cd and movie/tv roles.
Thanks so much.
3 - sweetsmoke
Wow, that interview gets me all kinds of excited! Nice job, Chad!
4 - tammy
Great article! Thanks for sharing!
5 - Bella313
Best damn interview yet. And thanks for putting out what an awesome musician he really is. Calling out the bashers...YES!
6 - Evelyn
First paragraph: Last sentence! I LOVE IT! Great article involving some questions that have been answered.
Good Job?
7 - PatP
Chaz...Excellent article about a great musician...love that you see his talent like his many fans do...bravo!!
8 - Louise
Telluride was an awesome show. Three days of music and Taylor and LMBO were never better.
Sure looking forward to that new CD Taylor is putting together!
9 - Nancy
Wow, nice, respectful interview, and not the same-old, same-old questions. Thanks for it!
10 - L.
Thanks. Always very much enjoy your interviews with Taylor.
11 - Jules
You do the best interviews! Your questions are music oriented vs. AI oriented. Taylor answers in kind. Plus, you see what drives Taylor. It's all about the music and performing!
12 - Annie Roney
I love Taylor and his music. I have all of it and his book. I will never tire of him. He is able to play with any person or group. xoxo s annie n gabril toy blk n silver schnazuer
13 - Judy M
What a wonderful interview. You do a great job with your questions. Taylor, as you have shown, is capable of doing it "all". Best entertainer around. IMO Can't wait to see him again..you never get enough.