MACHAN TAYLOR:

In an era when music is often geared more towards tabloids than truth, it is refreshing to find an artist concerned with making honest artistic statements rather than fueling rumor mills. Such is the case with Machan, a singer whose exotic adult pop-meets-jazz sound and striking countenance are reinforced not by garish actions and flamboyant declarations, but rather by her own heartfelt songs and the sincere joy she receives from sharing those songs with others. It is that passion for performing and love of singing that led Machan to work as a background vocalist for artists such as Sting, Pink Floyd, Pat Benetar, George Benson, Gov't Mule and others, along with stints fronting the Glenn Miller Orch and the jazz ensemble Hiroshima. Recently finishing her 2nd solo project, Machan celebrates her new deal with NuGroove/Warlock Records and her new CD "Motion of Love"

Taylor's 'Love' full of emotion

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071001/LIFE/102010001&theme=

Machan Taylor raises her eyebrows, throws back her head and smiles.

The Ulster County resident, in the midst of yet another performance, has just started a song, but is already moving with momentum. Her fingers strum a guitar. Her voice rises and falls. Her passion explodes.  To a member of the audience at Aroma Thyme Bistro in Ellenville or La Puerta Azul in Millbrook, the woman born in Japan and raised in New Jersey could have been simply offering physical manifestations of the rhythms moving through her.

But in a split-second, over the course of a tune, a set, one night or entire lifetime, Machan with this body language could have been reflecting on a music career that has taken her from Times Square to Central Park and back.

Her latest tonal touchstone is a new CD, “Motion of Love,” that features former Miles Davis sideman John Scofield, jam band keyboard player John Medeski and her husband, Ulster County native and Gov't Mule keyboard player Danny Louis.

“Motion of Love”  features a single, “Extraordinary Thing,” that is, well, simply extraordinary.

Backed by Louis, former Annie Lennox keyboard player Pete Levin and others, Machan offered up a version of “Extraordinary Thing” at a benefit concert in Rosendale this year that simply sizzled.

Perhaps the spark Machan exhibited at that neighborhood fundraiser for fire victims was what caught the attention of Sting, for whom Machan sang backup on his “Brand New Day” tour years ago. Her first gig with the Police front man was in Times Square, at the stroke of midnight, Jan. 1, 2000.

You can hear those same, piercing vocals on Machan's Web site, which features a clip from her days singing backup vocals for Pink Floyd.  Machan has a stunning resume that documents gigs with Aretha Franklin, Pat Benatar and Leonard Cohen. Last month, she sang with Gov't Mule during a concert in Central Park.

According to Louis, Machan has a “pocket.”

“There is a phrase musicians use that's better than saying someone has good time or good meter — ‘they have a great pocket,' ” Louis said. “She's the real deal. Coming home and hearing the music she is working on is so much fun.”

But along with the passion, there is persistence.

“Motion of Love” is Machan's second CD. Her first record, a self-titled effort, fell victim to the ups-and-downs of the music industry when her label went bankrupt shortly after the CD was released.

A blow to her career

“It was really a shock,” she said. “Three years later, I'm trying to pick up the pieces and pick up the steam again with my solo career. It took me a year and a half to get a new deal and do the record. It's exciting for me to have a second chance and see where I can take it from here.”

Machan describes herself as an adult contemporary jazz-pop artist.

“She is definitely the best singer I've ever worked with,” said drummer and percussionist T. Xiques of Shandaken. “Her compositions have grooves that I wouldn't normally get to play. It's a totally unique thing for me. There are a lot more colors I get to use, totally unique to her music.”

That adult contemporary jazz-pop comes with a tinge of the sounds of Brazil.

“There is world music influence,” she said.

Machan added, “I don't want to be thought of as a jazz singer or a jazz artist because I feel like the fact that I'm a singer-songwriter and guitar player puts me in the world of singer-songwriters and a lot of solo artists.”

Beyond the big names she has performed with, the plaudits and the record deals, Machan remains focused on the groove.

“This is my dream,” she said of performing music.

“I really am living my dream. And I try to remind myself of that every day.”

 

CENTERSTAGE INTERVIEW WITH MACHAN:

CENTERSTAGE:	What do you think about downloading music online?
MACHAN:	There’s no question that we’re in digital age and we aren’t doing back. So everyone has to deal with the fact that anything can be had on the internet. My problem of course, as an artist, is all the free downloading. Intellectual property should be protected and you should have to pay for an aritst’s hard work and creative ideas, unless the artist makes the material available for free.   It’s so hard to police what’s happening on the internet right now for performing rights societies and organizations that try to track monies for downloads, but hopefully we’re moving in the direction of having a little better control. Artists need to make a living too and their art is a valuable commodity.
CENTERSTAGE:	What aspect of making music excites you the most right now?
MACHAN:	For me doing live gigs is what I’ve grown up on and what excites me the most. I love the energy from and audience and the excitement of not always knowing what’s going to happen musically. Every time is different, new and interesting for me.
CENTERSTAGE:	What excites you the most about music?
MACHAN:	Music for me is what makes me  is what makes my heart beat  a little faster and with a rhythm that penetrates my soul. It’s like being in love.
CENTERSTAGE:	What discourages you the most about music?
MACHAN:	Nothing really discourages me about music. But the “music business” can be very discouraging. There are a lot of unsavory characters that make their living off of  taking advantage of artists and exploiting their talents and gifts. There seems to be not avoiding these people. That’s why as an artist, you have to train yourself to be a business minded person as well. You have to learn to protect yourself and know what’s going on with your business. The days of handing your life over to a manager or someone to do everything for you are over.
CENTERSTAGE:	Tell us about the most exciting thing happening with your music right now or in the near future.
MACHAN:	Right now I’m just focusing on doing live gigs and trying to get better gigs like concerts and festivals. I’m also working on new music all the time; writing, recording. So always trying to keep the creative juices flowing.
CENTERSTAGE:	Name the most unusual place you’ve ever played or made a recording.  What made this place unusual and how did it effect the music?
MACHAN:	I think the most unusual place what when I toured with George Benson and we played a concert in Spain in a bull ring. It was a big round open air venue and dirt on the ground under the stage which wasn’t that unusual. But the smell of manure and blood permeated the air which was nauseating. Very strange.
CENTERSTAGE:	As you create more music, do you find yourself getting more or less interested in seeking out and listening to new music made by other people...and why do you think that is? When was the last time you wrote a song? What can you tell us about it?
MACHAN:	Yesterday…I’m always coming up with new ideas. It just takes time sometimes to write down or record everything. But I always record basic ideas on my little digital recorder.
CENTERSTAGE:	As you create more music, do you find yourself getting more or less interested in seeking out and listening to new music made by other people...and why do you think that is?
MACHAN:	No I’m always listening and looking for new music to listen to. I love to try to keep up with what’s happening out there, but it’s almost impossible. There’s sooo much music in the world these days.
CENTERSTAGE:	Lately what musical periods or styles do you find yourself most drawn to as a listener? (Old or new music? Music like yours or different from yours?)
MACHAN:	I’m drawn to anything that has a great groove and interesting melody. I also have an ear for interesting textures and production value.  Sometimes it could be a sonic quality to something that might catch my ear. It’s not always easy to say why you’re attracted to a certain sound, just like it’s hard to pin point why you’re attracted to a person. You just are.
CENTERSTAGE:	Name a band or musician, past or present, who you flat-out LOVE and think more people should be listening to. What's one of your all-time favorite recordings by this band/musician?
MACHAN:	That’s hard to say. I love so much music out there, from Radiohead and Coldplay to Caetano Veloso, Phillip Glass, Sly Stone and everything in between.
CENTERSTAGE:	Name the one thing you want people to know about you and your music.
MACHAN:	I think my music is so much more exciting live. So I hope people will come and see me. I think they’ll be pleasantly surprised.

 

 

From Machan's MYSPACE & Website

 

 

http://www.myspace.com/machanmusic

 

http://www.geishagirlmusic.com/

Jun 7 2008 7:00P	Colony Cafe	Woodstock, New York
Jun 20 2008 7:30P	Dautaj Restaurant	Warwick, New York
Jun 27 2008 8:00P	The Jazzberry Patch	Teaneck, New York
Jun 28 2008 7:00P	Cachaca Jazz and Samba	NYC, New York
Jun 28 2008 7:00P	Cachaca Jazz and Samba	NYC, New York
Jul 11 2008 7:00P	Shanghai Jazz	Madison, New Jersey