The Song Rules: Guitar God John Platania
by Peter Aaron
Highland’s John Platania is a true musician’s musician,
a distinctive player called one of rock and roots music’s consummate
guitarists. You may not recognize his name, but odds are you’ve
heard him weave his magic many times, with his current and longtime
boss Van Morrison (that’s Platania on “Domino” and
the title smash of 1970’s Moondance) and with Randy Newman, Don
McLean, Bonnie Raitt, Judy Collins, Natalie Merchant, and longtime
buddy Chip Taylor, the composer of “Wild Thing” and “Angel
of the Morning.” And no doubt one of the main reasons Platania
repeatedly gets such plum side–man gigs is his firmly and vocally
held belief in playing to serve the song rather than simply showing
off his considerable instrumental prowess.
Blues, Waltzes and Badland Borders is Platania’s second solo
effort (after 2002’s Lucky Dog [Double Dog], which features lyrics
by cartoonist Elwood Smith) and his first for Taylor’s Train
Wreck label. A mostly instrumental set displaying Platania’s
inimitable blues–soaked, slide–riddled chops, the album
boasts 11 tracks interspersed with spoken passages by Taylor’s
brother, actor Jon Voigt, and musicians Alejandro Escovedo and Ruben
Ramos. A wide–screen workout that ably evokes the punishing,
tumbleweed–strewn Texas desert, the record also features guest
appearances by Lucinda Williams, Taylor cohort Carrie Rodriguez, and
drummer Anton Figg.
Just back from a European tour last month, Platania took time to answer
few questions.
You’re known as a world–class guitarist who has played
with so many great artists over the years. So why didn’t you
make a solo guitar album until now? Had you wanted to make one earlier?
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