Published on November 12, 1999, The Knoxville News-Sentinel

“Producer Sees the Future and It Is Funky”

Danny Kortchmar has been slinking around the background of the music scene for more than 30 years. James Taylor fans know him from his instrumental work and songwriting on some of Taylor's best albums, including "Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon."

He was in a short-lived group called The City with Carole King, just before King recorded her classic album "Tapestry" (on which Kortchmar played guitar). He was the musical backbone and producer and co-songwriter behind Don Henley's album "End of the Innocence." He produced Billy Joel's "River of Dreams," discs by Rod Stewart, Neil Young, the Spin Doctors, and many others. And, as a musician, he's recorded with the likes of John Lennon, Bob Dylan and Linda Rondstadt.

On his own, Kortchmar has kept a low profile. Kortchmar's latest project, a band called Slo Leak, which recently released its second album "When the Clock Strikes 12" (TVT). Anyone expecting anything mellow, doesn't know Kortchmar.

With local R&B legend Charlie Karp on vocals and second guitar, the disc is an odd combination of modern and old. Kortchmar uses samples of classic blues and R&B records as a backdrop and then puts new R&B numbers (and wild cover of Jimmy Liggens' "Drunk") on top of that. Instead of sounding processed and mechanical like most sample-heavy music, the "Clock" tracks are gritty and organic. It's as if sampling were available to musicians in the 1950s.

"I'm attracted to the organic," says Kortchmar, taking time out from producing Van Halen's latest album for a phone call. "When synthesizers first came out I could hear how lame they sounded. I put together a gritty and grating sound."

The disc was recorded in Kortchmar's Westchester, Conn., home studio -- a far cry from Los Angeles, Kortchmar's home base for 22 years. Kortchmar actually grew up in Westchester and in Martha's Vineyard, Mass., where he met James Taylor, a sometimes Martha's Vineyard resident.

The two relocated to New York City, Kortchmar formed the group The Flying Machine, which Taylor joined. The group recorded several tracks which were eventually released as the album "James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine -- 1967" -- after Taylor had become a star. The music includes false starts and two versions of "Knocking Around the Zoo," one with Taylor on lead vocals, one with Kortchmar.

Kortchmar groans when talking about the release. "That was not meant to be released," says Kortchmar. The group disbanded shortly after the demos were recorded. "We were starving," says Kortchmar, who went on to perform with Fugs, and then moved to Los Angeles with the band Clear Light.

Yet, it was as a sideman that Kortchmar gained recognition. He wasn't a grandstanding soloist. He was L.A.'s ace team player. "My guitar playing is all about the ensemble," says Kortchmar. "I'm a guy that drummers love, because it's all about how to help the band."

One session he particularly enjoyed was the Harry Nilsson project "Pussycats," which was produced by John Lennon. While some have painted the "Pussycats" sessions as a drunken revel, Kortchmar says the sessions were great.

"It was hilarious," says Kortchmar. "I just absorbed it all."

Kortchmar says a section in Albert Goldman's book on Lennon recounted an incident during that time in which a drunk Lennon bit Kortchmar on the nose.

"That never happened," says Kortchmar, still steaming over the falsehood. "Goldman never called me to ask about it and I was living in L.A. and was easy to find. I hung out with Lennon and he was the nicest guy in the world."

Kortchmar says he learned a lot about producing from watching Peter Asher, who produced Taylor and Rondstadt. Kortchmar's own first production project was for Carole King's daughter Louise Goffin. The album wasn't a hit, but it proved Kortchmar's smarts as a producer.

Kortchmar's wish-list for production projects include Lucinda Williams, U2 and Beck. "I could teach Beck some (expletive) he's never dreamed of."

After completing work with Van Halen, Kortchmar hopes to take some time to tour with Slo Leak. "I just hope we sell enough records to allow me to keep doing it," says Kortchmar. "It's really nasty, funky stuff. It's what blues ought to be in the future."