Top Picks: Guitar lessons from James Taylor, Keira Knightley voices Tinkerbell, and more

Christian Science Monitor
November 25, 2011
http://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/Arts/2011/1125/Top-Picks-Guitar-lessons-from-James-Taylor-Keira-Knightley-voices-Tinkerbell-and-more

James Taylor teaches guitar lessons on his website, Keira Knightley voices Tinkerbell in SyFy's two-part Peter Pan series, 'Journey of the Universe' space series on PBS takes viewers through the galaxy, and more top picks.

Taylor made

Ever wished you could have a guitar lesson with James Taylor? All it takes is a visit to jamestaylor.com and you can discover how he does that thing he does so well. The man himself breaks down his unique guitar technique in slow motion, and even if you aren't a player, it's just a real treat to spend some up close and personal time. Also on the site are vintage and modern videos of performances and rehearsals spanning Taylor's illustrious career.

Yo-Yo breaks out

Any album that includes Yo-Yo Ma, Chris Thile, Edgar Meyer, and Stuart Duncan is worth a listen. Combining bluegrass talents Thile and Duncan with classical musicians Ma and Meyer sounds strange, about as strange as the album's title, but The Goat Rodeo Sessions is about taking the virtuosos of two very different musical traditions and listening to the conversations they have with each other. Orchestral in places, folksy and bluesy elsewhere, "Goat Rodeo" is a fascinating experiment – and addictive.

Before Peter met Wendy

Neverland is a SyFy Channel original miniseries taking viewers into the back story of the Peter Pan tale. A somber but stylish imagining, the two-part series airs Dec. 4 and 5 at 9 p.m. Stars include Keira Knightley as the voice of Tinkerbell, Charles Dance, Bob Hoskins, and Rhys Ifans.

Rare Simon songs

Paul Simon: Live at Webster Hall, New York will be on PBS beginning Dec. 3 – check local listings. The set includes many old favorites rarely played live, including "Kodachrome," "Mother and Child Reunion," and "Gone at Last." The concert was recorded last June and includes tracks from his latest album, "So Beautiful or So What?"

Tenor in the park

Hosted by Paula Zahn, Andrea Bocelli Live in Central Park includes a roster of guests such as Celine Dion, Tony Bennett, and David Foster. Airing on PBS Dec. 2, the show's songs range from "The Prayer" to "Nessun Dorma," "Time to Say Goodbye," and "Volare."

Where it all began

Journey of the Universe: An Epic Story of Cosmic, Earth, and Human Transformation is a PBS series beginning Dec. 3 that invites us on a trip through time and scientific thought to review the latest theories on how galaxies, stars, planets, living organisms, human beings, and human consciousness came to be.