Jimmy Vivino. Photo: Ali Hasbach
Produced by Taylor Barton
Join us for an evening of extraordinary music and storytelling featuring the legendary G.E. Smith and the incomparable Jimmy Vivino, with special guest artists to be announced. This special night brings together Smith, the masterful guitarist and bandleader known for his work with Bob Dylan, Hall & Oates, and Saturday Night Live, alongside Jimmy Vivino, the renowned guitarist, arranger, and longtime musical director for Late Night with Conan O’Brien. A true musician’s musician, Vivino has built a storied career blending rock, blues, and soul—collaborating with artists across genres and generations, from Levon Helm to Al Kooper.
Together, Smith and Vivino will take the stage for stripped-down performances, spontaneous collaborations, and behind-the-scenes stories from decades of life on the road and in the studio. The evening will also feature surprise appearances by additional guest artists, making each PORTRAITS event a one-of-a-kind experience.
PORTRAITS is a uniquely intimate concert series created by Taylor Barton & GE Smith, showcasing in-depth musical conversations with some of the most dynamic artists of our time. Through song and storytelling, these performances offer a rare glimpse into the artistry, influences, and experiences that shape a musician’s craft.
-
Jimmy Vivino
Although I am proud to say I’m currently a member of Blues Rock pioneers Canned Heat and co-produced our latest release Finyl Vinyl, there’s just too much to list as far as played with this one played with that one. But in the end I will list the people of importance pertaining to my growth as a musician.
Yes, I’ve worked in every form of media in the business from Movies to TV to Broadway to Radio to Records to Concerts all the way down to funky little clubs. After all I always say “I’m just a Bluesman with a job.”
One thing I did learn over 60 plus years as a musician was how to work. And I did and still am. Nothing beats playing in live music venues and meeting people.
I’m just gonna list my close friends (who are really family) and mentors who taught me the “ways”:
Levon Helm, Phoebe Snow, Al Kooper, John Sebastian, James Cotton, Joe Louis Walker, Hubert Sumlin, Jimmie Vaughan, Johnnie Johnson, Laura Nyro, Odetta, Lowell Fulson, Son Seals, Donald Fagen, Darlene Love, Felix Cavaliere, Barry Goldberg, Nick Gravenites, Canned Heat with Fito de la Parra, Warren Haynes, and just about anyone else who passed through NYC and needed a band that could play the Blues, Soul, Real Rock’n’Roll, and R&B.
Being involved with the Conan show for 30 years has only deepened my experience and contact with people who stepped out of my record collection and into my life and for that I am truly grateful.
-
G.E. Smith
G.E. SMITH was bandleader and Musical Director for Saturday Night Live (SNL) band from 85-95'. During this time he also toured with Bob Dylan for four years. He was bassist on THE WALL LIVE TOUR for Roger Waters, 2010-2016 and sideman to Jagger, Bowie, and guitarist for Hall & Oates. He also helped Mike Myers write a song for Aerosmith, called Wayne’s World which went multi-platinum when they performed on SNL. gesmithmusic
Photo: Rick Wenner
-
TAYLOR BARTON
Taylor Barton is a multi-talented, writer, producer, and singer-songwriter. She is Vice President of Green Mirror Corp, a multi-media entertainment company. She has worked for four decades in the Music Industry and produced over 50 Events Worldwide.
She has released ten critically acclaimed solo albums all available on Apple, Pandora, Spotify, and other digital platforms. Vanity Fair calls her voice beautiful and seductive. Rolling Stone calls her beguiling. She is the recipient of ten ASCAP Popular Panel Awards. Her film, 50 Watt Fuse, documenting G.E. Smith’s career as a sideman, was an Official Selection of the Mill Valley Film Festival. Written and directed by Barton with cameos from Lorne Michaels, Jimmy Buffett, to Bob Dylan and Hall & Oates; it garnered Barton a standing ovation.
She is the producer of the performance series GE Smith’s Portraits at Guild Hall, East Hampton, NY. Featured guests have been The Avett Bros, Billy Squier, Roger Waters, Ethan Hawke, Trevor Hall, LeRoy Bell, The Bacon Bros, Sarah Jarosz, Paula Cole, and Carter Burwell to name a few. She also serves on the Advisory Board of the Hamptons International Film Festival where she is the Founder of the Melissa Mathison Fund.
She is married to GE Smith and lives in Amagansett, NY with their daughter Josephine Smith.
Sponsors
Performing Arts programming is supported in part by funding from Galia Meiri-Stawski and Axel Stawski, Henry and Peggy Schleiff, The Melville Straus Family Endowment, and Monica and Peter Tessler. Music Programming is supported in part by The Ellen and James S. Marcus Endowment for Musical Programming.
Additional support provided by Friends of the Theater: John and Joan D’Addario, Natascia Ayers and Jim Ciquera, Christine and Bill Campbell, Gabrielle and Gianpaolo de Felice, Lena Kaplan, Hilarie and Mitchell Morgan, Michèle and Steve Pesner, The Schaffner Family Foundation, Lisa Schultz and Ezriel Kornel, Jayne Baron Sherman and Deborah Zum, Stacey and Oliver Stanton, Leila Straus, Susi and Peter Wunsch, and Andrew Yuder and Kyle Glaeser.