How sweet it is to be in James Taylor's company

Sweet Baby James is no baby anymore.

James Taylor, one of the seminal singer-songwriters in the 1960s, and one of the best of all time, is 60 now, and bald (no more flowing locks), but his artistry is intact. He's still singing refreshingly cool and wonderful ballads about experiencing life and love, many written by him, and some by others.

He has a new album coming out soon, made up of some of his favorite country and R&B songs, some of which may turn up at his concerts Monday and Tuesday at Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville.

But the hits are what fans want to hear, and there will no doubt be lots of them at the Chateau, the perfect venue for his sophisticated pop. He will be backed by an 11-piece band, including many of the top studio musicians who appear on his albums.

Named one of "The Greatest Artists of All Time" by Rolling Stone, and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Taylor remains somewhat of an enigma, because his sunny, mellow songs often do not mesh with his somewhat troubled life of mental problems, drug addiction and failed romances (rehashed once again in Sheila Weller's recent book, "Girls Like Us," which details his affairs with Carole King, Joni Mitchell and Carly Simon).

Onstage, he's always the charmer, always the sweet balladeer, a great singer-songwriter-guitarist at the top of his game — and that's the way we like him.

Patrick MacDonald: 206-464-2312

or pmacdonald@seattletimes.com