Pop Music : Exemplary Blues-Rock From Mick Taylor

Remember Mick Taylor?

In case you’ve forgotten, Taylor is the superb blues guitarist who played with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers in the late ‘60s and rose to fame when he replaced Brian Jones in the Rolling Stones.

Since leaving the Stones in the mid ‘70s, Taylor has surfaced occasionally, with different bands or playing guest spots on albums or on movie scores. He has never gotten the acclaim he deserves, but whenever he plays the real blues-rock fans turn up.

In the first of two shows at the Palomino on Friday, Taylor (who also played the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano on Sunday) showed that he’s one of the greats of the genre. He played an exemplary set--mostly raunchy, Chicago-style blues with solid rock underpinnings. He and his four backing musicians’ lengthy instrumental jams, sprinkled with vocals, were tautly constructed and never meandered.

It was the kind of set that, while common in the rock scene in the late ‘60s and most of the ‘70s, is rarely heard anymore--highlighted by driving beats; tight, faultless accompaniment; cleverly interwoven ideas; and dexterous lead guitar.

But this wasn’t dinosaur music. Taylor and his band played the creaky old standard “Red House,” infusing it with a freshness and enough illuminating moments to make it sound almost brand new.