Denny Tedesco, director: The Immediate Family (film)

In Tape Op #107 I interviewed Denny Tedesco about The Wrecking Crew, the documentary film he had recently directed. I'd always wonder how Denny would follow up that fantastic doc, and now we have The Immediate Family, a film about the generation of players post Wrecking Crew – the ones that worked in the studio and on the road with many of the artists in the '70s, '80s, and even now. The Immediate Family is actually a group formed from some of these players: Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar, Robert "Waddy" Wachtel, and Steve Postell on guitars and vocals; Leland Sklar on bass; and Russ Kunkel on drums. They've been out gigging, celebrating music and a friendship that has lasted 50 years, and looking back on all the albums and people they have worked with is impressive. Among the artists that show up in the film that have enjoyed these players' camaraderie and skills are Carole King, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne [Tape Op #105], Phil Collins, Don Henley, Stevie Nicks, Lyle Lovett [#151], and David Crosby, not to mention folks from the studio/production side such as Val Garay [#112], Niko Bolas [#151], Peter Asher [#137], Lou Adler, Russ Titelman, and Lenny Waronker. As with The Wrecking Crew film, one feels this viewing could have been eight hours long or a miniseries as there's so much to cover. As Denny says, "These are guys in their mid 70s recording and playing and loving it like they were in their 20s." It's going to keep rolling! Need I say more?