Jimmy Vivino. Photo: Ali Hasbach. Simon Kirke, Joan Osborne, and Chad Smith photos courtesy of the artists.
Join us for an unforgettable evening of music and storytelling with legendary guitarist GE Smith, renowned bandleader Jimmy Vivino, iconic drummer Simon Kirke, powerhouse vocalist Joan Osborne, and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith—plus surprise guests.
This special PORTRAITS event brings together a powerhouse lineup of artists who have shaped the sound of generations. GE Smith, known for his work with Bob Dylan, Hall & Oates, and Saturday Night Live, is joined by Jimmy Vivino, longtime musical director for Late Night with Conan O’Brien and a collaborator with legends like Levon Helm and Al Kooper.
Simon Kirke, founding drummer of Free and Bad Company, brings the thunder behind classics like “All Right Now” and “Feel Like Makin’ Love.” Joan Osborne, celebrated for her soulful voice and hits like “One of Us,” adds depth and emotion, while Chad Smith injects high-octane energy with the unmistakable style that powers the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Together, these artists will share stripped-down performances, spontaneous collaborations, and behind-the-scenes stories from decades on the road.
PORTRAITS, created by Taylor Barton & GE Smith, is a uniquely intimate concert series offering rare musical conversations and deep insight into the lives and artistry of iconic performers.
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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
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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.
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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.
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Simon Kirke
Simon Kirke first achieved notice in the great English band, Free known for their lasting hit “All Right Now”. That band ended but Simon and the vocalist Paul Rogers went from Free to forming Bad Company whose many hits include “Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love”, “Shooting Star”, Movin’ On” and many more. In 2025, Simon Kirke was inducted in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in recognition of his work with the band, Free.
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Joan Osborne
In 2017, Grammy-nominated artist Joan Osborne released the critically acclaimed album, Songs of Bob Dylan. Her artistic and soulful reinterpretations of the selection of Dylan songs was an eye-opening moment in an already celebrated career.
Eight years after the milestone recording, Osborne will release the stunning Dylanology Live on April 25th. The captivating recording finds the gifted vocalist performing in front of a live audience, with special guests Amy Helm, Robert Randolph and Jackie Greene. Songs include “Spanish Harlem Incident”, “Buckets Of Rain” “Masters Of War”, “Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You” and “High Water (For Charley Patton)”.
Throughout her three-decade, multi-Grammy-nominated career, Joan Osborne has never been an artist confined to one space as she continues to seamlessly blend into any genre. Her incredible and distinctive voice always shines through her own songs, while she has also become one of her generation’s finest interpreters. Dylanology Live is yet another testament to her artistic range.
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Chad Smith
Chad Smith began drumming at the age of seven, inspired by bands like Rush, the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin. Smith’s musical career took off in December 1988 when joining the Red Hot Chili Peppers. With the band, Smith has recorded ten albums, marking a remarkable drummer’s position in the music industry. The diverse portfolio also includes collaborations with various artists including Glenn Hughes, Johnny Cash, John Fogerty, Jennifer Nettles, Kid Rock, Jake Bugg, and many more. Smith’s talent was recognized by Spin magazine in 2013 when ranked at number 91 on the “100 Greatest Drummers of Alternative Music” list.
Smith is also the drummer of the hard rock supergroup, Chickenfoot, and the all-instrumental outfit Chad Smith’s Bombastic Meatbats, formed in 2007. He was briefly a member of Eddie Vedder’s backing band, The Earthling. He worked with the Check on the album “Taking the Long Way,” which won five Grammy Awards in 2007. He also helped co-write and perform on the children’s album, “Rhythm Train,” as well as Ozzy Osbourne’s album, “Ordinary Man.”
Smith is also known for charity work, especially with young musicians. He is an active supporter of non-profit organizations including Surfer’s Healing, SeriousFun Network, MusiCares, Silverlake Conservatory of Music, Guitar Mash NY, Camp Korey, and Little Kids Rock. Representing the music community, he lobbied in support of music education in US public schools. Smith was honored for his efforts by Little Kids Rock for helping expand public school children’s access to music education. Smith also hosted the PBS concert series Landmarks Live in Concert, and has teamed up with Will Ferrell for the One Classy Night event to raise money for Cancer for College.
Sponsors
Media Partner: Purist
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.