Amazon's description:
It takes an extraordinary artist to re-imagine some of the most beloved songs of the 20th century and make them completely their own. And that's precisely what James Taylor has accomplished with his brand-new album, American Standard. Recalling the best of James' early work, he infuses new sounds and fresh meaning into these timeless works of art. While these 14 carefully chosen interpretations naturally feature James' warm, one-of-a-kind vocal ability and incomparable musicianship, what makes this collection so unique is the inventive way James and his fellow co-producers, longtime collaborator Dave O'Donnell and famed musician John Pizzarelli, approached the project. Unlike most who have tackled similar material, American Standard's beautifully simple, stripped-down arrangements are based on James' skillful acoustic guitar work rather than piano and the affect is mesmerizing.

James's vocal booth, where magic has been happening. Watch for it! #JT #JamesTaylor #newalbum
The long rumored standards album now has a track listing and release date.

James Taylor Details New Album, Hits Road With Jackson Browne
James Taylor will take on the Great American Songbook on the singer’s upcoming album American Standard, due out February 28th. The LP is Taylor’s first since 2015’s Before This World and 19th overall.

“I’ve always had songs I grew up with that I remember really well, that were part of the family record collection — and I had a sense of how to approach, so it was a natural to put American Standard together,” Taylor said in a statement. “I know most of these songs from the original cast recordings of the famous Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, including My Fair Lady, Oklahoma, Carousel, Showboat and others.”

Taylor also unveiled the first single from American Standard, a take on the Gene De Paul-Sammy Chan jazz classic “Teach Me Tonight,” previously popularized by Dinah Washington and Frank Sinatra.

Taylor added, “In terms of how they were performed and recorded before, we paid attention to the chords and melody, but we were interested in doing something new, and in bringing something new to it, we’ve reinterpreted the songs, that’s what makes it worth doing.”

Tracklist:
1. My Blue Heaven
2. Moon River
3. Teach Me Tonight
4. As Easy as Rolling off a Log
5. Almost Like Being in Love
6. Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat
7. Nearness of You
8. You've Got To Be Carefully Taught
9. God Bless The Child
10. Pennies From Heaven
11. My Heart Stood Still
12. Ol' Man River
13. (It's Only) a Paper Moon
14. The Surrey With The Fringe on Top

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0833VRR3T/?tag=imwan-20
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0833VRR3T/?tag=imwan-21

when the muse is gone.....................

I found this info that was posted online 4/15/2019. James talked about recording a standards album. We'll have to see if this is the #newalbum being talked about on social media.

James Taylor hasn't released a new album since 2015's Before This World -- his first #1 album, by the way -- but now word comes that he's working on a collection of standards.

Speaking about the new project, James tells Entertainment Weekly, "They're songs I've known for years...what's great about these standards is that it's not about production value or backbeat. They hold your interest and connect with you through really sophisticated changes. The lyrics are fantastic. They're the epitome of American popular song."

And while James is no slouch on guitar himself, he's teamed with legendary jazz musician John Pizzarelli for the project, calling him a "great, great old school jazz guitarist with unbelievably deep skills."

http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-new ... -broo.html

Here are some possible tracks that he has been working on:
“Teach Me Tonight”
“My Blue Heaven"
"Moon River"
"God Bless the Child"

James mentioned these tracks in interviews he had done in the March - April 2019 time frame.

I updated the tentative release date and label per the info in the article I posted in the James Taylor thread in the Icebox. The release date is apparently early 2020.

Taylor, 71, is a Grammy Award-winning Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and the recipient of both the Kennedy Center Honors and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He is currently working on a new album, which is slated to be released Fantasy Records in early 2020. “Break Shot” will be Taylor’s first spoken-word performance.

"break shot"????

did i miss something? or am i really getting to be that old?

i found my answer in in 'the icebox' under the james taylor thread.

Bump
Added the album image. Album title is "American Standard". Tentative release date is Feb. 28, 2020.

We now have the track list for the standards album and a link for Amazon UK. Amazon US link TBD.

Singer-songwriter unveils his take on jazz classic “Teach Me Tonight”

Here's a promo video for "American Standard"

A retailer-exclusive edition will add these two bonus tracks:
15. I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face
16. Never Never Land

really nice use of the acoustic guitar to keep "his" sound.

There is also going to be a vinyl exclusive at another retailer.

It's not a vinyl exclusive, it's a GOLD vinyl exclusive. There is a regular vinyl version available at Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081WP9WT9/?tag=imwan-20

Here's the proper video for "Teach Me Tonight"

Here's another track, "As Easy as Rolling Off a Log" from "American Standard"

Here's JT's take on "God Bless The Child"

I almost forgot, but the album is live streaming on James' youtube channel right now, if there is anyone interested.