Jad Tariq Discusses Playing Guitar With Bob Dylan On Tour

For Memphis-based rhythm and blues guitarist and vocalist Jad Tariq, a typical year involves writing, recording, and hitting the road. But earlier this summer, the 30-year-old musician received a phone call that stood well outside the norm: an invitation from Bob Dylan’s team to come play guitar for a handful of shows on tour.

At the time, Tariq was out on the road working with blues harmonicist Charlie Musselwhite. Once those dates wrapped up, the schedule aligned just enough for him to join Dylan’s band for a brief run of performances. Reflecting on the sudden offer, Tariq admitted the outreach came completely out of left field.

"I wish there was some kind of, like, fun story to tell here, but it was really just one of those things," Tariq explained in an interview. "It was kind of just like getting called for any job… You just get the call and if you can make it, you can make it and if you can’t, you can’t."

Stepping Into the Fold With Minimal Prep

Given Dylan’s reputation for keeping a tight-knit backing band for years alongside his knack for sudden lineup shifts, Tariq’s entry into the fold was remarkably swift. With very little advance notice, preparation largely relied on digging into Dylan’s recent setlists to study the material.

"The Bob fan base is — I mean, they’re real… what’s the word I’m looking for? Let’s just say: thorough," Tariq said. "It’s easy to find, you know, what songs he’d been doing on the road, so I kind of just familiarized myself with the songs that he had been doing on that run."

The actual onboarding process was remarkably streamlined. Tariq flew out to meet the group and participated in a single, relaxed rehearsal the day before taking the stage. The band sat down together while the crew walked the new guitarist through the set and arrangements.

Hitting the Stage in New York City

Despite having only a few weeks of playing together under his belt, Tariq seamlessly traded guitar parts with electric guitarist Joel Paterson during performances, fitting in alongside veteran rhythm section members like bassist Tony Garnier and drummer Anton Fig.

"Those guys are just so good," Tariq noted. "Anton Fig on the drums is just a maniac, Tony the bass player has been with Bob forever. So it was pretty easy to just pop in."

Tariq also pointed out an underrated aspect of Dylan’s musicianship behind the keys, noting that the iconic songwriter navigates complex chord progressions with ease. "Bob can really get around on the piano. I don’t think a lot of people know he’s actually, you know, he’s pretty damn good at playing piano. And he plays in tough keys, too… he’s got a cool ear and just really cool musical ideas."

Among the highlights of his time on the road was a performance at Forest Hills in New York City, an evening Tariq counts as "one of my favorite shows I think I’ve ever played," made all the more special with his family in attendance to catch the action.