Guitar Tribute To The Beatles: Come Together CD

Strictly speaking, this isn't just a guitar tribute to the Beatles, although stringed instruments that are plucked, strummed, and otherwise manipulated are in abundance, representing styles and sounds that will recall Django Reinhardt at one moment and the Mahavishnu Orchestra at the next. Toots Thielemans adds some astonishingly tasteful harmonica (and whistling) to "Yesterday" and Thomas Dawson's organ is almost a lead instrument on "Come Together." But it's the guitars (plus some superb bass) that make up the core of this delightful recording. Larry Coryell, Steve Khan, Ralph Towner, Adrian Belew, John Abercrombie, Allan Holdsworth, Toninho Horta (whose Brazilian-flavored rendition of "She's Leaving Home" is worth the price of admission by itself), and others do what they do best, and the results are revelatory and dazzlingly entertaining. This reviewer's favorite cut was Khan's medley of "Within You, Without You/Blue Jay Way," but that's just because it's that much more unexpected than anything else here. Mark Whitfield's lead work on the title cut, which is also the leadoff track, sets the bar pretty high for the rest of the CD, but everyone clears it and then some, each in his own way. One only wishes there'd been a follow-up album. ~ Bruce Eder

Jazz producer Mike Mainieri presents a collection of the world's top guitarists performing their favorite Beatles songs, feat. Adrian Belew, Allan Holdsworth, John Abercrombie, Zachary Breaux, Larry Coryell, Toot Thielemans, Toninho Horta, Steve Kahn, Le

All songs written by members of The Beatles.

Performers include: Adrian Belew, Larry Coryell, Ralph Towner (acoustic guitar), John Abercombie (acoustic & electric guitars), Steve Cohn, Allan Holdsworth, Leni Stern, Mark Whitfield (guitars), Zachary Breaux (guitars, bass, drums), Toninho Horta (guitar, vocals), Rudy Berger (violin), Toots Theieleman (harmonica), Kenny Werner (piano, synthesizers), Thomas Dawson (organ), Gordon Beck, Rex Rideout (keyboards), Marc Johnson, Jay Anderson, James Genus, Roland Guerin, Gary Willis (bass), Adam Nussbaum, Kirk Covington, Dowell Davis, Peter Erskine (drums), Nana Vasconcelos (percussion).

Personnel: Toninho Horta (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Toots Thielemans (whistling, electric guitar, harmonica); Leni Stern (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, tiple); Adrian Belew (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, guitar synthesizer, drums); John Abercrombie (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Larry Coryell, Ralph Towner (acoustic guitar); Zachary Breaux (electric guitar, drums); Mark Whitfield, Allan Holdsworth, Steve Khan (electric guitar); Rudy Berger (violin); Kenny Werner (piano, synthesizer); Thomas Dawson (organ); Gordon Beck, Rex Rideout (keyboards); Mike Mainieri (bass synthesizer, vibraphone, marimba); Dowell Davis, Adam Nussbaum, Kirk Covington, Peter Erskine (drums); Naná Vasconcelos (percussion).

Audio Mixer: Garry Rindfuss.

Recording information: Adrians Home Studio; Hip Pocket; Main Street Music, Tallahassee, FL; Platinum Studios, NY; Ralphs Home Studio; RPM; Techno Sound Studios, Baton Rouge, LA; The Brewery, CA; Zen Music.

Photographer: Mike Mainieri.

Unknown Contributor Roles: John Abercrombie; Adrian Belew; Larry Coryell; Leni Stern; Mark Whitfield; Allan Holdsworth; Ralph Towner; Steve Khan; Toninho Horta; Toots Thielemans; Zachary Breaux.Down Beat (9/93, p.34) - 4 Stars - Very Good - "...Diversity is the strength of [COME TOGETHER]....[Allan Holdsworth's] connection to Coltrane has never been so apparent [on `Michelle']..."