Blue Note Plays The Beatles CD

Blue Note Plays the Beatles contains 11 previously released performances by jazz artists dipping into the Lennon/McCartney songbook. When deciding to cover such well-known songs, an artist has two possible ways of going about it: either re-create the track with no challenge to the original or attempt the complete opposite. Falling into the first category are "I've Just Seen a Face" by Holly Cole, "And I Love Her" by Kevin Hays, and "Come Together" by Dianne Reeves and Cassandra Wilson with Bob Belden. These are straightforward, enjoyable re-creations, but add nothing new to the originals. The second category is represented by the two strongest tracks on Blue Note Plays the Beatles: Bobby McFerrin's overdubbed a cappella "Drive My Car" and Grant Green's funk attack on "A Day in the Life." Both artists truly pay homage to the Beatles' creativity by breathing new life into these universally acclaimed tracks. Grant Green especially transforms "A Day in the Life" into a funk groove that completely sidesteps the majestic, string-laden, hallucinogenic cacophony that was the hallmark of the song. Overall, Blue Note Plays the Beatles is similar to the best of the Fab Four's original albums: wonderful middle-of-the-road material mixed with a few timeless oddities that should please both jazz heads and Beatles fans. ~ Al Campbell

Stanley Turrentine/Lee Morgan/ Buddy Rich/Grant Green/Bobby M

Recording information: Chez Club, Los Angeles, CA (09/04/1964-12/22/1996); Clinton Recording, New York, NY (09/04/1964-12/22/1996); Los Angeles, CA (09/04/1964-12/22/1996); Songshop Studios, New York, NY (09/04/1964-12/22/1996); The Power Station, New York, NY (09/04/1964-12/22/1996); Van Gelder Studios, Englewood Cliffs, NJ (09/04/1964-12/22/1996).

Arrangers: Oliver Nelson; Bill Holman; Bob Belden.

Personnel: Dianne Reeves, Holly Cole, Bobby McFerrin, Cassandra Wilson (vocals); Dennis Budimir, Grant Green, Herb Ellis, Kevin Breit, Michael "Dino" Campbell , Stanley Jordan, Fareed Haque, Richie Resnicoff (guitar); Phil Woods (clarinet); Danny Bank (bass clarinet); Bill Pierce (soprano saxophone); Ernie Watts, Quinn Davis, Bud Shank (alto saxophone); Claude Bartee, Jr., Robert Keller , Jay Corre, Stanley Turrentine, Wayne Shorter (tenor saxophone); Marty Flax (baritone saxophone); Chuck Findley, Ernie Royal, John Sottile, Yoshito Murakami, Lee Morgan Quintet , Tim Hagans, Wallace Roney, Blue Mitchell, Bobby Shew (trumpet); Chet Baker (flugelhorn); Jim Buffington (French horn); James Trimble , Tom McIntosh (trombone); Bill Wimberly (bass trombone); Don Butterfield (tuba); Kevin Hays (piano, electric piano); Victor Feldman (piano, percussion); Ray Starling, McCoy Tyner, Mulgrew Miller, Aaron Davis (piano); Emanuel Riggins (organ); Bob Belden (synthesizer, timpani); David Dyson, Jimmy Lewis (electric bass); Elvin Jones, Idris Muhammad, Jack DeJohnette, John Guerin, Philly Joe Jones, Tony Williams , Billy Kilson, Buddy Rich (drums); Candido Camero (congas); Richard Landrum (bongos); Sammy Figueroa (percussion).

Liner Note Author: James Gavin.