There
are far too many great Beatle songs to do a proper tribute on a
single CD. This was the creative dilemma faced after the release of
Liverpool Re-Imagining the Beatles, where the focus was placed
solely on arrangements from the John Lennon and Paul McCartney
songbook. However, now on Here Comes The Sun, the spotlight has been
widened to include the other great Beatle songwriter, George
Harrison.
His presence is obvious on the title track, but is also heard on Sir
George, a musical tribute I initially began composing during the
making of Liverpool, and then later completed to be included in this
project.
Lennon and McCartney songs still make up the lion’s share of the
repertoire ranging from their innocent early days, There’s A Place and Please Please Me, to their more mature, studio savvy period,
notably Penny Lane and I Am The Walrus.
Our approach this time was decidedly more classical in nature
featuring again the musical talents of flutist Gary Stroutsos,
cellist Walter Gray, and bassist Keith Lowe.
My multi-talented brother, Gary Lanz, and co-producer, engineer,
Chip Westerfield, again skillfully carried
out the production chores. All exercised reverence for the
ever-present spirit of the Beatle’s music taking great care in
making these unique arrangements come to life.
I am forever indebted to the other George, Sir George Martin, the
brilliant producer and arranger who was arguably the “fifth Beatle”
helping them greatly expand their musical reach and guiding their
revolutionary use of the recording studio.
With that in mind, Sir George, seemed a fitting musical conclusion
to this nearly four year arranging and recording odyssey, and with
its apropos subtitle, Liverpool Farewell, we complete this chapter
and tribute to an era of music that continues to live on and
inspire. Here’s to the world’s greatest, the one and only
Beatles!
Please Note: There are two versions of the Here Comes the Sun album. There is this one with the instruments of Gary Stroutsos, Walter Gray, and Keith Lowe. There is also a solo piano version. For information on the solo piano version, click here. |
