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entertaining u newspaper: your monthly guide to entertainment
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by rick grant
rickgrant01@comcast.net
Back in the mid 1960s, the Beatles recorded their most important records in the large studio on Abbey Road in London under George Martin’s production. He told them they had carte blanche to record 24/7, and he would get them anything they needed. The engineers would record continuously, and it was a creative dream come true for the Fab Four, who hung out with their girlfriends, achieved altered states of being, and recorded their most famous albums.
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Thus, the studio became a recording shrine equal in mystique only to Muscle Shoals, where the Rolling Stones recorded their most famous album, Beggars Banquet. Extending its legacy, Abbey Road was the venue for a series of live concerts to be featured on the Sundance Channel, highlighting both new and established artists. Shot as a documentary, with the artists playing live in the studio, it exudes the feel of a live concert, with the quality sound of a live recording, but definitely not a real recording session.
The premier, originally broadcast on Thursday, June 21st, featured John Mayer, Norah Jones, and Richard Ashcroft playing live in the studio. It also included interviews with Mayer, Jones and Ashcroft, giving the viewer some rare insight into these top artists’ mindset.
The band set up in what was essentially a live concert venue. The sound is very high quality, and the musicians performed flawlessly. John Mayer performed with inspired chops as an accomplished guitarist and vocalist. His eclectic style covers a wide range of musical concepts, including funk, blues, classic rock and soul. Mayer is also a prolific writer of emotionally felt songs with memorable lyrics, catchy melodies, and solid grooves. Indeed, Mayer is one of the most important songwriters in today’s music world.
The quality production values and the up-close shots of the artist performing in this intimate setting are what make this concert series special. It could have been shot anywhere, but this tabernacle of Beatledom offers inspiration to the artists, an occasion tantamount to playing inside the Taj Mahal.
The studio setting, and the creative way this series is shot, increases the cool factor to the nth degree. The artists seemed to like it, and Mayer was very relaxed and played creatively with soul. This setting is definitely more laid back than the tedious business of recording.
Norah Jones was also relaxed and chatty. We learned that her bassist is her live-in boyfriend. She played some of her new material with her soulful voice and jazzy piano playing on a Fender Rhodes. Of course, after selling a gazillion records, she is financially set for life, so the pressure is off and she can indulge her wildest creative thoughts. Alas, her middle-of-the-road sound comes off as boring.
The segments also included Brit phenom Richard Ashcroft. His music is strictly modern pop rock, influenced by a homogenized gaggle of 1980s super-groups. Granted, he has some interesting original ideas. However, compared to John Mayer, he’s in a different league when it comes to guitar playing and songwriting talent, although his Human Condition album did well on both sides of the pond.
These studio concerts were skillfully shot on 35 mm film, which includes chats with the artists to give the viewer a more intimate look into their creative methods and performance skills. This series is well worth viewing to get close access to the artists. Groups coming up are the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Gnarls Barkley, Dr. John, Paul Simon, and Wynton Marsalis. Check it out on Thursdays at 10 pm on the Sundance Channel.
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EU Critic’s Choice Awards
