The Beatles

Nickname: The Fab Four The Beatles are the greatest popular group of all-time. Arguably the most successful entertainers of the 20th century, they contributed to music, film, literature, art, and fashion, made a continuous impact on popular culture and the lifestyle of several generations. Their songs and images carrying powerful ideas of love, peace, help, and imagination evoked creativity and liberation that outperformed the rusty Soviet propaganda and contributed to breaking walls in the minds of millions, thus making impact on human history. In July of 1957, in Liverpool, Paul McCartney met John Lennon and joined his group, The Quarrymen

John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs

by Doug Collette
August 17, 2025

John & Paul: A Love Story In Songs Ian Leslie 448 Pages ISBN: # 9781250869548 Celadon Books 2025 Considering the reams of research and writing devoted to the Beatles since their monumental success in the early '60s, it seems almost implausible any writer could find a fresh perspective on ...

Sunday Best: A Netflix Documentary

by Thomas Cole
August 14, 2025

Ed Sullivan, at one time was the most renowned name in US television. Most of us hear that name and think of Elvis Presley and his electrifying game-changing performance in 1956. Few of us will ever forget the hip-shaking gyrations that captivated a nation. Nothing like it had ever been seen on national television. Or so ...

Ola Onabul��: A Tapestry of Soul, Jazz and Global Roots

by Angelo Leonardi
July 25, 2025

Singer-songwriter and producer Ola Onabulé shares insights into his life and work, spotlighting his eclectic collaboration with guitarist Nicolas Meier, which led to the release of Proof of Life (Self Produced, 2025). Both based in London, the British-Nigerian vocalist and Swiss guitarist discovered, during the isolation of the pandemic, a shared empathy in their ...

Interpreting the Lennon / McCartney Songbook, part 4: Abbey Road & Let It Be

by Larry Slater
July 18, 2025

In this final installment of interpretations of the John Lennon and Paul McCartney songbook, we turn to music from the last few Beatles albums... The White Album, Abbey Road and Let it Be. By the end of the '60s, the Lennon/McCartney partnership had fractured beyond repair; McCartney's superior musical skills were respected but resented ...

Interpreting the Lennon/McCartney Songbook, Part 3: Sgt. Pepper

by Larry Slater
July 11, 2025

It's really no surprise that the tunes from The Beatles still attract jazz musicians, much as the music of Gershwin, Kern or Cole Porter does. Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club was a defining musical moment of the 1960s. Released in 1967, the album is one of a kind and included songs that have appealed to jazz ...

Interpreting the Lennon/ McCartney Songbook: Part 2, Rubber Soul and Revolver

by Larry Slater
July 4, 2025

The songwriting team of John Lennon and Paul McCartney became increasingly sophisticated by the mid 1960s. McCartney was the more knowledgeable musically, as he played piano and understood harmony (though he never did learn to read music). Much of John Lennon's writing had a harder edge, and he had a way with lyrics. The albums Rubber ...

Interpreting The Lennon/Mccartney Songbook: Part 1, Early Songs

by Larry Slater
June 27, 2025

Since its earliest days, Jazz musicians have used popular songs as springboards for creative interpretation, reimagining these tunes through the art of improvisation.. The great American songbooks of Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, and George Gershwin, have long been a staple of the jazz repertoire. Do John Lennon and Paul McCartney belong in this exalted company? I ...

Brian Wilson Jazzed: Ten Essential Wilson Covers

by Ian Patterson
June 17, 2025

Brian Wilson is widely hailed as one of the most significant songwriters of the 20th century--the master craftsman behind The Beach Boys' music. Inspired by rock 'n' roll, doo-wop, George Gershwin, vocal quartet The Four Freshmen and Burt Bacharach, he developed sophisticated harmonies and a signature sound that sold millions of records. His singular ...

Enrique Thompson & Revirado Project: Song for Someone - Canci��n para Alguien

by La-Faithia White
May 22, 2025

Enrique Thompson is a saxophonist, composer and producer whose music bridges jazz, tango and global influences. His early exposure to classical music, Argentine folk traditions, Latin American sounds and artists like The Beatles and Joan Manuel Serrat shaped his eclectic musical identity. Born in the Argentine countryside, at 10 years old he began playing saxophone and, ...