Mark Turner from Amazon.com:I've always been a music fanatic. For some reason I always seem to have music on no matter what. In the car, in the house, mp2 player, they're always up and running. I've collected music on vinyl, tape, disc and now online. And I've never limited myself to one form or another. Country, rock, r & b, jazz, soul, classic. I love them all.
An appreciation and love of music is not something you can force on someone. You either have it or you don't. You can be led to it, but to feel it rooted deep in your soul is another matter. Those roots can be covered over, buried deep by the problems of day to day life. If you can find a hook to dig deep and find those roots, you'd be amazed at the joyous feelings they can inspire.
I think that this was the basis for a new series showcased on DVD this week with the release of LIVE FROM ABBEY ROAD. The studio made famous by the Beatles back in the sixties (and which they used for an album title) is used to its full effect here.
As the box states "The concept for LIVE FROM ABBEY ROAD is simple...capture fantastic, live, musical performances and place musicians in the world's most inspiring and creative environment in which to do so". Yes, it may sound simple, but the concept works and the performances are stellar.
The idea that someone could come up with a tune, a melody, harmonization, instrumentals, vocals and more is amazing in itself. To find a group of talented individuals willing to perform live in this studio is to help cultivate an appreciation for all that they do.
No musical scene is left untouched here. Country? LeAnn Rimes. Jazz? Wynton Marsalis. Pop? John Mayer. Progressive rock? David Gilmour. Metal? Iron Maiden. Not just these but a whole slew of other bands and performers as well.
One of the nice things about this series is that it not only takes the performers and highlights them performing familiar or non-familiar tunes, it gives them a chance to talk about the creative process as well. To hear someone like David Gilmour of Pink Floyd fame discuss how he saved ideas for up to ten years and then sorted through them to find the ones that were worth turning into songs gives new depth to those tunes, here in particular "On An Island".
All of the artists featured here give glimpses into the way they put together ideas and songs. And then they offer up a tune performed live in the studio. The sound is magnificent as it well should be considering the location. And the performances have a more intimate feel to them than they would on a massive stage.
The DVD is a two disc set. On disc one are featured John Mayer, Corinne Bailey Rae, Dr. John, Craig David, Damien Rice, LeAnn Rimes, Josh Groban,. Natasha Bedingfield, Wynton Marsalis, Nerina Pallot, Jamiroquai, Ray LaMontagne, Gipsy Kings and Norah Jones. Disc two has David Gilmour, The Good The Bad & The Queen, The Kooks, Gnarls Barkley, The Goo Goo Dolls, Iron Maiden, Kasabian, Primal Scream, The Zutons, Dave Matthews and Amos Lee.
For those with no interest in music you might change your mind after listening. For those with a passing interest in music you might find something here to spur you on to listen even more and search out these artists. And for music fanatics like me, you'll want to make sure that the stereo system is hooked into the DVD player to get the best sound imaginable.
This DVD is not something that the true music fan will want to simply rent. This is one to add to the collection. BCI has released a great disc for fans that is not to be missed.
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