Apr 28, 2009
Jazz musicians have never hesitated to record their versions
of songs by the Beatles, but a careful check shows that the vast
majority of the songs chosen were written primarily by McCartney,
despite being credited to Lennon-McCartney. Clearly there is a
preference for the more classic melodies and sounds that Paul took
the lead on, rather than the more intricate and sometimes obtuse
songs that John primarily wrote.
Podcast 142 reaches into the bins to give you jazz artists who
have recorded the songs of John Lennon, both his Beatles material
and solo songs. I've gone to the Philip Norman book and given you a
direct quote helping to explain or give some background for each
number.
Enjoy songs by Grant Green, Richard "Groove" Holmes &
Ernie Watts, Bill Frisell, Helen Merrill and others.
I find it astonishing to realize how brief Lennon's life was,
and how much he packed into it. Those who have forgotten should
realize that he was one of the biggest stars in the world at
the age of 25, universally reviled because of his "Bigger than
Jesus" comment at 27, through with the Beatles by 30, and dead
by an assassin's bullet at age 40. In a world where rock stars
routinely dodder on through their 60's, we can only wonder what
John Lennon would have given us had he survived that fateful day in
December.