DARIA — Strawberry Fields Forever - Songs By The Beatles (review)

DARIA — Strawberry Fields Forever - Songs By The Beatles album cover Album · 2016 · Vocal Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
js
A jazz tribute to the Beatles is not unusual, there are many out there, but what is more selective is a tribute that tries to re-shape the Beatles’ original music, and does so successfully, and that is what we have in Daria’s creative re-structuring of the ‘fab four’ on her new album, “Strawbwrry Fields Forever (Songs by the Beatles)”. Daria and her crew of San Francisco jazz artists take on several Lennon-McCartney classics, and do so fearlessly as they dare to re-harmonize some of pop culture’s most treasured melodies. It’s a bold move, but it pays off as this CD is much more interesting than yet another more faithful ’by-the-numbers’ rendition. You’ll easily recognize every tune on here, but as the songs unfold, you will be intrigued by changes in harmony, melodic line, and rhythm. It’s the changes in rhythm on ‘Strawberry’ that may be the album’s most striking feature, as the Beatles’ original pop/rock beats are replaced with syncopated rhythms from Brazil, Cuba, Jamaica and New Orleans.

An interesting thing happens when you transform the music to a well known Beatles song, once the background becomes less familiar, the lyrics come shining through in a new way and you are reminded that these guys not only wrote good tunes, but they were often very capable modern poets as well. You may not think “Come Together” can work as a samba, but the new rhythms isolate Lennon’s flow of consciousness nonsense lyrics and takes them to new heights (of silliness?). Some other highlights include a horn driven New Orleans funk version of “Helter Skelter”, and a nu-jazzy psychedelic version of title track “Strawberry Fields”.

Production and arrangement on “Strawberry Fields Forever” is excellent and they keep things interesting by varying the ensembles from piano quartet, to Steely Dan styled mini-big band, Afro-Cuban ensemble or other variations. Many guest musicians offer a variety of horns, guitars, keyboards and percussion. Daria is an excellent singer and her treatment of these well known classics is thoughtful and delivered with insight
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Maria Grand & Marta Sanchez : Anohin 21st Century Modern
MARIA GRAND
Buy this album from MMA partners
My Prophet Post-Fusion Contemporary
ODED TZUR
Buy this album from MMA partners
Relentless Big Band
FERNANDO HUERGO
Buy this album from MMA partners
Hope Fusion
SØREN LEE
Buy this album from MMA partners
In The Arms Of Light Jazz Related Improv/Composition
DAVID BINNEY
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Twilight
RANDY SCOTT
js· 12 hours ago
Trifecta - Beck and Call - official video (taken from The New Normal)
TRIFECTA
js· 1 day ago
Phoenix
GRÉGORY PRIVAT
js· 1 day ago
Karrin Allyson EPK for NEW Album "A Kiss For Brazil" Available May 17, 2024 ©Origin Records
KARRIN ALLYSON
js· 1 day ago
Bill Laurance & The Untold Orchestra - Bloom (Official Music Video)
BILL LAURANCE
js· 2 days ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed