|  Beatles
Beyond Boundaries -
This is not a blues review but a review of some
really terrific music that any good blues lover
could get into.
Sat. night at the intimate
and historic Roberts Orpheum Theater in Downtown
St. Louis, I was witness to a two and a half hour
concert by Peter Mayer and an ensemble of well practiced
musicians who clearly love playing. Very tight group
fun to watch and supported by a great sound system
and lighting system, and in a hall that can carry
the sound.
Oh, I failed to mention,
it was a great tribute to the Beatles music and
in particular, on the 25th anniversary of his premature
death, the music of John. Adaptations and arrangements
of Beatles music with complete reverence and honor
to them but with a style reminiscent to that of
ELO.
Supported by strings from
the St Louis Symphony Orchestra, solid rhythm, percussion,
and a bass player (brother Jim Mayer) who clearly
has an intimate relationship with his upright bass,
this group pounded out like 20 songs with only a
brief 15-20 min intermission. Wow!!
Peter starts out the concert
with a solo number, with a tip of the hat to Les
Paul, by double tracking a couple of rhythmic sounds
from his guitar then melodically overplaying and
singing the song “Blackbird”. Then the
entire 11-piece group gets into a grove with “Hello
Goodbye” and we are cruisin’ on a great
trip through the Beatles’, classic music.
About three quarters of the way through the concert
John does a little “six pack” of just
John’s music and it is a great stop along
the way before the train gets rolling again. Soft
music with great rhythms, plus big sounds with the
strings sounding like an orchestra, and tight percussion,
bass, and guitars, all blended into a great palate
of musical colors for the ear. After three of four
encore tunes, Peter ends the concert as he started,
alone on stage. This time with no electronic support
he sings and plays a great closing version of, naturally,
“Imagine”.
They did a respectful
tribute to the Beatles and a very entertaining concert
for us in the audience. For more info on this group
and Peter go to www.petermayer.com.
The talented
band: Peter Mayer - guitar & vocals;
Jim Mayer – bass & vocals: Roger Guth
– drums; Dan Rubright – guitar; Ted
Rubright – Percussion; Scott Byran –
percussion & vocals; Mark Holland – flutes;
and the talented strings: Amy Oshiro – violin;
Angie Smart – violin; Morris Jacob –
violin; Melissa Brooks-Rubright – cello.
Gator at www.STLBlues.net
Jimmy the K
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