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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — The Beatles used to invite local London symphony players into their Abbey Road recording studio to play with them.
For the song “Day in the Life,” they called in a large, full-symphony orchestra.
Most of the time they'd use just sections of an orchestra.
A double string quartet accompanied the group on the song “Eleanor Rigby.”
The Classical Mystery Tour — a Beatles tribute band whose members strike an uncanny resemblance to the Fab Four — perform Beatles songs as close as possible to the original compositions, and are always accompanied by a full orchestra.
The Classical Mystery Tour will perform Saturday with the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra in the Grand Junction High School Auditorium.
After the Broadway musical “Beatlemania” came out during the late 1970s, it gave credence to the idea of doing Beatles tributes, said Jim Owen, who formed the band in 1996, and performs as John Lennon. Like Lennon, Owen plays the rhythm guitar and piano, and sings.
Paul McCartney's character is Tony Kishman, an original cast member of “Beatlemania,” and a McCartney look-a-like who plays bass guitar, piano and sings.
Chris Camilleri portrays Ringo Starr on drums and vocals. And John Brosnan plays the part of George Harrison on lead guitar and vocals.
Behind the band, the live orchestra performs as the songs were originally recorded decades ago. “Penny Lane” is backed with a live trumpet section; “Yesterday” is played with an acoustic guitar and string quartet. “I am the Walrus” is a blend of rock and classical music.
“We're in front portraying our characters, doing what they would do in the group,” singing their songs, Owen said.
“We really make an effort to sound exactly like the originals. The orchestra score is exact, right down to every note and instrument that was on the original recording. On ‘Got to Get You Into My Life,' we have two tenor saxes and three trumpets. That's what it was written for, and that's what we use.”
The two-hour concert will include about 25 songs, with a 20-minute intermission.
Classical Mystery Tour performs 50-60 shows a year, always with a full orchestra.
Reach Sharon Sullivan at ssullivan@gjfreepress.com.
For the song “Day in the Life,” they called in a large, full-symphony orchestra.
Most of the time they'd use just sections of an orchestra.
A double string quartet accompanied the group on the song “Eleanor Rigby.”
The Classical Mystery Tour — a Beatles tribute band whose members strike an uncanny resemblance to the Fab Four — perform Beatles songs as close as possible to the original compositions, and are always accompanied by a full orchestra.
The Classical Mystery Tour will perform Saturday with the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra in the Grand Junction High School Auditorium.
After the Broadway musical “Beatlemania” came out during the late 1970s, it gave credence to the idea of doing Beatles tributes, said Jim Owen, who formed the band in 1996, and performs as John Lennon. Like Lennon, Owen plays the rhythm guitar and piano, and sings.
Paul McCartney's character is Tony Kishman, an original cast member of “Beatlemania,” and a McCartney look-a-like who plays bass guitar, piano and sings.
Chris Camilleri portrays Ringo Starr on drums and vocals. And John Brosnan plays the part of George Harrison on lead guitar and vocals.
Behind the band, the live orchestra performs as the songs were originally recorded decades ago. “Penny Lane” is backed with a live trumpet section; “Yesterday” is played with an acoustic guitar and string quartet. “I am the Walrus” is a blend of rock and classical music.
“We're in front portraying our characters, doing what they would do in the group,” singing their songs, Owen said.
“We really make an effort to sound exactly like the originals. The orchestra score is exact, right down to every note and instrument that was on the original recording. On ‘Got to Get You Into My Life,' we have two tenor saxes and three trumpets. That's what it was written for, and that's what we use.”
The two-hour concert will include about 25 songs, with a 20-minute intermission.
Classical Mystery Tour performs 50-60 shows a year, always with a full orchestra.
Reach Sharon Sullivan at ssullivan@gjfreepress.com.
