Customer Reviews

Bach Meets The Beatles Revisited

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a professional classical musician (and erstwhile Beatles fan - my mother raised me listening to them at home in the late 70s) I have to commend this delightful album! The playing itself is fantastic, and the artistry and skill of John Bayless in imitating Bach is really amazing. It's just plain fun to listen to, but sounds like "real" classical music. I've bought this as a gift for many other musical colleagues, to rave reviews!

This CD is a tribute to Bach with a hint of The Beatles infused between. It rings true to Bach's complex, multi-voiced piano pieces with mild Beatles undercurrents. Beautifully done. I completely disagree with the previous reviewers.

I am disappointed with this version in comparison with the older version by the same name that I have on casette tape. To my ear, the older version (no longer available) is much more lively and sounds much more like Bach and the Beatles. This recording also has some production querks, such as overemphasis on the base from a modern piano that seems unlike Bach and low level garble in a few spots. I am not a trained musician, so others who are may have different opinions.

I love this CD. It combines the best of both worlds--classical and rock. Paul McCartney said he took Bach pieces and made them into something new; for instance he used Bach chord progressions for his song "Jenny Wren," on his newest "Chaos and Creation" CD. Well, Bayless takes Beatles melodies and does great Bach-style things with them here. It is fun to hear Beatles done in the Baroque style, interestingly and flawlessly. Bayless is creative in his arrangements, AND he performs so well. This CD makes me smile. I betcha Bach and all four Beatles are smiling whenever its played.

Bravo Bayless!

Bayless is some kind of genius when it comes to arranging and improvising. That's clear not only from this album but from the wide range of his others, all of which are worth exploring. This may be his masterpiece though, thanks to his deep knowledge of Bach and obvious love of the Beatles. "Bach Meets the Beatles" is the best album of 'classicized' Beatles music since Joshua Rifkin's indispensable "The Baroque Beatles Book."

Bayless did one followup ("Bach on Abbey Road," no longer available) and with all the renewed attention to the Beatles with the release of the remastered CDs, perhaps it's time for him to do a fresh collection. There's lots more Beatles repertoire I'd love to hear him play with.

I found it amazing that Bayless so delightfully and beautifully crafted these meldings of Bach works with famous Beatles tunes. Not only does this music enrich the mind, but it's hum-able, too! Great CD. I love it!

I have listened to this album time and time again. I never tire of its beauty, its passion, and its inventiveness. It is one of the few albums I must always have on my MP3 player. It is a work of genius by a man who is brilliantly interpreting the genius of the Beatles. The recording quality is superb.

Ive listen to J Bayless playing the Puccinni Arias and he is terrific and believe it is not fortunate enough in Bach with the Betless.

I like listening to experimental music, and thus I have a lot of respect for this album for what it attempts to accomplish. I had high expectations for this experiment because I am a huge fan of Bach and the Beatles. It's very hard to hear any Beatles influence during most of the album. Unless the money that you plan to spend on this album is disposable, I suggest that you consider spending some time listening to the samples before investing in this album.

I purchased this CD because I like Beatles music. This is not one of the most rewarding covers. After one or two cuts, the music begins to resemble bad recordings of lesser Bach works. Too much imitation Bach, not enough Beatles.