Michael Occhipinti's Shine on : The Universe of John Lennon
February 25, 26, 27, 28 @ 8:00pm
Elizabeth Shepherd - Piano / Vocals
Yvette Tollar - Vocals
Mark Kelso - Drums / Vocals
Tyler Emond - Bass
Kevin Turcotte - Trumpet
Michael Occhipinti - Guitar / Vocals
Shine On: the Universe of John Lennon is a super group bringing some of Canda’s most acclaimed musicians together to perform music by John Lennon and the Beatles. Uniquely arranged by guitarist Michael Occhipinti, the all-star lineup collectively boasts over 20 JUNO Award nominations, and includes the unique voices of Elizabeth Shepherd, Yvette Tollar, and singer/drummer Mark Kelso, joined by Tyler Emond (bass), Kevin Turcotte (trumpet), and Michael Occhipinti (guitar/
vocals).
Named as a best of they year album by the radio hosts at Jazz FM, The Universe of John Lennon was released in 2012, and and the band have since appeared at festivals and venues from St. John’s to Victoria to New York. Michael Occhipinti is no stranger to reinventing popular music, having received JUNO nominations for his albums Creation Dream - The Songs of Bruce Cockburn, The Sicilian Jazz Project, and (as ES:MO with Elizabeth Shepherd) The Weight of Hope celebrating a variety of singer-songwriters from Stevie Wonder to Gordon Lightfoot.
With John Lennon’s music so deeply engrained in our cultural fabric, Occhipinti took a huge risk re-imagining songs that are so familiar. Michael, however, felt that too many artists miss the opportunity to do something new with Lennon’s material.
“Our familiarity with Lennon and the Beatles is kind of liberating from an arranger’s point of view. It allows us to alter the songs in imaginative ways that make them new for the audience, but at the same time they still recognize the songs and feel the emotions Lennon wove into the music” he explains. “For me it’s never been about recreating songs the way so many tribute bands do, but rather trying be creative and personal, while still expressing an honest admiration for John Lennon’s music”
That sentiment is beautifully expressed throughout the album. From the inventive takes on “I Am The Walrus” and “Working Class Hero” featuring Elizabeth Shepherd’s cool vocals, to Yvette Tollar’s surprising version of “I’m Only Sleeping.” Michael Occhipinti’s creative palette of guitar sounds wind throughout the project so that The Universe of John Lennon makes the familiar into something new. Tracing an arc from Lennon’s best work from Beatles’s albums such as Revolver and Rubber Soul to his last solo work, Shine On is a genre-crossing group that is a tribute like no other.