Can you really do a show that links John, Paul, George, Ringo and Johann? Classical guitarist James Barr says it is not much of a stretch.
“If not for Bach, the Beatles wouldn’t exist,” Barr says, adding that modern musicians and Baroque musicians had a lot in common.
“The musicians in Bach’s day wanted jobs, money, a little status, and girls…And that was it….It hasn’t changed,” Barr said.
His multi-media, one-man show, Johann In The Sky With Diamonds, features Barr on classical guitar, along with visuals and spoken word. The show plays the Palladium on Sunday, Feb. 16 at 2:30 p.m.
James Barr
Barr knows plenty about the mindset of professional musicians – he was part of that clan for over 20 years. Barr started his professional career as a studio musician — took a break for a while as a creative executive for major ad agencies – and is now back making music.
When the Beatles were breaking, Barr was on his way to Berklee College of Music on a Downbeat Magazine Scholarship, then moved to Manhattan where he worked as a studio musician for 24 years. He played for Broadway musicals, worked on film scores, and did recording sessions with artists that included Gil Evans and Luther Vandross. He also played in rock bands all over the Jersey coast, where he got to know a rising musician named Bruce Springsteen.
Later, he moved to Florida and reinvented himself as a creative director at ad agencies.
Now, he’s living in Asheville and back at this original passion – music. He created the Bach/Beatle show last year. His first set is all Beatles tunes and Bach is the second set. He does it in that order, so the Beatles songs can help him warm up for the challenges of the Bach material.
In his songs and stories he focuses on the “spiritual” side of the Beatles and the “emotional” Bach. He puts a human face on the Baroque composer and his Bach pieces come in at around 3 to 4 minutes each – about the same as most Beatles’ songs.
Both the Beatles and Bach were musical game changers. The world was never the same after they came along.
“The Beatles had no thoughts when they were putting these together that they would change the world,” he says.
Don’t miss this unique show – you’ll only see it at the Palladium.
For tickets and information visit the Palladium at www.mypalladium.org or call the box office at 727-822-3590.
Leave a Reply