A Gypsy jazz guitarist was granted the chance to perform on George Harrison's famed Beatles guitars for a fresh tribute album, as Olivia, presumably Harrison's representative, agreed when the request was made.
In the mid-1990s, a British Gypsy jazz guitarist named Robin Nolan found himself performing at the Oxfordshire estate of the late George Harrison, a founding member of the iconic band The Beatles. This serendipitous encounter, which took place at Friar Park, marked the beginning of a long-standing personal friendship between Nolan and the Harrison family.
The friendship blossomed from a personal invitation extended by Harrison himself, after he had heard one of Nolan's CDs. For a period of time, Nolan and his group served as the house band at Friar Park, playing at various parties and events. They even had the privilege of performing for The Beatles, Tom Petty, Ravi Shankar, race car drivers, Monty Pythons, and many others.
Nolan's connection with the Harrison family continued even after George's death in 2001. During a convivial gathering, Nolan shared his vision of creating a studio album that reinterpreted Harrison’s songs in the Gypsy jazz style, recorded using Harrison’s famous guitars. Olivia Harrison, George’s widow, agreed and further entrusted Nolan with chord progressions handwritten by George to inspire a new song on the album.
This collaboration resulted in the album "For The Love Of George," which features covers of George Harrison's songs reimagined in a Gypsy jazz style. Robin Nolan recorded guitar parts on George Harrison's Rickenbacker 12-string, Gibson J-160E, and Ramírez guitars for the album. The Gibson J-160E guitar is the only guitar to be on every Beatles album.
The Ramírez, the flamenco guitar that Harrison used on And I Love Her and Till There Was You, was a particularly significant instrument for Nolan. During a small dinner party at Friar Park, Nolan asked to play on one of George's guitars and was given this very guitar. The experience led Nolan to suggest the idea of a studio album dedicated to George Harrison's music.
Robin Nolan felt a lot of responsibility while recording the album, as he wanted to be sincere for George Harrison. He carefully made the covers sound beautiful in the context of Gypsy jazz without mimicking the original songs exactly. The album, available now on Dark Horse Records, is a touching tribute to the late Beatle's work.
The album's title track, "For The Love Of George," is published as a Harrison/Nolan composition. Nolan's original song is a heartfelt tribute to his friend and mentor, George Harrison. This collaboration allows fans to experience Harrison's music in a new light, while still maintaining the essence of his iconic sound.
- Robin Nolan recorded guitar parts on George Harrison's Rickenbacker 12-string, Gibson J-160E, and Ramírez guitars for the album "For The Love Of George."
- The Gibson J-160E guitar is the only guitar to be on every Beatles album.
- During a small dinner party at Friar Park, Nolan asked to play on one of George's guitars and was given the Ramírez, the flamenco guitar that Harrison used on And I Love Her and Till There Was You.
- The album's title track, "For The Love Of George," is published as a Harrison/Nolan composition, and it serves as a heartfelt tribute to George Harrison, allowing fans to experience his music in a new light while still maintaining the essence of his iconic sound.
