A gypsy jazz musician gained access to George Harrison's renowned Beatles guitars, performing memorable melodies on them for a fresh tribute album.
In the heart of Amsterdam's Leidseplein, a remarkable chain of events was set in motion in 1994. Robin Nolan, a talented Gypsy jazz guitarist, was busking when he sold a CD to a tourist who turned out to be George Harrison's gardener. Little did Nolan know that this chance encounter would lead to a collaboration with the legendary Beatle.
The gardener, impressed by Nolan's music, gave the CD to Harrison, who was captivated by the unique sound. Intrigued, Harrison personally invited Nolan and his band to perform at his Oxfordshire estate, Friar Park, in the mid-90s. This invitation marked the beginning of a lasting friendship between Nolan and Harrison, with Nolan's group becoming the informal "house band" at various Harrisons' gatherings.
After Harrison's untimely death in 2001, Nolan maintained a close relationship with Harrison’s widow, Olivia. Inspired by this ongoing connection, Nolan proposed a unique project - a studio album featuring Gypsy jazz reinterpretations of Harrison’s songs. Olivia agreed, and the result is the recently released album, For The Love Of George.
Recorded in Harrison’s home studio at Friar Park, using some of Harrison’s own iconic guitars, the album includes 10 Gypsy jazz covers of Beatles and Harrison songs, plus an original title track based on a chord sequence Harrison had scribbled on an envelope shortly before his passing. Nolan deciphered this harmonic puzzle and composed a melody on top, co-credited with Harrison, resulting in a unique tribute that captures Harrison’s musical style through Nolan’s genre.
Nolan felt a lot of responsibility while handling and recording on Harrison’s guitars, ensuring sincerity in the music. He recorded guitar parts on George Harrison's Rickenbacker 12-string, Gibson J-160E, and Ramírez guitars, each of which holds significant historical value in the world of music.
The Rickenbacker 12-string guitar was used on The Beatles' album A Hard Day's Night, while the Gibson J-160E is the only guitar to appear on every Beatles album. The Ramírez, on the other hand, was the flamenco guitar that Harrison used on And I Love Her and Till There Was You.
The title track, For The Love Of George, is published as a Harrison/Nolan composition, with the chords originating from George Harrison and the melody from Robin Nolan. This album is a testament to Nolan's ability to adapt Harrison's songs into Gypsy jazz and Latin styles without mimicking the originals.
Nolan's friendship with the Harrison family continued beyond George's death, and he even performed at a party alongside other famous musicians like Tom Petty and Ravi Shankar. The idea for the album came together during a dinner party at Friar Park where Nolan was playing on George's guitar.
For The Love Of George is available now on Dark Horse Records, offering listeners a fresh perspective on the timeless music of George Harrison. As a player ranked among Britain's greatest exponents of Gypsy jazz for three decades, Nolan's tribute album is a must-listen for fans of both Gypsy jazz and the Beatles.
- Robin Nolan's album, For The Love Of George, was recorded in George Harrison's home studio at Friar Park, using some of Harrison's own iconic guitars, such as the Rickenbacker 12-string, Gibson J-160E, and Ramírez.
- The title track, For The Love Of George, is a Harrison/Nolan composition, with the chords originating from George Harrison and the melody from Robin Nolan.
- The Gibson J-160E guitar, used by Nolan in recording the album, is the only guitar to appear on every Beatles album.
- This album, a tribute to George Harrison, offers listeners a fresh perspective on the timeless music of the Beatles, featuring Gypsy jazz and Latin style interpretations of Harrison's songs.
