Thu 6/27 @ 8PM
Canadian guitarist and multiple JUNO nominee Michael Occhipinti recently released a project entitled The Universe of John Lennon. It featured his arrangements of various Lennon tunes, showcasing a constellation of five Canadian jazz singers.
He’s taking the show on the road as The Lennon Project. While he can’t bring all the singers on the record, he’s bringing an outstanding one: pianist/vocalist Elizabeth Shepherd, who has a flourishing career of her own.
“There’s certainly no denying that the songs of John Lennon and The Beatles are absolutely cherished by millions of people, and so many other people have covered those songs too, so I put a lot of thought and care into each song we recorded. However, I think the pressure to present the songs in new and imaginative ways was a good kind of pressure, as it really pushed me to be creative and I did really try to keep the idea that if John Lennon were in the room I’d want him to say – hey, I never thought of doing that!” says Occhipinti.
The record includes 14 Lennon songs; Shepherd is featured on “I Am the Walrus,” “Working Class Hero,” “Across the Universe” and “Whatever Gets You Through the Night.”
So it’s likely you’ll hear those tunes (as well as others) when Occhipinti, Shepherd and the touring ensemble — which also includes trumpet player Kevin Turcotte, bassist John Maharaj and drummer Ben Riley — performs at Nighttown.
The concert is co-sponsored by Cleveland nonprofit Root of American Music, which provides educational programs to schools.
Tickets are $20.
http://www.michaelocchipinti.com/
Cleveland Heights, OH 44106