Laurence Juber

Laurence Juber - Pop goes Guitar - 2008 - Solid Air Records

Laurence Juber's latest releases showcase his formidable arranging abilities. Pop Goes Guitar pulls together many of Juber's pop arrangements, adding six new arrangements to tunes previously released on LJ Plays the Beatles and One Wing. Juber displays his ability to capture the essence of complex tunes like the Police's "Every Breath You Take"—which might seem impossible to arrange as a solo instrumental—while bringing out the simple beauty of the Beach Boys' "God Only Knows." Juber's arrangements rarely stray far from the spirit of the original—the beginning of the Rolling Stones' "Angie" might fool you into thinking it was the original—but adds his distinct touch to make each tune come alive on solo guitar. By & © Doug Young (Solid Air Records, solidairrecords.com) © 2011 String Letter Publishing, Inc., David A. Lusterman, Publisher. http://www.acguitar.com/article/default.aspx?articleid=23829

Former Wings guitarist Laurence Juber released in his career more than 20 acoustic guitar CD's. Laurence Juber is a fine melodically acoustic guitarist, performer and composer. His newest CD “Pop Goes Guitar” is a showcase of pop songs which are re-arranged by Laurence Juber. An excellent song choice of pop legends like the Beatles, The Police, Elvis Costello, Elton John and The Rolling Stones are played with fantastic guitar techniques in a brilliant atmosphere. Juber excels in arranging soulful and touching pop songs by adding his own skilled captivating signature to existing cuts. Although most songs are more than 25 years old, they still touch ones soul. Juber's talent to give songs extra dimensions, with his ability to add an gentle and intimate touch to each song. This CD is joy to listen to. © Henk te Veldhuis Bridge Guitar Reviews © 2008 2011 © AcousticMusicResource.com http://www.acousticmusicresource.com/product_info.php?cPath=7&products_id=5465&osCsid=eb75da232010708666e73f8060f36dd5

The music on this CD will reinforce Laurence Juber’s status as the ultimate feel-good acoustic guitarist. "Pop Goes Guitar" focuses on one strong aspect of Juber’s repertoire: solo instrumental versions of well-known pop tunes. Earlier in his career he recorded "My Girl" and Jimi Hendrix’s "Little Wing," delved extensively into the Beatles and Wings catalogs, and took a left turn into the Great American Songbook with "I’ve Got the World on Six Strings," a wonderful CD devoted to Harold Arlen’s music. On this new disc he gives the same treatment to iconic pop songs of the 1960s and later (the most recent being The Police’s 1983 hit, "Every Breath You Take"). Several recordings from Juber’s earlier CDs reappear, including "Let it Be," "Maybe I’m Amazed," "My Girl," "Oh! Darling," "My Love" and "In My Life." The new tracks, including Brian Wilson’s "God Only Knows," Elvis Costello’s "Alison," Jagger-Richards’ "Angie," and Elton John/Bernie Taupin’s "Your Song," are great listening and will broaden the horizons of guitarists who take their cues from Juber the teacher. Of the new recordings, my own favorite is his moody rendition of "God Only Knows." This music works on many levels; his song choices are great, as is the guitar playing. Also, by presenting these tunes as instrumental solos, Juber promotes their acceptance as standards for instrumental guitarists. Not coincidentally, Juber has published a companion book/CD package, Popular Songs for Acoustic Guitar (Hal Leonard), in which he teaches the tunes on thisCD. You won’t go wrong buying "Pop Goes Guitar," either as a CD or from iTunes. © Patrick Ragains © 2011 AcousticMusicResource.com http://www.acousticmusicresource.com/product_info.php?cPath=7&products_id=5465&osCsid=eb75da232010708666e73f8060f36dd5

Laurence Juber was a young working musician in London in the '70's when Paul McCartney asked him to become Wings’ lead guitarist. There's a guy who knows a good musician when he hears one! Laurence was three years with Wings. In that time he won a Best Rock Instrumental Grammy for "Rockestra" from Wings' Back To The Egg album. After Wings split in 1981, Laurence began a new career as a solo artist, composer and arranger. He is now acknowledged as one of the world's most accomplished top finger-style acoustic players and guitar virtuosos, being voted No.1 by Fingerstyle Guitar magazine. He is also a highly sought after session musician. His guitar technique is amazing, and his melodic flourishes, and even the way he plays single notes are totally unique. His "LJ Plays the Beatles" was voted one of Acoustic Guitar magazine’s top 10 all-time acoustic albums. He has several other extraordinary albums on release like his "Guitarist" album, and his "Groovemasters" album with Preston Reed. He regularly tours with the great Al Stewart, and can be heard on Al's "Between The Wars" album. "Pop goes Guitar" is HR by A.O.O.F.C. Check out his awe inspiring "LJ Plays the Beatles, Vol. 2" on this blog. Buy Laurence's amazing "Altered Reality" album. For acoustic guitar in the same vein, check out Stephen Bennett's awe inspiring "Beatles Acoustic Guitar Solos" [All tracks @ 160 Kbps: File size = 46.5 Mb]

TRACKS / COMPOSERS

1 Every Breath You Take - Sting
2 Stand By Me - Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
3 God Only Knows - Brian Wilson, Tony Asher
4 Maybe I'm Amazed - Paul McCartney
5 In My Life - John Lennon & Paul McCartney
6 Alison - Elvis Costello
7 Your Song - Bernie Taupin, Elton John
8 Oh! Darling - John Lennon & Paul McCartney
9 My Girl - Ronald White & Smokey Robinson
10 Angie - Keith Richards & Mick Jagger
11 My Love - Linda McCartney & Paul McCartney
12 Let It Be - John Lennon & Paul McCartney

SHORT BIO

Acoustic guitarist, composer, and producer Laurence Juber, known by many of his fans simply as "LJ," was born and raised in London. By the time he was 13, he began to earn money by performing at local get-togethers. A couple of years later he took up the study of classical guitar and then went on to earn a music degree from the London University, Goldsmith College. He also performed as a soloist with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra. Around the mid-'70s, Juber found work as a session player. He perfected his skills as a variable guitarist along the way and earned a respected name for himself in the profession. In 1978 he joined the Paul McCartney group Wings as lead guitarist, where he spent the next two years. During this time Juber won a Grammy award for Best Rock Instrumental for the tune "Rockestra" off the album Back to the Egg. In the early '80s Juber left his homeland behind and moved to Los Angeles. He easily slipped back into session work. He did a lot of work for hit television shows like Home Improvement, Seventh Heaven, Boy Meets World, and Roseanne, as well as noted movies such as Dirty Dancing, Splash, Doc Hollywood, Pocahontas, Snow Day, Good Will Hunting, and many others. In 1990 Juber signed with the Beachwood Records label, which belonged to fellow artist and friend James Lee Stanley. That very year Juber recorded his solo debut album, Solo Flight. It was followed three years later by Naked Guitar, and then by Winter Guitar in 1998. In 1999 Juber was named as the number one Fingerstyle Guitarist of the Year. In between numerous tours, he released three new albums for 2000 -- LJ Plays the Beatles, Naked Solos, and The Collection -- each recorded under the Solid Air Records label. © Charlotte Dillon © 2011 Rovi Corporation. All Rights Reserved http://www.allmusic.com/artist/laurence-juber-p26582/biography

BIO (WIKIPEDIA)

By his own account, Juber began playing guitar the week that "I Want to Hold Your Hand" by The Beatles was released. Beginning on a cheap acoustic guitar, he learned to read music early, figuring out the system of music notation for himself. He began to earn money playing the guitar at 13, and began to study classical guitar at the age of 15. Enraptured by the sounds on records of the mid- to late-60's, he set his sights on becoming a session guitarist in London's music studios. He earned his music degree at London University (Goldsmith College) where he expanded his horizons playing the lute. Upon graduation, he immediately began work as a session guitarist, working on his first project with producer George Martin on an album for Cleo Laine. Juber gave up a lucrative and highly successful studio career when invited to join Paul McCartney and Wings. He played on recordings that were to become Back to the Egg, as well as the subsequent tour. From these sessions he garnered his first Grammy Award, winning Best Rock Instrumental for the track "Rockestra Theme" from Back to the Egg. He was miscredited as Lawrence Tuber on the album sleeve. From this period dates his first solo album Standard Time (only released on vinyl). Ex-fellow Wings members Paul McCartney and Denny Laine played along on the track Maisie. When Wings disbanded, Juber moved to the United States of America. In New York City he met his future wife, Hope, and soon moved to her native California. He subsequently resumed work as a studio musician and played guitar for numerous television shows, including Happy Days and Family Ties, and for movies, perhaps most famously playing the James Bond theme for the movie The Spy Who Loved Me. In 1990, he released his second solo album, Solo Flight. During the next decade he would begin to explore altered tunings. In 2000, Juber released the solo album LJ plays the Beatles and The Collection and in 2003 the album Guitarist was released to critical acclaim. Juber's credentials as a top-tier fingerstyle guitarist continue to grow. Having been voted "Guitarist of the Year" by readers of Fingerstyle Guitar magazine as well as one of the top acoustic players of all time by Acoustic Guitar magazine, Juber is an ambassador for his instrument as well as his own music. He has released nineteen critically acclaimed CD's to date, and has earned a second Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental for his solo guitar arrangement of "The Pink Panther Theme" on the CD Henry Mancini: Pink Guitar. Juber has also released a series of instructional CD's that teach basic music theory and arrangement techniques for guitarists. In addition to his own recording and performances, Laurence Juber has produced and played on Al Stewart's albums Between the Wars (1995), Down in the Cellar (2000), A Beach Full of Shells (2005) and Sparks of Ancient Light (2008), and occasionally performs with Stewart