“Don’t expect any wild or garish costumes. But don’t expect tuxedos, either,” writes Christopher Arnott in Sunday’s (7/21) Hartford Courant (CT). Guitarist Jean Meilleur and his band “join the Hartford Symphony Orchestra for ‘The Music of Elton John’ on July 26 as the final concert of this year’s outdoor summer Talcott Mountain Music Festival [led by] HSO assistant conductor Adam Boyles… Meilleur’s band … Jeans ‘n Classics … is a four-piece rock band (plus two back-up singers) that plays alongside orchestras, presenting grand live tributes to major rock acts. The Hartford concert will feature 21 songs, including hits such as ‘Rocket Man’ … alongside lusher orchestra-friendly tunes like ‘Love Lies Bleeding.’ … Besides Elton John, the Jeans ‘n Classics repertoire runs to The Beatles, David Bowie … The Moody Blues…. This summer, Elton John is the big catch. ‘Rocketman,’ the film bio of the superstar, was released in May…. His ‘Farewell, Yellow Brick Road’ concert … marked his retirement from live touring … this year.” Says Meilleur, “When you hear the songs done this way, it’s so big, so beautiful. Orchestras are so professional, so aware of their craft…. That’s a cool thing in art…. It’s a blast.”
Posted July 23, 2019
