Another Bite of the Apple

With their follow-up to A Bite of the Apple, the trio of pianist David Kikoski, bassist Charles Fambrough, and drummer Brian Melvin continue to jazz up the Beatles' songbook in relatively impressive fashion with this 2001 release. Besides the familiar melodies and memorable themes, the artists effectively inject a distinct sense of swing amid impassioned soloing and an upbeat demeanor to the Beatles' historic legacy. Here, the musicians reharmonize many of the now-familiar motifs into forums for extended improvisations, a few funk grooves, peppery interplay, and buoyantly executed rhythms, as the band should be commended for their stylized approach to the Liverpool legends' pop/rock frameworks. Thus, in lesser hands, the listener might be subjected to humdrum, straightforward renditions of songs most of us have heard ad infinitum; otherwise, the trio often instills a sense of ownership and good cheer throughout this altogether vibrant affair.