The乐团的艺术bbey Road tribute concert铝青铜,标志着披头士的40周年um's release, was a refreshing take on an old classic.

Both Saturday and Sunday night's shows at Harbourfront Centre's Enwave Theatre this weekend had sold out and it's easy to see why: A star-studded array of Canadian musicians, including Kevin Hearn, Raine Maida (of Our Lady Peace), Andy Maize (Skydiggers), Steven Page (formerly of Barenaked Ladies), Sarah Slean, John Southworth andAlejandra Riberawere performing classic songs from the album.

I'd seenPage with Art of Time Ensemble beforeand it wasn't much of a surprise to hear him sing The Beatles. Since I first heardBe My Yoko Ono, I've suspected he's a big Beatles fan. His heartfelt rendition ofOh! Darlingwas spot on, looking comfortably trim on stage in a dark, pinstripe suit, alongside Burashko at the piano.

Meanwhile, over at Massey Hall,

Classic Albums Livehad their own note-for-note tribute toAbbey Road, proving there's plenty Beatlemania in Toronto to go around. With The Beatles'Rockbandjust released, along with ahefty anniversary box set, it makes sense that shows like this have such appeal.
I opted for the re-imagined, reinventedAbbey Road, featuring the talented group of musicians and arrangers, led by Art of Time Ensemble artistic director Andrew Burashko.

Come Togetheropened up the evening's show, featuringMaidaon vocals. I found his performance rather restrained, in spite of the use of a megaphone during parts of the song. He seemed to want to rock out more (likehe did recently at Virgin Music Fest) but appeared constricted by his suit and tie and held back by the 12-piece backing band that more closely resembled a chamber orchestra.

Like many singers who followed on Saturday night, Maida seemed to rely too heavily on reading the music off the music stand before him, creating a small chasm between singer and audience. Perhaps three days of rehearsals weren't enough?

Next up wasSarah Slean, whose emotional rendition ofSomethingwas as attention-getting as her red dress. And she needed no sheet music to follow the formidable Gavin Bryars arrangement.

SouthworthsingingMaxwell's Silver Hammerwas delightful. His energy, sometimes cockney accent and the sprightly arrangement by Cameron Wilson, made the song feel more like a cabaret number, with the Art of Time Ensemble even joining in on a shouted vocal line at one point. Brilliant.

I felt thatHearn's take onOctopus's Gardenlacked chutzpah, in spite of the use of props such as a bubble gun and conch shell.

It was Ribera'sI Want You (She's So Heavy)that really tore things up with her soulful, almost over-the-top interpretation. She embodied the song so completely that I thought she'd tear out her hair by the end of the piece.

The performance was helped, no doubt, by Robert Carli's adept arrangement, featuring lots of piano and percussion flourishes, a rousing sax line and complexly coordinated strings. It was easily the highlight of the show, prompting a standing ovation and curtain call.

If you haven't heardRibera sing, she's doing a regular gig with her band at The Cameron House on Tuesday nights starting at 10 p.m.

Maize took the stage after intermission withHere Comes the Sunand was joined by Slean and Southworth soon after forBecause, both arranged by Jonathan Goldsmith, while the Kevin Fox arrangedSun Kingbrought Slean back in the spotlight.

Hearn and Page shared the stage for the first time in a while forYou Never Give Me Your Money, their harmonies still sounding sweet.

The rest ofAbbey Road's revival performance featured a trio of arrangements by Dan Parr (Hearn'sMean Mr. Mustard, Southworth'sPolythene Pamand Maize'sShe Came In Through The Bathroom Window) and Robert Carli (Page's Golden Slumbers, Hearn's Carry That Weight and Page and Maize's The End).

By the end, all six vocalists joined in the fun, making for a memorable end to a wonderful night's music.

The show was recorded by the CBC for a future broadcast. I can't wait to hear it again.

Photos byRoger Cullman.