Thanks to Open Culture, we can all revel in the sounds and images of Sachal Studios Orchestra's cover of The Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby,” from the orchestra's 2013 Jazz and All That album.
Although “Eleanor Rigby” has been traditionally played by an orchestra or string quartet, Sachal Studios Orchestra’s use of a sitar soloist rejuvenates the classic tune — accompanied by an awesome tabla solo at 1:27. The fascinating cover also features a classical violin, western drum, piano and contrabass.
The Sachal Studios Orchestra consists of conductor Nijat Ali, Nafees Khan on sitar, Baqar Abbas on flute, Ballu Khan on the table, Rafiq Ahmed on naal, Najaf Ali on dholak and mardang and Asad Ali on guitar. They have also revamped Stevie Wonder’s "You’ve Got it Bad Girl" and Henry Mancini’s "The Pink Panther."
Sachal members are refugees of sorts, too. They initially retired in the 1980’s due to various anti-music zealotries. According to Yaqoob Khan Bangash, in Pakistan TV drama provided “great succor to a fatigued and demoralized society.”
Musicals were shunned by the regime, which banned most Western-influenced productions and most of the Lahore studios work.
In addition to releasing Jazz and All That last year, the group recently appeared with Wynton Marsalis in London at the Barbican Center.
Watch below for the performance video.
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