SoVoSo

"SoVoSó is tight, soulful, and a whole lotta fun."
-Bobby McFerrin

SoVoSo members, from left to right:
Sunshine Garcia, Bryan Dyer, David Worm, Caitlin Cornwell and Joey Blake

SoVoSó is a highly imaginative a cappella ensemble that sings a unique, rhythmic mix of jazz, gospel, world and R&B music, all rendered in their trademark improvisational style.

The SoVoSó repertoire consists of original compositions and other songs that present a global perspective, from Afro-Latin idioms to traditional jazz choral arrangements. Three SoVoSó members (Joey Blake, Melanie Rath, and David Worm) are alumni of Bobby McFerrin's a cappella group, Voicestra, performing with him until 1993. Sunshine Garcia, Destani Wolf, and Norman Pitters are the most recent members of the sextet. As SoVoSó ("from the Soul to the Voice to the Song"), the ensemble has continued to pioneer new horizons in improvisational vocal performance. According to the San Jose Mercury News, "The extraordinary richness and brilliance of this virtuoso vocalism lifts you into a special realm.

Then and Now

One Love Wanting Memories One Planet With You People Get Ready Hurt So Bad Tu Para Mi Precious Be of Love For The Forest Life & Love Thank You Dirt

The Bay Area's favorite soulful World/Jazz mixed quintet looks back on a career that began for some members with Bobby McFerrin in his Voicestra. A win at the '97 Harmony Sweeps, many memorable live performances and 5 excellent recordings brings this amazing group to their first independent release, a remarkable "best of" collection of 13 songs. They're all favorites, but Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready," the group originals "One Love," "With You," "Hurt So Bad," "Be Of Love," "For The Forest," "Life and Love" and the complex, surprising "Dirt" are especially sweet. Throughout we are continually reminded what a gift SoVoSó has been to us, Then and Now!

4750 CD $14.98

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Bridges

Boom Baby! For I Am The Moon Charity New Groove Build a Bridge Big Family Listen To The Rain Say We Will Rise Precious

Serengeti rhythms, New Orleans style funk, Jamaican reggae dubs...SoVoSo's brand new release, entitled Bridges, spans the musical globe, transporting the listener across traditional cultures to a contemporary, one-village world of human harmony. You'll be dancing to a tribal beat one minute and closing your eyes to take in a soulful ballad the next. With titles like "Big Family," "Precious," "For I Am TheMoon," "New Groove," "Charity," "Build A Bridge," and "Say," (a remix),this all-original, genre-blending collection includes gospel-flavored R&B, rock and soul ballads, jazz riffs and spoken word poetry over African rhythms. SoVoSo forges thoughtful lyrical territory, from love songs to anthems calling us toward our universal humanity, all rendered in superlative musicianship through the fundamentally human instrument -the voice. Bridges clearly places SoVoSo on the map at the cutting edge of world-soul-beat music. Don't miss the latest from one of the most innovative a cappella groups on the planet.

Listen to "Big Family", "Build A Bridge" and "Say" in Real Audio.

Seasonings

Holiday Season Christmas in Questa Oh Holy Night Someday Little Drummer Boy 'Tis Winter Emmanuel

Anyone who lights up their days of the Holiday Season with vocal music (and especially those who saw the group at the West Coast Summit and Sweeps Finals) must have SoVoSo's latest release, "Seasonings." This world-renowned ensemble has mixed together a wonderful recipe of songs that span their diverse cultural and rhythmic background, from a jazzy swing version of "Drummer Boy," a worldly chant of "O Come Emmanuel," and a classic and soaring "O Holy Night" with original songs that include Joey Blake's infectious "Holiday Season" and Sunshine Becker's portrait of the holiday Southwest style in "Christmas in Questa." The magic and light of the holidays are truly captured on this special and much awaited CD.

Listen to "Holiday Season" in Real Audio.

Truth And Other Stories

Be of Love The Gift of Music Thank You for the Dream Afro Blue Life & Love For the Forest In My Prime With You Clear Winter Skies

What happens when you get six lead singers to perform in one group? You get SoVoSó. Each of the individual musical personalities take their turns expressing themselves with the total support of the other singers. Unheard of! Amazing! And just plain wow! "Be Of Love" is David Worm's opening tune. I would pick Joey Blake's "Thank You For The Dream" as his representative composition but notice has to be taken of the fact that he wrote and arranged "Life and Love" which Sunshine Garcia has made her own. Melanie Rath's pure soprano swoops, dives and scats through Mongo Santamaria's "Afro Blue." Rhiannon presents her autobiographical, "In My Prime." And finally, Nicholas Bearde leaves us with a soulful, "Clear Winter Skies." In the vernacular, it don't get any better than this!

Listen to "Gift of Music" , "Life & Love" and Thank You for the Dream in Real Audio.

World Jazz A Cappella

First Words Say Show Them Dance Thank You People Get Ready Tu Para Mi Dirt That Day Wa Wa Wa Home Fop U Down By the Riverside Say A Prayer

1997 Harmony Sweepstakes Winners, SoVoSó also won the CARA that same year in the category Studio Album Of The Year. The majority of the six members had been singing together for ten years or so, since being members in Bobby McFerrin's Voicestra. In fact "Dirt" the six movement, twenty plus minute marvel of improvisation was written by McFerrin and SoVoSo as a dance score for the Oberlin Dance Co. of San Francisco. This reviewer particularly loves Melanie Rath's "Show Them Dance," David Worm's "Say", Joey Blake's "Tu Para MÌ" and Rhiannon's "Say A Prayer." Oh heck, all of them!

Listen to Show Them Dance, Down By the Riverside and People Get Ready in Real Audio:

Crack The Nut

Reed Pipes Skaters & Jugglers Spanish Dance Mother Gigogne Russian Dance Arabian Dance Waltz of the Flowers Sugar Plum Fairy Finale Waltz

1997 Harmony Sweeps Winners, and one of our favorite soulful Aftro-Latin World/Jazz groups, Oakland-based SoVoSo celebrates the December, 2004 addition of a fifth member, veteran Bay Area vocalist Zoe Ellis, with their new CD, "Crack the Nut!" The innovative mixed-voice group, which cut their a cappella teeth performing with Bobby McFerrin, follows the Swingles off in an exciting new direction here, performing some of the best works of Tchaikovsky's beloved Nutcracker Suite. But where Ward Swingle's focus was generally replacing instruments with voices on classical music, SoVoSo employs the considerable arranging talents of David Worm, Bryan Dyer, Sunshine Becker and Joey Blake, and some surprising vocal percussion and faux electric guitar riffs to transform these songs into something quite their own. 9 songs: the moody "Reed Pipes" (which segues into an African chant), "Skaters and Jugglers" (which becomes a surreal reggae piece), "Spanish Dance" and "Mother Gigogne" (bright, folkish waltzes), "Russian Dance" (a very Swinglish cover), "Arabian Dance" (which becomes a rock anthem with screaming "guitars"), "Waltz of the Flowers" (a jazzy, scattish romp), "Sugar Plum Fairy" (with a Led Zeppelin flavor and a "Hernando's Hideaway" sample), finishing with the lovely ethereal, breezy "Finale Waltz." In our opinion, "Crack the Nut!" is on track to win SoVoSo another CARA award, and to create many more fans for this exceptionally talented group!

CD Reviews: SoVoSó : World Jazz A Cappella

Every track of this superbly produced debut CD is a majestic group achievement punctuated by striking individual highlights, from the opening live improvisation through covers of Sly Stone's "Thank You" and Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready," an innovative "Dirt" suite co-composed by McFerrin, and a rousing "Down by the Riverside," to the closing, gorgeously soaring Rhiannon feature, "Say a Prayer."
Derk Richardson San Francisco Bay Guardian

Innovatively arranged ... SoVoSó really shines on its own work, including the six-part suite "Dirt" which weaves together sounds of South America and South Africa.
James Sullivan San Francisco Chronicle

A first CD release belies the fact that the six members of SoVoSó have sung together for 10 years. They have created a beautiful, original aural feast for the vocal gourmet.
Welles Goodrich KUSP Radio, Santa Cruz, California

Their spectacular voices takes listeners deep into fresh vocal territory.
William Friar The Oakland Tribune

The voices-only SoVoSó is a major innovative force in vocal music. The culturally diverse group has honed its distinctly uplifting sound, one that draws not only from vocal heritage, but also the singers' own styles, on such original songs as "Say a Prayer" and more traditional vocal showcases including "Down By The Riverside" and "People Get Ready."
Larry Kelp KPFA Radio, Berkeley, California

Live Reviews: Concert presenters' comments:

Tim Jackson, Monterey Jazz Festival: "SoVoSó is a great act...very colorful and alive."

Greg Phillips,Marin JCC Centerstage, San Rafael, CA: "We were thrilled to host SoVoSó...they drew a full house and their performance was mesmerizing, riveting and exhilarating...I'd have SoVoSo back in a heartbeat."

Jan Takeshita, Yoshi's jazz club, Oakland, CA: "SoVoS¤ is visually and soulfully stimulating...when my staff starts raving, that's when you know they're really good."

Live Reviews: Journalists' comments:

"One of the most soulful harmonizing ensembles imaginable." San Francisco Bay Guardian

"SoVoS¤ has a way of leaving listeners awestruck by its vocal agility and musical smarts."Oakland Tribune

"One of the most inventive, exciting vocal groups in the country." Marin Independent Journal

Live Reviews: Workshop presenters' comments:

Yvonne Kuhlman, Luther College, Decorah, Iowa: "SoVoSo's vocal workshop left our students on cloud nine...they experienced the possibilities of what vocal jazz can be and how far you can take it......even instrumentalists were enriched and inspired by SoVoSo's creative, unique presentation."

Marsha Carlisle, Texas Choral Directors' Association: "We haven't had such rave reviews since the King Singers were here six years ago...I am very impressed with their high degree of professionalism...their easy manner and willingness to demonstrate their astounding vocal talents proves to me that their message does truly come 'from the Soul to the Voice to the Song.' They are truly world class!"

Susan Stone, Tri-C Jazz Fest, Cleveland, OH: "The educational value and experience for our school ensembles was unmatched. The SoVoS¤ artists were knowledgeable and patient. Students have a new respect for their voices and the ways they are able to express music and ideas through the voice."

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