Beachfront Property

"Beachfront" is not a piece of real estate along the ocean, but it is a hot property nonetheless. Described as sounding like "Manhattan Transfer" meets "Take 6," their smooth singing style combines the rich sounds of jazz with the fun and energy of pop music. They have shared the stage with Mel Torme, "The Four Freshman," "The Hi-los," Kenny Rankin, Crystal Lewis, "The Brothers Four" and "Emerson, Lake & Palmer." The success of Beachfront Property is found not only in a successful blending of harmonies, but in a blending of personalities.

"Not everyone can sing in a group like this," says Tom Dustman, Beachfront's artistic director and bass vocalist. "It takes a special person to give, and give, and give." The object is to entertain while also preserving some of America's most beloved classics, he says. "No one person is the star." Achieving this feat takes a great deal of effort and a lot of self-control, as the key is to blend the voices. Beachfront's four-part blend is spun out in seemingly effortless fashion creating mellow and exciting, woven-together-like-cloth chords that treat the listener to arrangements of familiar songs with a whole new sound.

The newest twist to their show is performing 50 & 60's Rock & Roll tunes accompanied by symphony orchestras or rhythm section. Release of their first commercial CD "Beachfront" in 1990 marked a new beginning for the group, which was formed in 1979 to record and write commercial jingles. The group debuted with their "live" show when they opened for "The Hi-lo's" in 1988. Their second CD release, "Straight Up," and their most recent, "A Beachfront Christmas" consistently appearing on jazz polls and high rotation play lists throughout the country. Whether singing classic standards like "Sophisticated Lady" and "You Go To My Head, " or what they refer to as cartoon tunes "Linus & Lucy" and "The Flintstones Theme," or a medley of Beachboys or Beatle songs, each note is sung with impeccable precision along with ever so subtle purposeful hesitations and syncopated timing.

Discography

Straight Up

Straighten Up & Fly Right Tenor Madness Besame Mucho Linus and Lucy Angel Eyes Stompin' At The Savoy Icarus Pick Yourself Up I Saw Her Standing There Midnight Sun

If you enjoy listening to jazz presented by enough voices to be a chorus when that embellishes the arrangement, sung by singers so accomplished that you can follow each individual voice through complex vocal intertwining, you will love Beachfront Property. This group of southern California studio singers alternate accompanied and unaccompanied tunes which become jazz standards after they are through with them if they weren't before. One notable original is Vince Guaraldi's " Linus & Lucy" adapted for voices by Stan Castonogia and the group.

Listen to "Linus and Lucy" in Real Audio.

Beachfront Property

Flintstones Theme Blackbird Hurry On Down Embraceable You Born To Be Blue You Go To My Head Ring-A-Ding-Ding It Had To Be You You Made Me Love You The Summer Knows My Kind Of Girl Sophisticated Lady I Remember You Wave

Alternating between a cappella tracks and those accompanied by a combo (piano, bass, drums, sax, and percussion) this southern California singing ensemble of nine voices gives us a tour of popular standards and one goofy but great arrangement of the "Flintstone's Theme" with 'Fred Flintstone' singing a gravelly scat. The arranging is delicate and light for an easy listen. Then you listen more closely and catch the subtle jazz nuances which sets this group apart from music often heard and relegated to the background of our attentions. The producers, Tom and Jennifer Dustman (also singers), have created a full rich sound.

Listen to "You Go To My Head" in Real Audio.

A Beachfront Christmas

Merry Little Christmas Christmas Time is Here Santa Claus Is Coming to Town O Come All Ye Faithful Sleigh Ride I’ll Be Home for Christmas Here Comes Santa Claus Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer God Rest Ye Merry Gentelmen Away in a Manger Silent Night Wonderful Peace

The Beachfront Property septet bundles up for the wintry chill with these dozen accompanied holiday classics, performed in elegant supper-club style. Members take turns soloing over chord voicings that lend themselves to comparison with the Singers Unlimited; the arrangements, (many written by Michele Weir, of Phil Mattson's P.M. Singers), can be tricky! "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer," featuring the pitter-patter of reindeer feet and a presto descending motive, varies its rhythmic accents and tempo throughout. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" has a signature walking bass, setting a relaxed four in conjunction with the lyric. In short, Santa, prepare to swing with style!

Listen to "Silent Night" in Real Audio.

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