Gold Company is part of the vocal jazz program, under the direction of Steve Zegree, at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The Gold Company program is widely recognized as one of the most successful and prestigious collegiate vocal jazz programs in the world. The ensembles perform a wide variety of repertoire which covers all styles in the contemporary vocal idiom. Gold Company combines the fundamental musical elements from the traditional choral style with stylistic characteristics from the jazz vernacular with an emphasis on improvisation and swing. Gold Company has appeared throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. The groups have appeared at the World Symposium on Choral Music, the national conventions of MENC and IAJE, and the divisional conventions of ACDA, as well as performing at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and the 1st Annual Ella Fitzgerald Vocal Jazz Festival.
Gold Company has also appeared with guest artists including Bobby McFerrin, Janis Siegel, Mark Murphy, Rosemary Clooney, Jon Hendricks, and Don Shelton and Bonnie Herman of The Singers Unlimited. In addition, Gold Company has had the honor of performing arrangements specifically written for the group by talents such as Gene Puerling, Clare Fischer, Darmon Meader, Michele Weir, Jennifer Shelton (an Alum!), and others. Gold Company has recorded several audio and video demo tapes for Hal Leonard Publications and Shawnee Press. Additionally, the ensemble has been awarded over 20 "deebee" awards from Down Beat Magazine.
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I Got Rhythm - Gershwin - Darmon Meader |
Dr. Stephen Zegree, concert pianist, educator and one of the most respected Vocal Jazz conductors on the planet, directs two 16-mixed voices permutations of Western Michigan's Gold Company, plus the Gold Company Band, essentially a 21-member Jazz orchestra in this 15-song, mostly-accompanied collection. Guest conductor Duane Shields Davis also directs a version of Gold Company and the Band here, as well as doing the dynamic arrangements for Rodgers & Hart's "This Can't Be Love" and Cole Porter's "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye." Other favorites are the George Gershwin standard "I Got Rhythm, a scattish, salsa take on Caesar & Youman's "Tea for Two," a pair of originals written and arranged by student Tenor Mark Jackson, "Pure Gold," "We're Here for You" and "Go For The Gold;" Gillies & Foster's power ballad "Stand Up for Love," the a cappella version of Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumblebee," arranged, of course by Ward Swingle, Bobby McFerrin's sublime a cappella "In The Garden," and the Glenn Miller Classic that bears the name of the home of Western Michigan, "I've Got a Gal in Kalamazoo." Dr. Zegree has led Gold Company in winning a fistful of DownBeat Magazine awards and a reputation as one of the most respected Collegiate Vocal Bands in the world. Every one of these cuts is as hot, or cool, as we like it, and we're sure you'll also love "Who could ask for anything more!"
Listen to "Prisoner Of Love" in RealAudio.
| 6104 CD $14.95 |
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Got To Get You Into My Life |
Gold Company is widely recognized as one of the leading collegiate and vocal jazz ensembles in the world, and "Thirty" celebrates thirty years under the direction of Dr. Stephen Zegree, the Bobby McFerrin Distinguished Professor of Jazz in the School of Music at Western Michigan University. The 15 to 16-member Gold Company performs 13 sublime jazz covers and a pair of originals, here with the very hot Gold Company Band. The originals are (founding member and arranger for The New York Voices) Darmon Meader's "And So Am I" and "Snow Samba," the Meader-arranged composition by Paquito D'Rivera and Claudio Rotiti. Other favorites are two different takes on Lennon and McCartney's "Got to Get You Into My Life," the Gene Puerling-arranged "Sweet Lorraine," Stevie Wonder's "Overjoyed," "The Jungle Book's" "The Monkey Song," the moody "Autumn in New York," Duke Ellington's "Love You Madly," Cole Porter's "So In Love" from "Kiss Me Kate" and Tamra Gray's lovely "Raindrops Will Fall." We repeat the caveat that this is an all-accompanied recording. That said, this is wonderful jazz, far beyond what one might expect from collegiate musicians!
Listen to "In My Life" in RealAudio.
| 3093 CD $14.95 |
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Just Sing I Didn't Know What Time It Was Soul Conspiracy So Danco Samba All Night Cell City Mode All I Want When Your Lover Has Gone Absolute Integrity Stompin' At The Savoy Summer Breeze The Lady Is A Tramp I Remember You Higher Purpose 100 Years |
Dr. Stephen Zegree is one of those rare directors of collegiate ensembles who is able to take that group, in this case WMU's Gold Company, to a professional level in performance and recordings. That the group is able to maintain that level through the years of constantly graduating members means, of course, that the best young jazz musicians are going to Kalamazoo to work with and learn from Zegree, When we see recordings, this only the fourth in over 25 years since the group's founding, it's cause for celebration! "Absolute Integrity" is an impressive collection of 15 songs, many of them originals by former group members, such as Justin Avery ("Just Sing," "Soul Conspiracy," "All Night," the wonderfully funky and nearly a cappella "Cell City Mode," the title tune, and "100 Years"), and Gary Fry's "Higher Purpose." Others are arranged by former members, like Matt Falkner's arrangement of Rodgers and Hart's "I Didn't Know What Time It Was," Nathan Lansing's arrangement of "Stompin' At The Savoy" and others. Our friend Gene Puerling lends a great arrangement of "I Remember You," the only pure a cappella cut, as Zegree attracts as many jazz instrumentalists as vocalists. We of course would prefer many more, but "Integrity" is still an amazing, and rare CD from one of the best collegiate ensembles in the world.
Listen to "I Remember You" in RealAudio.
| 7606 CD $14.98 |
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Panafrica Dat Dere Gotta Get Up (To Get Down) Not While I'm Around This Masquerade Tenderly A Ghost Of A Chance Take It To The Bridge Processional What Is This Thing Called Love I'll Never Smile Again Top Of The Mountain Dandaya Cool Country Dances |
Dr. Stephen Zegree directs and instructs Gold Company, the Western
Michigan University vocal jazz chorus, and the "25" refers to the 25th anniversary
of the founding of the group. There are 13 songs here, 6 of them are all or
part a cappella: "Pan Africa," the opening tune, "Not While Išm Around," "Take
It to the Bridge," "Processional," "Dandaya" and "County Downs." Many of these
are arranged by Dr. Zegreešs students. Therešs a nice variety in the arrangements
here, but a consistently high quality in the performance of the group. Dr.
Zegree is in demand internationally for his talents, Gold Company shows us
why with every amazing song.
| 4506 CD $14.98 |
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I Love Bein' Here With You Everybody's Boppin' Cheek To Cheek While We're Young Gingerbread Boy Alice In Wonderland Change Comin' Round Kick That Monkey Hoedown Poinciana Last Night When We Were Young Summertime The Music, The Magic and The Memories |
At first hearing, you wouldnšt think that this glorious motley
of vocal music is of collegiate standing. Gold Company's "While Wešre Young",
is a CD compilation of ensembles hailing from Western Michigan University, directed
by Dr. Stephen Zegree. Each song is flavored with a group of different voices
and instruments allowing for individuality and influence to play a strong force.
It is apparent that Dr. Zegree really let his students shine through with their
styles and that variety is refreshing. R & B, Latin, Southern Dixie, Showtune
Standards, Be-bop, and a little bit of Funk are all represented. This is not
a straightforward vocal CD, but incorporates a great deal of instrumentation
with the vocal ensembles. This CD is highly recommended..
| 4794 CD $14.98 |
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Oh, What a Beautiful Morning It Had To Be You First Circle Over The Rainbow Alright, OK, You Win Giant Steps Eternal Father Melancolico In A Mellow Tone Spinning Wheel Overture to "The Marriage Of Figaro" Bridge Over Troubled Water |
Under the direction of Dr. Steve Zegree, the Gold Company jazz
ensemble's accomplishments include winning more Downbeat awards than any other
university ensemble since 1993, and has been a training ground for many of the
industry's most successful professionals. With four of their previous recordings
out of print, "Solid" closes the gap. The best of those four albums, including
a cappella arrangements of Gene Puerling's "Somewhere Over The Rainbow," and
Ward Swingle's "Marriage of Figaro," equal a perfect score! Though almost entirely
accompanied, it's focus is vocal harmony, and lending their talents as singers
and/or arrangers are Darmon Meader of New York Voices, Tim Brent, Clare Fischer
and Kirby Shaw (with his daughter, Holly).
| 4793 CD $14.98 |
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