Gold Company

Gold Company is part of the vocal jazz program, under the direction of Steve Zeegree, 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.

Discography

Absolute Integrity

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.

25

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 I¼m Around," "Take It to the Bridge," "Processional," "Dandaya" and "County Downs." Many of these are arranged by Dr. Zegree¼s students. There¼s 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

While We're Young

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 wouldn¼t think that this glorious motley of vocal music is of collegiate standing. Gold Company's "While We¼re 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

Solid

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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