Vocal Jazz Group Recordings

Ray Charles Singers : Something Wonderful & Rome Revisited

Review: Ray Charles (not the more familiar R&B recording star, but longtime arranger and vocalist for Perry Como and his "Perry Como Show"), knew quite a lot about entertainment and how to put together a vocal ensemble and get the most out of them. This re-release is a bright, sweet, sincere collection of pop tunes and Broadway hits, as innocent, upbeat, schmaltzy, silly and entertaining as mainstream variety shows were in the mid-to-late 60's.

Songlist: Misty, These Foolish Things, Embraceable You, Goodbye, Vieni, Vieni, Tell Me That You Love Me, Volare, Non Dimenticar, Traveling Down A Lonely Road, Ferryboat Serenade (Funiculi-Funicula), Nina, East Of The Sun, No Voce, Na Chittara,, Woodpecker Song, Summertime In Venice, Santa Lucia, My Old Flame, Paradise, For All We Know, Soft Lights And Sweet Music, I'm Over Here, Don't Blame Me, My Ideal

Ready, Willing and Mabel : Busy Line

Review: "Busy Line" is the second excellent album by talented, mixed voice (2 men, 2 women) Vocal Jazz group R,W&M, who first came on to our radar with their wonderful set at the 2005 Harmony Sweeps Bay Area Regional. The LA-based retro quartet, who have been singing together since 2003, feature lead Caroline Mclean, alto Kate Walker, tenor Peter Neushul and bass Jim Campbell has taken the place of fellow "chord freak" Robert Clark. 15 nostalgic favorites, beginning with a "Fascinating Rhythm/Steppin' Out with My Baby" medley, the Gershwins' haunting "Shadow of Your Smile" from "The Sandpiper," Freddie Mercury's big fun Roaring 20s reprise "Seaside Rendezvous," Cole Porter's "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye," and another nice medley, "Let's Go to Brazil/The Gift," which has some non-vocal percussion and bass, and Cahn, Chaplin & Lunceford's "Rhythm is Our Business" is big band-accompanied. Irving Berlin's upbeat "Blue Skies," Bloom & Gallup's bluesy "Maybe You'll Be There" and Leonard Bernstein's "Some Other Time" round out the program. Murray Semos and Frank Stanton's title tune has some non-vocal bass and percussion, and Mandel and Bergman's "Where Do You Start" has some bluenote Saxophone. An entertaining, authentic (even down to the vintage clothing worn by the group in the liner notes pix), sweet-harmonied trip to another era from Ready, Willing & Mabel!

Real Group : Best Of - (Allt Det Basta)

Review: Well what can be say about a Best Of CD from quite possibly the best a cappella group in the world? How about Wow! Amazing! Incredible! We could go on but suffice to say this is a must have a cappella CD for any fan of unaccompanied vocal harmony. With twenty tracks this is long, sublime listening experience that fully covers the breath and depth of this fabulous Swedish quintet. There are four new tracks including an Anders Edenroth arrangement of "Man e Man" and a touch of Spain in the closing audience favorite "Granada". Plus, to add to the joy, there are two brand new arrangements of the now classic "Chile con Carne" and the divine, entrancing "Li'l Darlin'" The Real Group is the best selling artist in the Primarily A Cappella catalog and we very quickly expect this to to become our best selling CD ever. We hate to be pushy, (honest) but you really, really should Buy This CD!

Songlist: Chili Con carne, Substitute For Life, Dancing Queen, Li'l Darlin', Flight of the Foo Birds, Commonly Unique, Kristallen den fine, Alla Talar Med Varandra, A Cappella i Acapulco, Att Angora en Brygga, Varfor far man inte bara vara som man ar?, Cage Of Promises, En Sommer, Man e Man, Vem kan Segla.., Ett Liv for Mig, Lift Me Up, Telephone Talking, Underbart ar Kort, Granada

Real Group : Commonly Unique

Review: Sweden's Real Group began sixteen years ago, singing in Swedish. Subsequent recordings produced what some consider definitive versions of classic American jazz standards, as well as what became staples of the Real Group repertoire, such as "Chili Con Carne" and "Acappella in Acapulco." Their previous release, "One For All," saw the group focusing on original material, written in English. "Commonly Unique" continues the focus on self-written compositions, and though the unmistakable clarity and tone that instantly identifies their sound is there, this is just as much an adult contemporary record as it is jazz. The use of effects processing to enrich the sound, especially on the vocal percussion and bass, adds a modern edge and feel. "Substitute for Life," a commentary on the ill effects of television, melds a relentlessly cheery chorus with the dire incantation of the verse, all driven by an energetic trip-hop beat. "Thousand Things" will be a new Real Group classic, returning to warmly familiar jazz territory with an inspired melody and brisk tempo. The nuanced musing of "Stay" features a vocal trumpet, subtly marking the tonal landscape. Pretty ballads such as "Song Of Love," "Long Way To Go" and "Love And Let Go" are glossy pastiches, sweetly delectable and easy to digest. "Commonly Unique" is aptly titled, and will bring together both old and new fans of the most gifted a cappella vocal jazz group performing today.

Songlist: Substitute For Life, Telephone Talking, Commonly Unique, Thousand Things, Run, Run, Run, Love and Let Go, Stay, Lift Me Up, Big Bad World, Song Of Love, Cage Of Promise, Long Way To Go, Eyes Of A Child

Real Group : Debut

Review: This album is the first by The Real Group (recorded in 1987) as you might suspect from the title. It was recorded with two microphones straight to a two-track tape deck with no mix down. Amazing! They are already so good you won't realize that fact by the most critical listening. What dynamic balance! The original release was a vinyl edition of 2500. In 1995 that early recording was rereleased on cd and given the appropriate title, Debut. Of the thirteen tunes, three are sung in Swedish, while the rest are the types of familiar covers that we've come to expect, "All Of Me," "Misty," "Li'l Darlin'," "Night And Day," "As Time Goes By," "My Romance" and "Who Put The Bomp," among others. It's a must for anyone who is following the career of this extraordinary group.

Songlist: All of Me, Misty, Joy Spring, Coffee Calls For A Cigarette, Medgon Knsliga Fr Grnt, Blues For Alice, Li'l Darlin, Night and Day, As Time Goes By, Båtlåt, My Romance, Vårsång, Who Put The Bomp (In The Bomp Ba Bomp Ba Bomp)

Real Group : Get Real

Review: A Korean import, this CD is similar to the Real Group's earlier release, 'Unreal,' with a few very exciting differences. If you've ever looked at their sheet music collection published by 'Walton,' you may have stumbled upon a song called 'How Come Its So Hard To Be The Way You Are?' If you've listened to a decent amount of their Swedish repertoire, you would have learned that the song is actually the English version of 'Varfor Far Man Inte Bara Vara Som Man Ar?' But where can you find the English version of this song? Look no further, its on 'Get Real.' A few other new highlights to this CD are a studio version of 'Strawberry Fields Forever,' their award-winning cover of 'Dancing Queen,' and you'll get to hear English lyrics added to 'For The One I Love.' All three of these additional tracks show off the group's virtuoso ability to create a vocal accompaniment that you will swear sounds more like other instruments rather than the human voice! While you may have heard many of the tracks on this CD before, this is a must have for all Real Group fans worldwide!

Songlist: A Cappella in Acapulco, A Child is Born, Dancing Queen, Wait and See, How Come It Is So Hard To Be The Way You Are, What Are You Doing for the Rest of Your Life?, For the One I Love, Flight of the Foo-Brids, Love Is Meant For Everybody, Come Together, Strawberry Fields Forever, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Kristallen Den Fina

Real Group : Live In Japan

Review: "Live music is a powerful thing" says the opening sentence of this recording's liner notes and for The Real Group it is especially true. Recorded in April 2013 at the intimate jazz club Billboard Live Club in Osaka and Tokyo, this superb recording showcases the stunning voices and sublime arrangements that make the Real Group one of the very best in the business. Some of the songs on the recording have been in their repertoire for awhile but have never been recorded before by current group members Emma and Morton. They bring a fresh new interpretation of the material and its wonderful to hear how these old favorites have developed. There is also plenty of new material such as "Lucky Luke", the Daft Punk song "Harder Better Faster Stronger", the swingin' "Gee! Mine or Mozart's?" and Michael Jackson's "Bad". This reviewer has had the great pleasure of hearing the Real Group perform live and this recording helps relive the experience and for those of you who have not heard them live now here's your chance. The physical CD comes with a lovely color booklet chock full of photos and musings from the group members.

Songlist: Gota, Pass Me The Jazz, Nature Boy, Lucky Luke, Bad, Hellosong, A Life For Me, Catching The Big Fish, Harder Better Faster Stronger, Gee! Mine or Mozart's?, Love's Forever, Love's For You, For Me, For Now, Words, Julfemman, Mister Father, Count Basie Medley

Real Group : Live In Stockholm

Review: Wah-wah-wa-wa-wahao, and so we dive into the beginning of "Splanky," that classic of wordless scat with the driving jazz chords which usually need the accompaniment of a big band to be so effective. Yow! Ok, ok, lets quiet it down with the subtle vocal intertwining of "When I Fall In Love." And now give them a medium tempo, combo feeling, with "Good Bait." Thus a great performance takes the audience though successive tempo changes, moods, and by a recording lets those of us who never had the chance to see the live Real Group experience that. They are so polished that it is easy to forget this is live until the end of each song reminds us of the audience. Every Real Group fan should have this one.?

Songlist: Splanky, When I Fall In Love, Good Bait, Lil darlin', There Will Never Be Another You, Night and Day, Waltz For Debby, 'Round Midnight, I've Found A New Baby, Come Sunday, Strawberry Fields Forever, Den Lysnande Maria

Real Group : Nothing But The Real Group

Review: We can't start with superlatives when describing the Real Group's work. Our thesaurus isn't infinite. Suffice it to say that they are the premiere jazz a cappella group in Sweden. Well, maybe in Europe. Ok, ok, in the world. They open with a choral scat introduction as they launch into an upbeat "It Don't Mean A Thing." Stevie Wonder's "Sir Duke" never had it so good. Sweet and slow harmonious interplay is the texture of "When I Fall In Love." Don't drift off into a reverie because (pow!) here's the well known "Chili Con Carne," and so we are alternately jazzed and beguiled by a dozen great tunes, all in English.

Songlist: It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Sir Duke, When I Fall in Love, Chili Con Carne, God Only Knows, As Rain, Drive My Car, There Will Never Be Another You, Come Sunday, Very Early, I'm With You, Everybody Needs Somebody to Love

Real Group : One For All

Review: The Real Group have set a standard, indeed the standard, as the royalty of a cappella vocal jazz. From their youthful beginnings at the Academy of Music in Stockholm, where they acquired the prodigious technical expertise that has since become their trademark, to their current reign as best-selling recording artists, the Real Group has earned widespread recognition and acclaim. In keeping with this tradition, they have released "One For All," containing fourteen mostly original songs, written and sung in proficient English. "I Sing, You Sing," about that song that you just can't seem to get out of your head (and it makes you crazy!) has a simple melody that outlines the triads in bell-like tones; like a nursery rhyme, it is easy to remember and impossible to forget. The ethereal "Three Poems" adapts the verse of Emily Dickinson, the traditional "Vem Kan Segla Fvrutan Vind" features a harmonica solo that compliments the melancholy melody. "One Summer" is one example of many that illustrates why the group is so successful: perfect pitch and arrangements that challenge and cajole the ear combine to produce a sound without compare. This is the vocal jazz release of the year.

Songlist: We're Five, For My Lady, The Venture Of Living, I Found The Key, Walking Down The Street, Hard To Say Goodbye, The Wonderful World Of Sports, I Sing, You Sing, Splanky, A Word, Simplicity, The Lost Jewel, Vem kan segla forutan vind, Small Talk, One Summer, Swedish Hit Medley

Real Group : Original

Review: When musicians totally create their own work rather interpret the songs others have written they naturally embellish their own harmonious strength. Thus it is on Original, in which the tunes are so naturally sung that they become as familiar as standards before they are finished the first time! That is the response of your enthusiastic reviewer who knows not a word of Swedish in which the songs are sung and the notes are written. There is a quiet beauty infusing this whole album which will beguile you into listening to it again and again.

Songlist: Alla talar med varandra, en sommar, stå och se på, ett liv fr mig, hon som jag vill va, jag vill va med dig, somna min vn, vart har alla gentlemn tagit vgen, gå frbi dig sjlv, kp dig ett ord, nu, bara vi

Real Group : Roster

Review: As we join the Real Group this time we are treated to the Swedish version of Anders Edenroth's "A Cappella I Acapulco." Listen to the mouth popping percussion! Fabulous. On this album all the songs are sung in Swedish, which, for those of us who don't, is a perfect opportunity to just listen. No meaning to distract from sheer musical pleasure. Thus we are simply stunned by the impossibly beautiful vocal trumpet throughout "Somna Mitt Barn," hey wait a minute, is that a real trumpet? Even sans Swedish, the musical humor of "Styrman Karlssons Ùventyr Med Porslinspjsen" brings a smile. Great!

Songlist: A Cappella in Acapulco, Somna Mitt Barn, Vid Stranden, Sakta Vi Ga Genom Stan, Den Jag lskar, En Gang I Stokholm, Berattelsen om Bertril, Varfor Ar Louise Sa Blyg?, Jag Vet En Dejlig Rosa, Nygammal Vals, Styrman Karlssons Aventyr Med Porslinspjasen, Pippi Langstrump-Potpourri

Real Group : The Best - Tour Souvenir Album

Review: Much like the Swedish release 'Allt Det Basta' this Korean import shows the Real Group at their best! It does have a few of the same titles, like the exciting new versions of 'Chili Con Carne,' 'Li'l Darlin' and their version of ABBA's 'Dancing Queen,' but it also has some other titles not previously presented on the same CD. Including 'Big Bad World,' 'I Sing You Sing,' the live version of 'Splanky,' the Beatles' classic 'Come Together,'and 'Bara Vi' to name a few! Focusing mostly on their contemporary tunes, this CD would be a great pick for a first time listener of this sensational Swedish vocal quintet!

Songlist: Chili Con Carne (New version), Substitute For Life, Big Bad World, Walking Down The Sreet, I Sing You Sing, Vem Kan Segla Forutan Vind, Splanky (Live), Alla Talar Med Varandra, Bara Vi, Flight of the Foo-birds, Dancing Queen (With Frida of Abba), A Cappella In Acapulco, Come Together, L'il Darlin' (New version), Man E Man (Live), Granada

Real Group : The Middle Of Life

Review: The A Cappella world is abuzz with the good news: the release of "The Middle of Life," The Real Group's much-anticipated new CD. Even better, "Life" is all new, all originals, all studio and all in English! Anders Edenroth writes the music and lyrics to "Prime Time Blues," a funky, saucy romp that features the title phrase and some state-of-the-art vocal percussion and mock horns, his "Words" is a lyrical, rhythmic masterpiece, "Friendship" has Anders singing a mellow, soaring lead, and his "The Grass Grows Greener" is an instant jazz standard with his voice adding a muted, precise tone. Peder Karlsson writes the understated, bluesy "Mister Father," his "Are You Coming To Me" is a salsa-flavored fiesta tune featuring Katarina on lead, "A Quiet Song" features Peder's slow, bluesy voice, and "Gota," featuring Peder and Katarina, has a simple, meandering melody that builds in intensity to symphonic proportions. Margareta Jalkeus writes "Spring Is Coming" and has a nice, soaring solo riff that becomes a dreamy scat sequence, and has a moody, mysterious lead on her "My Hidden World." Katarina Henryson writes "I Tried," shares writing credits with Anders on the ironic, pop-ish "A Perfect Life," and her bluenote alto on her "Given" is sweetly profound. So much talent here - we find ourselves listening to this CD again and again to appreciate just how far the a cappella envelope has been pushed, and comparing the genius and musical focus of the individual composers. Simply put, "The Middle of Life" is a masterpiece, an unexpected gift from Sweden to be unwrapped and savored on many levels!

Songlist: Prime Time Blues, Mister Father, Words, Spring Is Coming, I Tried, Friendship, Are You Coming To Me?, The Grass Grows Greener, My Hidden World, A Perfect Life, A Quiet Song, Given, Gota

Real Group : The Real Album

Review: When you're good, you're good and the Real Group are as fantastic as ever. Not only do they have some of the best voices in the business along with some of the most fascinating and creative arrangements they also sure know how to write a song! Here we are treated to a collection of original songs which absolutely demonstrate as to why few people would disagree with the statement that The Real Group is the most talented a cappella group performing today. The compositions are all in English, are all new and offer an array of styles including their classic sound on "Pass Me The Jazz" and "Flying High", a country song "A Minute on Your Lips", the vocalese "Gee! Mine or Moe's Art?" (G Minor Mozart) and the beautiful ballad "Anna's Song". The delightfully intelligent lyrics are refreshing with "Modern Man" and "Nostalgia World" being particular standouts. Our opinion of this group grows with every listen as every track is a gem that you will want to savor over and over again.

Songlist: Bumble Bee, Pass Me The Jazz, A Lifetime Takes A Lifetime To Fulfill, Nostalgia World, Lay It In My Hand, A Minute On Your Lips, The Modern Man, The Window That Leads To Your World, A Little Kindness, Anna's Song, Flying High, Gee! Mine Or Moe's Art?

Real Group : The Real Thing

Review: Now, why do we love the Real Group so much? One of the many reasons is they have vocally mastered just about every music genre out there... and this CD proves just that! Many of these songs might be familiar to the die-hard Real Group fans out there, but unless you've seen them in concert you probably have not heard them sing their rockin' version of the Beatles' 'Ticket To Ride'or the beautiful melody and the lush background harmonies in 'Song From The Snow.' Also, when you purchase this CD you'll be treated to an additional disc that you can pop in your DVD player and watch them sing 'Ticket to Ride,' 'Splanky,' 'No More Blues' and a few other fun tunes, in a live recording! Don't miss this CD!

Songlist: Ticket To Ride, Dancing Queen (New recording), Ris a'la Malta, Att Angora en Brygga, Walkin', Skylark, Body and Soul, Kristallen den Fina, Commonly Unique, The Wonderfful World of Sports, Var Hat Alla Genytlman Tagit Vagen, Boogie Woogie Tango, Song From The Snow

Real Group : Unreal

Review: Whee! "The Flight Of The Foobirds" is chock full of delicious scat, "A Cappella In Acapulco" is not only alliteratively alluring but it will have your feet tapping for sure. "A Child Is Born" is nothing short of unreal! Hmm, there's a recording title there somewhere. The vocal trumpet on that one tune is plenty of reason enough to listen to Unreal! about a hundred times. It doesn't seem possible. What we have here is one of two cds released only for the Canadian and U.S. markets which includes some of the very finest of The Real Group. In addition to the dozen tunes sung in English, there are two Swedish folk songs. No, no, neither the Beatles nor Hoagy Carmichael is Swedish but Anders Edenroth is, and shares three originals with us including the aforementioned "A Cappella In Acapulco."

Songlist: Flight of the Foo-Brids, Walkin', A Cappella in Acapulco, A Child is Born, Come Together, Wait and See, Skylark, I've Found a New Baby, What Are You Doing for the Rest of Your Life?, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Body and Soul, Kristallen Den Fina, Jag Vet En Dejlig Rosa, For the One I Love

Real Group : Varfor Far Man Inte Bara Vara Som Man Ar?

Review: Again, we are behind in our Swedish lessons and must rely on our ears and hearts to enjoy this 1994 release. Do you realize that it's been ten years since the Real Group got together! It seems like only yesterday. Their horizons are continually expanding. That title track is rock 'n roll or my name isn't This Reviewer. Hey who slipped in the piano on that one track? That sounds suspiciously like Maurice Chevalier. Familiar to our ears are "Dancing Queen." The total scat and bass rendition of "The Flight Of The Foo-Birds" is extra special! "Boogie-Woogie Tango" in Swedish? Yes, right here!

Songlist: Monicas Vals, Varfor Far Man inte Bara Vara Som Man Ar?, Vanta Och Se, I En Tavla Utav Zorn, Underbart Ar Kort I, Underbart Ar Kort II, Flight of the Foo-Birds, Sa Skimrande Var Aldrig Havet, Sommar Och Vinter, Den Flinska Klochan, Ensam Hemma, Boogie Woogie Tango, Du Ar Det Vackra Jag Ser I Mitt Liv, Dancing Queen

Royal Bopsters : Party of Four

Review: A master class in the art of vocal jazz and vocalese, Party of Four demonstrates the dazzling possibilities of four voices coming together as one. Bopsters Amy London, Dylan Pramuk, Pete McGuinness, and the late Holli Ross (to whom the album is dedicated) are joined by guest lead vocalists, NEA Jazz Master Sheila Jordan (91 years young) who delivers a delightful rendition of "Lucky to Be Me" and NEA Jazz Master, the late Bob Dorough. Party of Four displays the group's stunning facility to swing deeply and sing passionately while navigating incredibly precise four-part harmonies.

Songlist: But Not For Me, On A Misty Night / Gipsy, How I Love You, Lucky To Be Me, Why'd You Do Me the Way You Did, Day Dream, Cuando Te Vea, Baby, You Should Know It, Our Spring Song, Rusty Dusty Blues, Infant Eyes, My Shining Hour

Royal Bopsters : Royal Bopsters Project

Review: The Royal Bopsters Project is a multi-generational vocal summit on which the talents of Amy London, Darmon Meader, Holli Ross and Dylan Pramuk unite to pay tribute to the art of setting lyrics to melodies originally written as instrumental compositions or improvisations. Their homage to vocalese is made even more exceptional with the contributions of the legendary singers who make guest appearances on the album: NEA Jazz Masters (and Grammy Award-winners) Jon Hendricks and Annie Ross; NEA Jazz Master Sheila Jordan, Arkansas Hall of Famer and Schoolhouse Rock mastermind Bob Dorough and six-time Grammy nominee Mark Murphy.

Songlist: Music in the Air (Wildwood), On The Red Clay, Peace, Basheer, The Snake and The Mirror, Senor Blues, Invitation, Bird Chasin' (Chasin' the Bird), Music is Forever, Bebop Lives (Boplicity), Just Step Right Up, Nothing Like You Has Ever Been Seen Before, Let's Fly

Sacramento State Vocal Jazz Singers : It's You

Review: Four different parts of Sacramento (CA) State's dynamic Jazz Studies program, all under the direction of Kerry Marsh, are represented on "It's You," C-Sus, Jazz Singers, Take 6 Repertory Ensemble and a 12-person Rhythm Section, which accompanies most of the 10 tunes. The student personnel of C-Sus changes as the recordings were made in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Favorites here include three written by Kerry Marsh (who also does all the arrangements), the electric "Lee's Summit," moody "Strange New World," and bluenote "So In Love;" the title tune by Kitty Margolis, and two a cappella songs, "Scarborough Fair" and upbeat "I've Got Life." We find ourselves continually impressed by the professionalism, poise and talent of the Sacramento State singers. And we have to credit Director Marsh for the great arrangements and striking original material to be found on these recordings-this is especially true for "It's You!"

Songlist: Lee's Summit, Scarborough Fair, I've Got Life, Strange New World, Never So In Love, It's You, Seven Steps to Heaven, I Want You Back, Please Come Back (To Stay), Travels (Travels On By)

Singers Unlimited : Feelings

Review: Happiness is listing to a Gene Puerling arrangement as sung by these maestros. Sit back and soak it in. Enough said!

Songlist: Sleep Loved, We Could Be Flying, I'm Shadowing You, Where and When, Feelings, Impossible, Wave, So Many Stars, Ecstasy, She Was Too Good To Me, Look Around, Invitation, You've Got A Friend, The Trouble with Hello is Goodbye, Laura, Where Is The Love?, Eventide, We've Only Just Begun

Singers Unlimited with Oscar Peterson : In Tune

Review: A Classic Reissued! Legendary vocal group The Singers Unlimited, for their third album on Germany's MPS label, recorded a collaboration with the Oscar Peterson Trio. Grammy-winning arranger Gene Puerling wrote the charts and the musicians recorded this remarkable session in 1971 at the storied Villingen studios in the Black Forest. The then latest breakthroughs in studio technology, and the masterful engineer and MPS Records owner Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer, allowed the artists to overdub vocals creating the layered vocals the Singers Unlimited are famous for. Using a sixteen-track deck Brunner-Schwer had bought for the occasion, the group layered on chords, melody lines and solos which we often sung in four or eight part pieces that were later assembled almost magically. The CD sleeve includes rare photos from the session plus both the original LP liner notes and extensive new notes, including many new quotes from Puerling, by noted jazz musicologist James Gaven. A gem of a recording!

Songlist: Sesame Street, It Never Entered My Mind, Children's Game, The Gentle Rain, A Child Is Born, The Shadow of Your Smile, Catherine, Once Upon a Summertime, Here's That Rainy Day

Sixth Wave : Happy Madness

Review: It was a quick jump for these 3 men and 3 women from Los Angeles from the founding of their Vocal Jazz group in 1999 to realizing their dream of appearing in the Harmony Sweepstakes competition. Sixth Wave won the 2001 L.A. Harmony Sweeps Regionals, and then they found themselves on the stage of the National Finals in San Rafael, where they performed an incredible set and were named Harmony Sweeps National Champions! A pair of excellent CDs followed, "Sixth Wave" and "It Will Come to You," and now we hold their long-awaited third album, "Happy Madness" in our hot little hands. Fourteen songs, and it's not easy to pick favorites. We'll start with the title tune, the New-York-jazzy "This Happy Madness," a bubbly, crazy, romantic delight; the surprising, joyful "Verlieben, Verlieren," sung in perfect German, a pair of nice original by group member Jennifer Barnes, "Life's Too Good to Sing the Blues" and the surprising, brilliant "Meet Us (Intro);" James Taylor's sublime "Another Grey Morning;" the moody "Kindred Souls (Cerebral Thoughts)," with lyrics by Jennifer, a scattish arrangement of "This Joint is Jumpin';" a pair of originals by group member Greg Jasperse, "Voice Dance IV" and "Oh How Beautiful This Finely Woven Earth;" and a wonderfully arranged cover of Stevie Wonder's "You Haven't Done Nothin'." "Happy Madness" is a joyous little jazz masterpiece from one of our favorite mixed-voice Vocal Jazz sextets!

Songlist: Headlock, Life's Too Good To Sing The Blues, Another Grey Morning, West Point, This Happy Madness, Verlieben Verlieren, Meet Us (intro), Love Will Keep Us Together, Nessun Dorma, This Joint Is Jumpin', Kindred Souls (Cerebral Thoughts), VoiceDance IV, You Haven't Done Nothin', Oh How Beautiful This Finely Woven Earth

Sixth Wave : It Will Come To You

Review: The talented three men and three women from Los Angeles who call themselves Sixth Wave first got together in 1999 with the worthy goal of singing in the National Harmony Sweepstakes. To their surprise and our delight, they won the 2001 Finals, and they accomplished their second goal of recording their first excellent CD that same year. Appearing with the luminaries of the a cappella world, The Bobs, Rockapella, Swingle Singers, m-pact and The Perfect Gentlemen, they went to work on "It Will Come to You," their second CD, containing collaborations with Gabriel Mann, Joe Bob Finetti and Michelle Weir, as well as their first three original tunes, Gerald White's "You'll Always Remember the Song," Cindy Bourquin and Gerald's title tune, and a jazz tune by their friend Kent Carlson, "She's Been Around The Block." We have to say right off that "It Will Come" is the best jazz CD we have heard in a long time. From a stellar arrangement of Sting's "Fragile," a sweet cover of the manic jazz chestnut "Twisted," and absolutely nailing Aerosmith's rock anthem "Dream On," to incredibly arranged covers of "Strange Magic," Santana's "Oye Como Va" and a "William Tell Overture" cover that would make not only the Swingles but Rossini himself look over his shoulder, this CD is unbelievably good. The jazz classic "Jeannine," with vocal percussion by Joe Bob, totally soars, and an "Earth, Wind and Fire Medley" that incongruously includes Lennon/McCartney's "Got To Get You Into My Life," with the EWF disco hits "September," "After The Love Is Gone" and "Sing A Song," has to be heard to be believed. We loved Sixth Wave at the finals, and we love this CD!!

Songlist: It Will Come To You, Fragile, Twisted, Dream On, Oye Como Va, Strange Music, William Tell Overture, She's Been Around The Block, You Are There, Jeannine, Eart, Wind and Fire Medley, You'll Always Remember The Song

Sixth Wave : Sixth Wave

Review: OK, so they didn't spend big bucks on the cover art. The bottom line is, Sixth Wave is great! First a sweet cover of the 5th Dimension's "Grazin' in the Grass." Listen to the scat singing on "Gimme That Wine," and you'll wonder why we didn't classify SW under Jazz (we're still on the fence on that one). Then we're treated to the soaring melodies of "Icarus," our favorite cut. Oingo Boingo's "Stay" will have you boogying to the rock-solid vocal percussion. Then a moody, Vox-One-ish "Vincent" features a stellar lead by soprano Cindy Bourquin. Boogie time again with "Pick Up the Pieces," with guest vocal percussionist vitamin g, and great scat by baritone Gary Rosen. 4 Beatles tunes: A jazzy "Blackbird" flies circles around everyone else who ever recorded the song. You'll see "Baby You Can Drive My Car," "Tell Me Why" and "Yesterday" in a whole new light. We loved "Cloudburst," the final tune. Not surprisingly they won the LA regional, and you can see them at the Finals May 5th. Fresh, surprising-you'll love this CD!

Songlist: Grazin' in the Grass, Gimme That Wine, IcarusGary Rosen, StayElin Carlson, Vincent, Pick Up the Pieces, Taki Rari, Blackbird, You Can't Use My Car, Tell Me Why, Yesterday, Cloudburst

SoVoSo : Bridges

Review: 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.

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

SoVoSo : Then and Now

Review: 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 SoVoSo has been to us, Then and Now!

Songlist: 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

SoVoSo : Truth And Other Stories

Review: What happens when you get six lead singers to perform in one group? You get SoVoSo. 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!

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

SoVoSo : World Jazz A Cappella

Review: 1997 Harmony Sweepstakes Winners, SoVoSo alsowon 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 Mi" and Rhiannon's "Say A Prayer." Oh heck, all of them!

Songlist: 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

Stripped : Breaking Boundaries

Review: "Breaking" is the debut album of three-woman, two-man quintet Stripped, who have performed their dynamic original vocal jazz music throughout Chicago, receiving awards at the Chicago Cultural Center Cx2 competition and at the 2004 Harmony Sweeps Regionals. Of these seven original tunes, the breathless, scattish "Strip It Down," "Flavaday," the moody, mysterious "Lullaby Moon," the funny, manic "I Don't Want to be Kissed" and the bluesy "All Good That Ends Well" are all written and composed by group member Sean Archer; "Its Time" and "Bring It, Life!" are written and composed by group member Mariama Torruella. Stripped has a wonderfully sophisticated, smooth sound with complex, sometimes dissonant harmonies that are effortlessly nailed by these talented singers. "Breaking Boundaries" is a fine debut recording, some of the best vocal jazz and original material we have heard in a long time. If you love fresh, intense vocal jazz, put on Stripped, and your seatbelt!

Songlist: Strip It Down, Flavaday, Lullaby Moon, Bring It, Life!, I Don't Wanna Be Kissed, All Good That Ends Well

Swingle Singers : Anyone For Mozart, Bach, Handel, Vivaldi?

Review: This is the second CD which, along with Jazz Sebastian Bach, are the rereleases of the early Les Swingle Singers who were a world renown phenomena. Ward Swingle's original intent had been to sing exact vocal versions of big band classics. All of the original octet had been classically trained musicians, most with perfect pitch. They sang Bach merely for practice to improve their sight reading and musicianship.The idea of 'swinging it' (jazzing it up) came later after the bass and drums were added. This fortuitous evolution leaves us with a wonderful compilation of "Swingleized" works by Mozart, Handel, Vivaldi and Bach, mostly Mozart's and Bach's work.

Songlist: Sonata No. 15 (Mozart), Ah! Vous Dirais-Je Maman (Mozart), Allegro (Sonata No.14, Mozart), Fugue (Sonata No. 37, Mozart), Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (Mozart), Badinerie (Bach), Air (Harpsichord Suite In E, Handel), Gigue (Cello Suite In C, Bach), Largo (Harpsichord Concerto In F, Bach), Prelude No. 19 (Well Tempered Clavier, Bach), Preambule (Partitia No. 5 in G, Bach), Fugue (Estro Harmonico, Op.3, No.11, Vivaldi), Prelude No. 7 (Well Tempered Clavier, Bach), Solfeggietto (Bach), Der Fruhling (Bach), Prelude No. 24 (Well Tempered Clavier, Bach)

Swingle Singers : Beauty and the Beatbox

Review: After 44 years of performing in concert and recording, the 2007 version of the Swingles are often asked how the group has changed. The answer is, slowly and naturally they have begun to add vocal percussion, which has made an exciting and indispensable impact on their live shows - and now on "Beauty and the Beatbox," the first Swingles disc where every track contains vocal percussion or human beatboxing. Shlomo, awe-inspiring beatboxer and a great friend of the group who was invited to join the group for an appearance at the London Jazz Festival in 2006, has a major and exciting presence on the album. Included in these 11 tracks are longtime Swingles favorites like "A Fifth of Beethoven, which segues into disco samples (LaBelle's "Lady Marmalade" and the BeeGees' "Stayin' Alive"), "Spain," "Adagio in G Minor," "Bolero," "Cielito Lindo," a hot cover of "Straighten Up and Fly Right" (which has some very fine faux horns), and "Piano Concerto No. 21, 2nd mvt." Besides adding a rich bass dimension to the sweet Swingles leads, Shlomo's beatboxing adds a fresh, irreverent, sassy note to this familiar material that we find very appealing-this is fun, sexy, jazzy, let-it-all-hang-out stuff. Listen to the Starsky & Hutch theme "Gotcha," Ward Swingle's arrangement of Lambert, Hendricks & Lewis's "It's Sand, Man!", and the final cut, the dynamic "Bachbeat," to get a taste of the funky, tasty new Swingles.

Songlist: A Fifth of Beethoven, Spain (I Can Recall), Dido's Lament, It's Sand, Man!, Adagio in G Minor, Bolero, Cielito Lindo, Straighten Up and Fly Right, Piano Concerto No 21, 2nd mvt, Gotcha (Theme from 'Starsky & Hutch'), Bachbeat

Swingle Singers : Ferris Wheels

Review: The Swingles, the mixed-voice world-class, multiple Grammy-winning, legendary a cappella octet from London and one of our favorite Vocal Jazz groups of all time, originally broke into the Jazz scene of 1963 because of Ward Swingle's innovation. He handed his group of session singers charts for an instrumental, Bach's "Well-Tempered Clavier," which led to their double Grammy hit album "Bach's Greatest Hits." There is this kind of innovation and artistry on "Ferris Wheels," which comes from the Joni Mitchell hit "Both Sides Now" ("Moons and Junes and Ferris Wheels, the dizzy, dancing way you feel"), the second of 12 wonderfully crafted songs on the album. The ethereal "Unravel," James Taylor's lazy-day, bluesy "On the 4th of July," the exquisite French adaption of the theme from "Summer of '42," "L'Ete 42," Nick Drake's stunning bluenote "River Man," Sting's powerful, waltzlike "Until," and a symphonic arrangement of Lennon/McCartney's "Eleanor Rigby" by group member Kevin Fox (who also sings lead on it). David Freeman and Joseph Hughs' "No More I Love Yous," Stevie Wonder's "Summer Soft," Billy Joel's "Goodnight My Angel" and Brian Wilson's "God Only Knows" are all beautifully arranged and performed. "Ferris Wheels" is a masterpiece by the Swingles that touches and satisfies on many levels. One of the best Jazz/Pop albums of the year and highly recommended!

Songlist: Unravel, Both Sides Now, On the 4th of July, L'ete 42, River Man, Until (A Matter of Moments), Elanor Rigby, No More "I Love You's", Flying High/ Wake Me Up When September Ends, Summer Soft, Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel), God Only Knows

Swingle Singers : Going Baroque

Review: Ward Swingle's Swingle Singers were formed in 1962, and stepped into the vocal jazz spotlight bigtime with the success of their first album, which was based entirely on Ward's groundbreaking vocal scat interpretations of the works of Johann Sebastian Bach. On this their second album, seven of the 12 tunes are again by Johann - but to the Swingles, their homage could only be complete if they included by works of Johann's family and friends, composers who viewed Bach as their Master. Thus we are treated to the marvelous vocal gymnastics of the Swingles on pieces by Bach's two sons, Carl and Wilhelm, Handel (spelled "Haendel" in the liner notes) and Vivaldi. We are immediately drawn into the surprising power of Bach's "Badinerie" where the voices, accompanied by light, driving jazz snare drum, dance like frantic, harmonic dragonflies over the surface of a pond for a minute and 19 seconds and then are gone. Also fun and fast-moving are Bach's "Praeambulum," and "Solfegietto in C Minor," Handel's "Allegro" and Vivaldi's "Fugue."Particularly sweet and melodic are Bach's "Largo," based on his harpsichord concerto, and Wilhelm F. Bach's "Der Fruehling." It's easy to see why the Swingles created such a sensation with their voices-as-orchestra, push-the-envelope style, which sounds as fresh and revolutionary today. We would like to imagine Bach and friends in a heavenly music room, putting on headphones and grooving on this hip homage to their music!

Songlist: Badinerie - Johann Sebastian Bach, Aria And Variations: "The Harmonious Blacksmith" (Handel), Giga- Johann Sebastian Bach, Largo (Bach), Prelude No. 19 In A Major (Bach), Praeambulum (Bach), Fugue (Vivaldi), Allegro (Handel), Prelude No. 7 In E Flat Major (Bach), Solfegietto In C Minor (CPE Bach), Der Fruehling (Spring) WF Bach), Prelude No. 24 In B Minor (Bach)

Swingle Singers : Jazz Sebastian Bach Vol II

Review: This CD is a real treat for Swingles fans, as well as those just getting turned on to them, the original French Swingle Singers, featuring Ward himself doing all the arrangements and singing with the group! For those who are new to the Swingles, these are classic Bach pieces performed incredibly, unbelievably by voices only, singing in a seamless "scat-singing" style. Since their first record these 8 singers became, if possible, even more polished and refined in the years that separated the two volumes the Swingles were voted "Best Vocal Group in the World" several times. These are some of their best-known works: from the Fugue in G Major for organ, to the Concerto in D minor for 2 violins, the Choral from the Cantata BMV 147 to the Prelude in C major. Don't be misled by the names, this is all a cappella, with the exception of almost imperceptible drums. In the liner notes we find fascinating little odds and ends about the 10 pieces and such details as an "Ave Maria" being slipped into the score here or there. But know that this is marvelously original and inventive music and that the Swingles have remained true to the spirit that Bach instilled in his works, a profoundly human fervor and a joyously optimistic faith. As we know Johan Sebastian would, enjoy!

Songlist: Vivace, Prelude and Fugue No. 10 in E minor, Choral, Gavotte, Prelude and Fugue No. 1 in C major, Fugue in G major, Adagio, Prelude and Fugue No. 3 in C sharp major, Choral, Fugue No. 21 in B flat major

Swingle Singers : Keyboard Classics

Review: A compilation recording featuring the best of Swingles' past and present. The Swingles are a top attraction at concert halls throughout the world, and their purely vocal arrangements of famous works from composers such as J.S. Bach, Handel, Mozart, Vivaldi, Brahms, Beethoven and Satie are a Swingles trademark. They were a sensation when the group first popularized the concept in the 1960's. Half of the arrangements on this CD are by founder Ward Swingle, including "Fugue In D Minor" and "Clair De Lune," with the remainder balanced between Ben Parry, Jonathan Rathbone, Mark Williams, Andrew Gray and current musical director, Joanna Forbes. The four male and four female voices that animate these hallmarks of European classical tradition have a modern grace and elegance, and the sound is spacious, open and fluid. These are new a cappella recorded versions of the classic repertoire.

Songlist: 'C Major Praeludium', Prelude in F Minor, Largo, Three-Part Invention, Fugue in D Minor, Fugue in E Minor, 'Harmonious Blacksmith' Variations, Fugue (from the Estro Harmonico, op.3, no.11), Rondo alla Turca, 'Moonlight Sonata', Prelude (op.28, no.4 in E Minor), Etude (op.25, no.9), Hungarian Dance No. 5, Clair de Lune, Golliwog's Cake Walk, Gymnopedie No.1

Swingle Singers : Live In Japan

Review: The Swingle Singers, Ann De Renais, soprano 1, Joanna Forbes, soprano 2, Sarah Simmonds, Alto 1, Wendy Nieper, alto 2, Andrew Gray, Tenor 1, Richard Eteson, Tenor 2, Jeremy Sadler, Bass 1 and Patrick Ardagh-Walter, Bass 2, and this is another of their very popular live albums. We can feel ourselves in the audience in December 2000, the elusive "tingle factor" in the air, as the group takes 21 classic tunes and proceeds to nail them, as only the Swingles can, one by one: "September Song," "Alabama Song," "Mack The Knife," "Someone's Rocking My Dreamboat," "Largo," "Badinerie," "Air on the G String," "Ticket to Ride," Procul Harum's "Whiter Shade Of Pale," "Ave Maria," "The Fool on the Hill," Queen's amazing "Bohemian Rhapsody," "Little Drummer Boy," "Away in a Manger," "Christmas Medley," "Amazing Grace," "White Christmas," "Intro to 1812 Overture," "1812 Overture," "September Song," "Thank You" and "Theme from Mission Impossible." Great music, incomparable singing!

Songlist: September Song (Weil - Anderson), Alabama Song (Weil - Brecht), Mack The Knife (Weil - Brecht), Largo, Badinerie (Bach), Air On The G String (Bach), Ticket To Ride, A Whiter Shade Of Pale (Procul Harum), Ave Maria (Gounod - Bach), The Fool On The Hill, Bohemian Rhapsody (Mercury), Little Drummer Boy (Davis), Away In A Manger (Traditional), Christmas Medley (Smith - Gillespie), Amazing Grace (Traditional), White Christmas, Introduction To 1812 Overture (, 1812 Overture (Tchaikovsky), Thank you, Theme From Mission Impossible (Schifrin), Someone's Rocking My Dreamboat

Swingle Singers : Mood Swings

Review: The Swingles' discography boasts a stylistic diversity unmatched by any other a cappella group--from Mozart to madrigals, Bach to the Beatles, folk songs to fugues and film themes, but "Mood" focuses on their forte: jazz. These eight gifted singers have a symbiotic relationship with some of the best arrangers in the world, Ward Swingle, Bertrand Groeger, Alexander L'Estrange, Jonathan Rathbone and others. "Mood" begins with Miles Davis's "So What," which is followed by a brilliant selection of 1960s Latin jazz, "Surfboard," Jobim's "Insensatez" and "The Girl From Ipanema" (The best version we've heard), and "Milonga del Angel." Three moody jazz ballads, "A Time For Love," "The Peacocks" and "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" follow. Then three Richard Rodgers classics, "Have You Met Miss Jones?," "My Funny Valentine" and "The Lady Is A Tramp." Then come four classic 30s and 40s standards: "Just One of those Things," "My Foolish Heart," "All The Things You Are" and "It Don't Mean A Thing," finishing with Quincy Jones' 1966 hit, "Soul Bossa Nova" (from Austin Powers). Our favorite is the stunning 60s Latin Jazz section, which we hope they devote a whole CD to, but every song is a finely-crafted jewel. "Mood Swings" swings us into a jazz mood and never lets us go. Listen to the vocal trumpet solo on "The Lady Is a Tramp"--it's almost unnecessary, because the soprano voices are already doing soaring jazz trumpet riffs throughout the song. This is breathtaking proof of our contention that the Swingles are the best at whatever style they choose to sing - simply perfect! Highly recommended.

Songlist: So What, Surfboard, Insensatez, The Girl From Ipanema, Milonga del Angel, A Time For Love, A Timeless Place, What Are You Doing For The Rest Of Your Life?, Have You Met Miss Jones?, My Funny Valentine, The Lady is a Tramp, Just One Of Those Things, My Foolish Heart, All The Things You Are, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Soul Bossa Nova

Swingle Singers : Pretty Ring Time

Review: Pretty Ring Time is a repertoire chosen from many of the songs that the Swingle Singers knew and loved growing up. All the composers are English from the early 20th century with the exception of one song, "Sally In Our Alley," written by the group's director and second tenor, Jonathan Rathbone. Most of this music was meant to be performed by piano and voice but lends itself wonderfully well to the group's capacities. The composers are Peter Warlock, Ivor Gurney, George Butterworth, Gerald Finzi, Frank Bridge and John Ireland. The lyrics are from Shakespeare, Tennyson, Shelley, Masefield, A.E. Houseman, Thomas Hardy and other notables of English letters whom the composers had set to music.

Songlist: Pretty Ring Time (Warlock), Rest, Sweet Nymphs (Warlock), Fair And True (Warlock), The First Mercy (Warlock), Twelve Oxen (Warlock), Cradle Song (Warlock), The Salley Gardens (Gurney), I Will Go With My Father A-Ploughing (Gurney), Sleep (Gurney), Love Went A-Riding (Bridge), O That It Were So (Bridge), The Lads In Their Hundreds (Butterworth), Look Not In My Eyes (Butterworth), Sally In Our Valley, Sea Fever (Ireland), If There Were Dreams To Sell (Ireland), The Heart's Desire (Ireland), Rollicum-Rorum (Finzi), Fair House Of Joy (Quilter), Now Sleeps The Crimson Petal (Quilter), Love's Philosophy (Quilter), Come Away Death (Quilter), O Mistress Mine (Quilter), Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind (Quilter)

Swingle Singers : Retrospective

Review: This recording is a celebration of forty years of arguably the world's most famous and longest-running a cappella group. The current mixed-voice octet has gone back to its roots, teaming up with a world-class jazz rhythm section for this live CD to recreate both the look and sound of the original Swingles as it performs the greatest hits of the 60s and 70s, beginning and ending, of course with the composer on whose music the group was founded, J.S. Bach. The first part of the program includes 4 Bach gems, then 4 from Mozart's "Ein Kleine Nachtmusik and 3 Spanish romantic pieces like J. Rodrigo's "En Aranjuez con tu amor." Marvelous arrangements of Cole Porter's "Just One of Those Things" and Gershwin's "Fascinating Rhythm" delight us and the crowd. We get a glimpse of the Swingle's future, "Dejeuner sur l'herbe" by Parisian composer Pascal Zavaro, who is currently writing an opera with the group. As always, breathtaking, brilliant stuff from the Swingles! Highly recommended.

Songlist: Fugue in D Minor (from 'The Art of Fugue' BWV 1080 by J.S. Bach), Air (from Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major BWV 1068 by J.S. Bach), Largo (from Harpsichord Concerto in F minor BWV 1056 by J.S. Bach), Badinerie (from Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor BWV 1067 by J.S. Bach), Eine Kleine Nachtmusik Op. K.525 by W.A. Mozart:, -Allegro, -Romanze, -Menuetto, -Rondo, En Aranjuez con tu amor (based on mvt. 2 of 'Concierto de Aranjuez' by J.Rodrigo), Tango in D major (No. 2 from 'Espana' Op. 165 by I. Albeniz), Romanza Espanola, Just One Of Those Things, Fascinatin' Rhythm (by G. Gershwin / B. Russo / J. Hendricks), Sinfonia (from Partita No. 2 in C minor BWV 826 by J.S. Bach), Solfeggietto (Wq. 117/2 by C.P.E. Bach), Dejeuner sur l'herbe (by Pascal Zavaro)

Swingle Singers : The Joy of Singing

Review: This is a remastered reissue of the 1972 release of Les 4 Seasons "Le Printemps" and is classic Swingle Singers.

Swingle Singers : Ticket To Ride

Review: While the Swingles first won acclaim for their arrangements of Bach fugues, they have been performing Beatles songs as part of their live concerts for many years. Though Ward is no longer part of the eight-voice mixed ensemble, he acts as musical advisor, and the group continues on, revitalized by fresh new talent. A record of all-Beatles material is surely a natural! The aural landscape designed by the Beatles, with George Martin at the helm, is ably reproduced here, entirely a cappella, of course. Some adaptations swear almost complete allegiance to the originals, but others, such as "Norwegian Wood," embellish with subtle, yet distinct tonal flavors. The tempo of "Lady Madonna" is gently suppressed, with harmonic emphasis on the seventh. "All My Loving" is a sweetly earnest ballad. "Ticket To Ride" shows the Swingle Singers ready to meet the 21st century, with a winning mix of the old and the new.

Songlist: Ticket To Ride, Penny Lane, Revolution, Day Tripper, Norwegian Wood, Birthday, Lady Madonna, Yesterday, Strawberry Fields Forever, Drive My Car, Blackbird / I Will, When I'm Sixty-Four, The Fool On The Hill, All My Loving, I Am The Walrus, Goodnight

Swingle Singers with The Modern Jazz Quartet : Place Vendome

Review: This is an absolute classic Swingle Singers recording and a must for every collector. Ward and his singers collaborated with the The Modern Jazz Quartet on this fabulous recording and was a big hit when it was released in 1966.j

Songlist: Sascha (Little David's Fugue), Aria, Vendome, Ricercare 2 to 6, Dido's Lament, Alexander's Fugue, Three Windows

Syncopation : Wonderful You

Review: Mixed Vocal Jazz quartet Syncopation represented Boston well at the recent Harmony Sweeps Finals in San Rafael, CA, winning a strong ovation from the sellout crowd for songs like the sweet, soaring "High and Dry," which is here on "Wonderful You." There are 9 songs here, our favorites are the a cappella songs, Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now" and the aforementioned "High and Dry." Of the others, "Invisible War," lightly piano-accompanied, is very nice, as are the more heavily accompanied songs "Breakout," "I Can Fly," the title tune (from The Big Chill), Lennon/McCartney's "Broken Wings" the Motown tune "Betcha By Golly, Wow" and "Getaway." Beautiful leads, harmonies and arrangements, but let us once again make it clear that "Wonderful You" is mostly an accompanied album.

Songlist: Breakout, I Can Fly, Wonderful You (Big Chill), High and Dry, Invisible War, Broken Wings, Betcha By Golly, Wow, Getaway, Both Sides Now

Three Hits and A Miss : Mixing It Up

Review: Minnesota-based Swing/Pop/Jazz quartet 3 Hits and a Miss, founded in 1995, really come into their vocal power with "Mixing," their third excellent CD. Return with us now to the 1940s (covers of the Turtles' "Happy Together," the 5th Dimensions' "Up, Up and Away/Aquarius," the Mamas and the Papas' "California Dreamin'" and Lennon/McCartney's "Nowhere Man" and "Got to Get You Into My Life" notwithstanding)--this is wonderfully crafted "high-fidelity" harmony. The afore-mentioned covers fit in beautifully because they have the kind of beautiful melodies that could have been hits in the 40s. All accompanied, these 12 hits just keep on comin': "Bounce Me Brother with a Solid Four/Four," "Pop Goes the Weasel," "Goody Goody," "Glow Worm," "Dream" and bonus track, Woody Guthrie's "This Land is Your Land." This CD is big fun from start to finish, and 3 Hits and a Miss are having it--they prove that they can sing with the best of any musical period!

Songlist: Bounce Me Brother With A Solid Four (Raye, Prince/Davis), Nowhere Man (Lennon McCartney), Happy Together (Bonner, Gordon), Pop Goes the Weasel, Goody Goody (Malneck, Mercer), Glow Worm (Incke, Robinson, Mercer), Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Psychadelic Flashback, Up, Up and Away / Aquarius (Webb/McDermott, Ragni, Rado), California Dreamin' (Phillips, Gilliam), Dream (Mercer), Got to Get You Into My Life, This Land Is Your Land (Guthrie)

UNC Vocal Jazz Ensembles : Hot IX: United Jazz Artists

Review: Master director and educator Gene Aitken of the famed University of Northern Colorado's Jazz Studies Program shows off three of his best groups on "Hot IX," mixed-voice jazz quintet the Axidentals, who are accompanied by a hot jazz band on 8 songs like Duke Ellington's "Caravan," Paul Simon's "You Can Call Me Al" and Kurt Weil's "Mack the Knife," also perform one nice a cappella cut, "Quiet Now." 3-men, 3-women a cappella ensemble Et Cetera then gives us nice covers of "Singing In The Rain," Harold Arlen's "If I Only Had a Brain" and Randy Crenshaw's "Scat Blues in C." All woman jazz quartet Sus 4 finishes with a hot accompanied cover of Dizzy Gillespie's "A Night in Tunisia," a moody a cappella cover of "For All We Know," and accompanied covers of "We" and Gloria Estefan's "Get On Your Feet." This is another strong, spirited collection from these 3 great UNC jazz ensembles.

Songlist: Bam Bam Bam, Caravan, A Sleeping Bee, Quiet Now, You're Nobody, Got to Get You Into My Life, You Can Call Me Al, Mack the Knife, Ray Idea, Singin' In The Rain, If I Only Had A Brain, Scat Blues in C, A Night In Tunisia, For All We Know, We, Get On Your Feet

Various Artists : Amazing Voice 2007

Review: If you love a cappella vocal jazz then this CD is for you. These four groups from four countries are certainly some of the top vocal groups performing today and this compilation features some of their best songs. The Real Group (Sweden), Idea of North (Australia), M-Pact (US) and Rajaton (Finland) are highly regarded by aficionados and this recording is a great introduction to the genre.

Songlist: Amazing Voice Song, A Cappella in Acapulco, Singin' A Cappella, Fantasy, Butterfly, Words, Almost Like Being in Love, The Wild Song, Thou Shalt, You Need to Know, A Life for Me, Salty Water, Isn't She Lovely

Velvet Voices : Essence

Review: Founded in 2002, all-women Dutch Vocal Jazz quartet Velvet Voices has been appearing in some serious European and international events, like the 2003 Voice Mania in Vienna, the Jeunesse-the largest German a cappella festival in Munich), and they won the Jazz Gold at the international "Ward Swingle Awards." There are 11 finely-crafted tunes on "Essence," the group's 5th excellent album, some wonderful covers like Lennon/McCartney's "Come Together," Duke Ellington's "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," Cy Coleman's "With every breath I take," Freddie Mercury's "You take my breath away," Brown, Sutton and Brody's "Stop," a fine faux trumpet solo on Harold Arlen's "Somewhere over the rainbow," Jones and Wilder's "A child is born," and Paul Jabara and Paul Shaffer's "It's raining man." There's also a pair of very nice originals by group member Gerda, the moody "Try to remember" and "Quarter to five," and one original by group member Monika, the title tune. Each of these beautiful young women can easily sing perfect solos and leads, so even a difficult, dissonant piece like "A child is born" comes off as effortless, and the harmonies are clean, sharp and on perfect pitch. Even a powerful rocker like "It's raining man," which is reprised as a surprise bonus cut with amped-up vocal percussion, is cleanly nailed both times with no sweat. The voices here are so perfect, the sound so effortlessly clean, we had to listen to it again just to fully appreciate it. "Essence" is a gift for the ears by the Velvet Voices, who have, in a very short time, risen to a level attained by only a few elite Vocal Jazz groups, like the Real Group, Vox One and the Swingle Singers. Treat yourself to one of the best of the year!

Songlist: Come Together, Don't Get Around Much Anymore, With Every Breath I Take, Try to Remember, Quarter to Five, You Take my Breath Away, Stop, Somewhere over the Rainbow, A Child is Born, Essence, It's Raining Men, Surprise

Vocalogy : Distilled

Review: Arising from an artist-in-residency program under Grammy-nominee Phil Mattson, who recorded their debut CD with them, "Is God a Three-Letter Word for Love?," and now self-directed, "Distilled" is Vocalogy's 3rd excellent CD. "Distilled" is an all jazz-band accompanied collection of 13 jazz standards and originals, some favorites: Charles Mingus/Joni Mitchell's tongue-in-cheek "Dry Cleaner from Des Moines," smoky-jazz arrangements of Lennon/McCartney's "Oh Darlin'," and Leonard Bernstein's "Some Other Time," a latin treatment of "Just Friends," two Jimmy Van Heusen classics, "It Could Happen to You" and "I Thought About You," Rachmaninoff's "Piano Concerto #2" turned into a bluenote lament, a sassy, upbeat "Groove Merchant," a stark arrangement of Paul Simon's "Old Friends," and, despite our interest in the local Giants, David Frishberg's "Dodger Blue." As we've noticed in a number of cases, Phil Mattson's musical progeny are unfailingly outstanding, and vocally, all accompaniment aside, Vocalogy is right up there with the best in jazz!

Songlist: Dry Cleaner From Des Moines, Black Orpheus, Oh Darlin', Nutville, Some Other Time, Just Friends, It Could Happen To You, I Thought About You, Theme From Piano Concerto #2, Groove Merchant, Old Friends, Time Is A Healer, Dodger Blue