April 29, 2009

Ben Folds Presents - University A Cappella

The talented and creative singer-songwriter Ben Folds became enamored of collegiate a cappella after hearing some of the groups on YouTube. On this release he recorded some of his favorite campus a cappella groups as they each perform one of his songs and the result is a delight. The Spartones open the disc with a stella arrangement of "Not the Same" with the Leading Tones of Ohio University giving a solid rendition of "Brick". Ben Folds himself sings a cappella (with multi tracking) on "Boxing" and the fun "Effington". Mosaic Whispers sings "Still Fighting It" with conviction while the more jazz arrangement of "Selfless, Cold and Composed" helps show why Ben Folds songs are so much fun to arrange and perform unaccompanied. The University of Chicago's Voices in Your Head perform a very interesting arrangement of "Magic" and the Newtones soothing treatment of "Evaporate" surprises. Fifth Element is remarkable performing "Fair" and the closing "The Luckiest" wraps up the recording perfectly. This release certainly shows how talented today's collegiate a cappella groups have become and although a few individual voices may not always be pitch perfect the arrangements are almost all top notch and impressive. Recommended. 1778 CD 12.95
Listen to "Effington

Posted by acapnews at 12:00 AM

April 3, 2009

Voces8 - Evensong

Voces8 has established itself as the foremost young British a cappella group, performing a varied repertoire, from popular and jazz arrangements to early polyphony. The 6-men, 2-women octet performs extensively in the UK, Europe and the US, and has been drawing reviews such as "stunning performance," "exquisite singing" and "a sound that spans the entire range of vocal color." We can only agree with this assessment in every way, and point out that after the octet's recent performance at the ACDA Convention in Oklahoma City, over a hundred people lined up at the PAC booths to buy "Evensong," and only 75 were lucky enough to get one, but we have now managed to get our hands on a bunch more from the group! 12 songs, every one an exquisite gem, so we will simply list them: British composers Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley's title tune, Al Jolson's "Me and My Shadow," Otis Blackwell's jazzy "Fever," "Gabriel's Message" (pop mix), Palestrina's soaring "Magnificat Primi Toni," Nat King Cole's "Straighten Up and Fly Right," Jerry Lieber/Mike Stoller's "Jailhouse Rock," "Good King Wenceslas," Orlando Gibbons' "O Clap Your Hands," Ben Folds' "The Luckiest," Gustav Holst's "Nunc Dimittis" and Leslie Bricusse/Anthony Newley's "Feeling Good." Be it Choral, Vocal Jazz, Pop, Classical Spiritual or whatever genre you'd care to put them in, Voces8 is one of the best a cappella groups we've ever heard. Buy "Evensong," turn the volume up or put on some fine headphones, and enjoy! 3096 CD 15.95
Listen to "Me and My Shadow

Posted by acapnews at 12:00 AM