January 31, 2011

BR6 - Musica Popular Brasileira A Cappella

Five man, one woman Brazilian quintet BR6 is back, and we are very, very happy to hear it! This impossibly smooth, talented, incredibly arranged a cappella group wowed us with their first album, "Rio A Cappella," then again with a stellar cover album, "Here To Stay." Now we hold in our hot little hands "Musica Popular Brasileira A Cappella Vol. II," (basically, a cappella covers of Brazilian Pop Music), with all the liner notes and song titles in Spanish, and we're sitting here with headphones on, just digging on all this sweet, sexy, salsa-flavored a cappella music! 12 songs, including one of our favorite Idea of North covers, "Mas Que Nada," a jazzy, vocal instrumental song called "Surfboard" that would make the Swingles proud, some silly, fairly wonderful faux horns on "Diexe a Manina," the haunting "Beijo Partido," the vocal percussion and faux horns Jazz gem "Nao Vou Ficar," the breezy, bluenote "Retrato da Vida" and "Eu Quero um Samba," which is impossible not to dance to! Every cut here is big fun, great jazzy stuff, and it didn't even cross our minds that we didn't understand the words. Don't miss this long-awaited collection from one of South America's best! 6054 CD 16.95
Listen to "Deixe a Menina

Posted by acapnews at 12:54 AM

January 21, 2011

Cantus - That Eternal Day

All male, 9-voice Contemporary Christian a cappella ensemble Cantus, acclaimed by Fanfare as the "premier men's vocal ensemble in the United States," rehearses and performs without a conductor or a music director. "Deep River," Cantus' 2003 album of African-American Spirituals, was so well-received, the group realized that "Singing, in this land we call America, has its roots firmly planted in sacred music." They tells us that the very first book published in the colonies was a Psalter, published in 1640. Tenor Aaron Humble reports, "We were excited to explore the bold shapes and sounds of colonial music and learn how we could juxtapose this unique soundscape with more familiar sacred works like Paul Manz's "E'en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come" and Moses Hogan's "Witness."" There are 18 songs here, including some surprising, wonderful cuts like Bobby McFerrin's "The 23rd Psalm (dedicated to my mother)," William Billings' "Anthem, Lamentation Over Boston," the composer's attempt to deal spiritually with the burning of Boston by the British in the American Revolution, its world premiere recording. Other world premiere recordings are "There's a Meeting Here Tonight" arranged by Cantus, "Simple Gifts" arranged by Stephen Caracciolo," "What Have I Done" ("Amazing Grace/House of the Rising Sun," and "Keep Your Lamps," both arranged by Timothy Takach, "Run On (God's Gonna Cut You Down)", arranged by Gary Ruschman, "Been in the Storm" arranged by Cantus, "The Sweet By and By," arranged by Aaron Humble; and "Paradise," arranged by Malcolm Dalglish. Every cut here touches and moves, surprises and delights us—don't miss "That Eternal Day," one of the best of the year! 6042 CD 15.95
Listen to "E'en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come

Posted by acapnews at 12:10 AM