1. Darn That Dream
2. The World Keeps You Waiting
3. In the Wee
Small Hours of the Morning
4. On a Clear Day
5. For All We Know
6. Love You Madly
7. As We Live
and Breathe
8. No Moon At
All
9. Chamego (Betty's
Bossa)
10. Noticing
the Moment (Moment’s Notice)
11. Don't You
Worry 'bout a Thing
12. Stoned Soul
Picnic
13. A Day Like
This
14. Jackie
New
York Voices: Kim Nazarian, Lauren Kinhan –
Vocals; Darmon Meader - Vocals, tenor sax;
Peter Eldridge – Vocals, piano
Bob Mintzer - Bass clarinet (track 1)
Andy Ezrin – Piano (tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, 8,
10, 11,13, 14)
Paul Nowinski – Bass (tracks 1-4, 6-11, 13,
14)
Marcello Pellitteri – Drums (tracks 1-4, 6-11,
13, 14)
Jay Ashby – Percussion, trombone (tracks 2,
4, 7-11, 13, 14)
Mike Tomaro – Alto sax, baritone sax (tracks
4, 8, 10, 11, 14)
Frank Greene – Trumpet, flugelhorn (tracks
4, 10)
Gil Goldstein – Accordion (track 7)
Jim Guerra - Alto sax (tracks 8, 11, 14)
Eric DeFade - Tenor sax (tracks 8, 11, 14)
Jim Germann - Baritone sax (tracks 8, 11,
14)
Steve Hawk, Joe Herndon, Steve McKnight, Ralph
Guzzi – Trumpets (tracks 8, 11, 14)
Bob Matchett, Clayton DeWalt – Trombones (tracks
8, 11, 14)
Chris Carson – Bass trombone (tracks 8, 11,
14)
Marty Ashby – Guitar (tracks 8, 9, 13)
Paquito D’Rivera – Clarinet (track 9)
Lucas Ashby – Pandeiro (track 9)
Chuck Loeb - Guitar (track 11)
Ben Wittman – Percussion (track 12)
Choral
groups are fairly numerous in jazz – and most
of them have their own take on things. The
Mills Brothers supplied their own backings
for their quartet vocals, often imitating
instruments; Lambert, Hendricks & Ross
sang new lyrics to old jazz tunes; the Four
Freshmen perfected warm harmonies which influenced
such groups as the Beach Boys; Sounds of Blackness
added soul and gospel influences to their
rich harmonising; Take Six developed a cappella
singing to new heights; and the Swingle Singers
do all sorts of amazing things with their
voices.
The
vocal quartet called New York Voices has learned
from many of these groups but they have their
own distinctive style – often using one voice
to carry the melody while the others provide
support, and also employing a variety of instrumentalists
to help in accompanying them. This new album
gets plenty of variety by using a number of
guest musicians – notably Bob Mintzer on bass
clarinet in Darn That Dream; vibist
Dave Samuels adding a touch of the George
Shearing Quintet to Love You Madly;
Mike Tomaro’s muscular baritone sax on No
Moon At All; Paquito D’Rivera’s shimmering
clarinet in the Latin-flavoured Chamego;
and Chuck Loeb playing Wes Montgomery-style
guitar on Don’t You Worry ‘bout a Thing.
It
is not only the guests who supply suitable
accompaniments. The two male members of the
group display their instrumental talents on
some songs. Peter Eldridge imparts sensitive
piano to such tracks as For All We Know,
while Darmon Meader’s tenor sax enhances several
tracks. Variety is increased by the use of
different vocal styles: mingling solos, choruses,
unaccompanied passages, vocalese and scat
to fine effect. The four vocalists also contribute
four original songs, of which my favourite
is As We Live and Breathe, co-written
by Lauren Kinhan and Eve Nelson, with Lauren
singing the lead vocal radiantly against a
lovely background. The only slight disappontment
of the album is Don’t You Worry ‘bout a
Thing which (despite - or perhaps because
- of its big-band arrangement by Don Sebesky)
cannot quite match the classic Sergio Mendes
version of this Stevie Wonder song – although
that is judging by the very highest standards.
Despite
having won two Grammy awards during their
20-year career, New York Voices may still
be unknown to many music devotees. If this
is the first you’ve heard of them, I advise
you to get this album. If you’ve heard New
York Voices before, the same advice applies!
Tony Augarde
CD Reviews
MCG Jazz
MCGJ 1031
