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New York Voices: Live with the WDR Big Band Cologne

By C. Michael Bailey
February 21, 2013
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New York Voices: Live with the WDR Big Band Cologne

New York Voices celebrates its Silver Anniversary with the release of the jazz vocal quartet's first completely live recording, Live with the WDR Big Band Cologne, recorded at the K?lner Philharmonie in May, 2008. Sharing a jazz ensemble field with

The Manhattan Transfer

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">The Manhattan Transfer and the

Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet

" data-original-title="" title="">Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet has in no way dampened the group's efforts to carve out its place. In fact, New York Voices has done a very effective job, doing so with authority; the group displays a versatility that has been widely remarked upon in jazz literature and is in abundant evidence here.

Backing the quartet is the 350-horsepower West GermanRadio Big Band Cologne, which has provided similar support to jazz artists as disparate as trombonist/composer

Bob Brookmeyer

trombone
1929 - 2011

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Brookmeyer, saxophonist

Maceo Parker

saxophone, alto
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Maceo Parker and singer

Patti Austin

vocals
b.1948

" data-original-title="" title="">Patti Austin. The quartet allows this fine band equal time in solos, all appropriate for the material played. The show is dynamically arranged to address a spectrum of jazz vocals and performance from the swing era to the zenith of hard bop.

The quartet covers two

Paul Simon

composer / conductor
b.1941

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Simon songs: "Baby Driver," from Simon & Garfunkle's Bridge Over Troubled Water (Columbia, 1970), given a tremendous big band treatment that incorporates much from swing era harmonies, deftly mixed with the influence of

Lambert, Hendricks & Ross

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Lambert, Hendricks & Ross; and "I Do It For Your Love," from Still Crazy After All These Years (Warner Bros., 1975), which is treated as a delicate ballad with plush orchestration and careful arrangement by

Gil Goldstein

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Gil Goldstein,

Andy Ezrin

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Andy Ezrin and the Voices. The band's famous arrangement of singer

Mark Murphy

vocals
1932 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">Mark Murphy' lyric-driven version of

Oliver Nelson

saxophone
1932 - 1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Oliver Nelson's "Stolen Moments" comes early in the set, a ten-minute tour de force featuring solos by trombonist Ludwig Nuss and alto saxophonist Heiner Wilberny. Arranged by the Voices' Darmon Meader, the piece features some great ensemble scatting before the horn solos. Very impressive.

Anchoring the performance is the group's rendition of Jimmy Van Heusen's "Darn That Dream," arranged again by Meaders, Lee Pardini, and fellow New York Voices partner Peter Eldridge, who handles the lead vocals. Also lengthy, but justified for the invention put into it, the remaining vocalists double the horns and provide continuous harmony and background vocals. Eldridge allows time for Jens Neufang to solo on bass clarinet, while Meader gives a clinic on scat before handing the reigns to trumpeter John Marshall for a low key but radioactive solo. There are other surprises to be found, including Annie Lennox's "Cold," Walter Donaldson's "Love Me Or Leave Me," and the beautifully schizophrenic "In The Wee Small Hours In The Morning." A very entertaining concert offering something for everyone.

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Track Listing

Baby Driver; Stolen Moments; Love Me or Leave Me; In the Wee Small Hours Of The Morning; Cold; The World Keeps You Waiting; Do It For Your Love; Darn That Dream; Almost Like Being In Love; The Sultan Fainted.

Personnel

New York Voices

vocals

Kim Nazarian: voice; Peter Eldridge: voice; Lauren Kinhan: voice; Darmon Meader: voice; Heiner Wilberny: alto saxophone; Karolina Strassmayer: alto saxophone; Olivier Peters: tenor saxophone; Paul Heller: tenor saxophone; Jens Neufang: baritone saxophone; Andy Haderer: trumpet; Rob Bruynen: trumpet; Klaus Osterioh: trumpet; Wim Both: trumpet; John Marshall: trumpet; Ludwig Nuss: trombone; Dave Horler: trombone; Bernt Laukamp: trombone; Mattis Cederberg: bass-trombone; Frank Castenier: piano; Paul Shigihara: guitar; John Goldsby: bass; Hans Dekker: drums.

Album information

Title: Live with the WDR Big Band Cologne | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Palmetto Records

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