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1 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 "The Chick Corea Songbook (2009) ... The Manhattan Transfer --- Four Quarters Ent." Oct 18, 2009
Four Quarters Entertainment presents "THE CHICK COREA SONGBOOK", features The Manhattan Transfer's latest release, spotlights Chick Corea's most recognizable material with an appearance by Chick Corea himself an original composition entitled "Free Samba" especially for this album --- This album which marks the quartet's first new record in five years, was inspired by the classic work of jazz great Chick Corea, and features fresh and exciting vocal interpretations of many of his popular compositions, including "Spain" and "500 Miles High." --- This release also features special guest appearances by some of the finest musicians in the industry including Christian McBride, Airto, Alex Acuña, Fred Hersch, Scott Kinsey, Gary Novack, Steve Hass, Jimmy Earl, John Benitez, Edsel Gomez and Lou Marini --- If you're a fan, this is a must have for your ever increasing music collection.
The Chick Corea Songbook (Track Listings)
1 Free Samba/Spain (I Can Recall) [5:15]
2 Prelude [3:10]
3 Spain (I Can Recall) [6:37]
4 One Step Closer (The One Step) [5:16]
5 Children's Song #15 [1:16]
6 500 Miles High [6:52]
7 Another Roadside Attraction (Space Circus) [4:21]
8 Time's Lie [3:54]
9 La Chanson du Bébé (Children's Song #1) [2:32]
10 Ragtime in Pixiland (Pixiland Rag) [1:46]
11 The Story of Anna & Armando (Armando's Rhumba) [6:15]
12 Free Samba Extended Version [8:16]
The Manhattan Transfer members are:
BIOS:
Janis Siegel
Date of Birth: 23 July 1952 - Brooklyn, New York
Date of Death: Still Living
Tim Hauser
Date of Birth: 12 December 1941 - Troy, New York
Date of Death: Still Living
Alan Paul
Date of Birth: 23 November 1949 - Newark, New Jersey
Date of Death: Still Living
Cheryl Bentyne
Date of Birth: 17 January 1954 - Mt. Vernon, Washington
Date of Death: Still Living
Hats off to The Manhattan Transfer (Producers), Yusuf Gandhi (Executive Producer, Album Concept), Alan Paul (Producer, Liner Notes, Vocal Arrangements), Chick Corea (Vocal Arrangements), Fred Hersch (Vocal Arrangements, Instrument Arrangement), Scott Noll (Engineer), Mark Wilder Mastering --- Strange feelings come over you with the labyrinthine nature of the music, which requires repeated listening for complete enjoyment --- This is definitely an artistic and technical triumph for our favorite vocal quartet -- Congratulations Manhattan Transfer on 40 years of making fantabulous music.
Total Time: 55:36 on 12 Tracks ~ Four Quarters Entertainment FRQE #1819 ~ (9/29/2009)
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 BRAVO Man Tran BRAVO! Oct 14, 2009
this new Man Tran album is inspired, energized and soulful! Without a doubt, The Chick Corea Songbook is a landmark/milestone album in the already glorious 40 year career of the planet's greatest vocal group! After all these years, they have still managed to outdo and outshine themselves!!! Bravo Tim Janis Alan and Cheryl! Soar higher!!
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
Their Best Since Vocalise Oct 07, 2009
Wow, this really came out of left field. When I first saw it in the store I said, "Yeah, of COURSE --- Transfer and Chick's tunes !!". And it works in a BIG way. Some of Chick's best known and not so well known compostions. Without a doubt their best since the landmark "Vocalise", and in my opinion the best jazz/pop/vocal recording I have heard in the last 20 years, bar NONE. It is THAT good. The arrangements (both vocal and instrumental) are spectacular. Production is IMMACULATE. Really, you won't hear a more STUNNING sounding CD anywhere. A few highlights (there are
so many) --- Alan Paul's terrific reading of "Times Lie", one of Chick's most beautiful tunes. His voice has really matured and deepened over the years. A great take on "Spain" (I like the slower tempo), and a fantastic new compostion of Chick's called "Free Samba" that really cooks with some dizzying vocal harmonies. Cheryl Bentyne's gorgeous reading of "500 Miles High" will leave you open-mouthed. Over and out with a hot latin version of "Armando's Rhumba" with great lyrics and a spirited performance by Janis Siegel. This recording has inspiration, class, and excellence written all over it. And given the state of the current music scene, that is saying a LOT. Do yourself a big favor. GET THIS. NOW.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Vocalese-Z Duz It Oct 06, 2009
Vocalese is a style or genre of jazz singing wherein lyrics are written for melodies that were originally part of an all-instrumental composition or improvisation.
Whereas they may not have invented the genre (credit Eddie Jefferson for that), or are most closely associated with it (that would be Lambert, Hendricks and Ross), but Cheryl Bentyne, Tim Hauser, Alan Paul and Janis Siegel - collectively known as The Manhattan Transfer - have almost single-handedly (and four-voicedly) kept Vocalese alive during the last quarter-century.
Beginning with their 1985 album called Vocalese, which received 12 Grammy nominations, they have generally included one or more vocalese songs on almost every one of their albums. Now they have gone back to a complete CD of vocalese, this time with "The Chick Corea Songbook" and in the process have recorded their most energetic, engaging collection in years.
After nearly 40 years together their harmonies are effortless and flawless and the brilliance of their vocal musicianship still mesmerizes and awes. The choice of songs by Chick Corea, suggested by Executive Producer Yusuf Gandhi, has provided the group with its most challenging material in years and they have gleefully risen to the occasion which each member submitting lyrics to complement the wonderfully eclectic selection.
If you are a fan of The Manhattan Transfer or vocalese, as I am, you will love "The Chick Corea Songbook."
If you are not familiar with either, try "The Story Of Anna & Armando (Armando's Rhumba)" the lyrics of which tell the true story of Chick Corea's parents, "Time's Lie," one of several songs featuring brilliant pianist Fred Hersch, "500 Miles High" with its delicious flute solo from Lou Marini, the wonderfully arranged "Another Roadside Attraction (Space Circus)" and "Free Samba" which opens and closes the CD and features Chick Corea himself. I think you'll thank me that you did.
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Best new work by MT in a long time Oct 02, 2009
It's been a long time since The Manhattan Transfer has put their vocalese chops to work. Their most recent album Vibrate was ok, but lacked the spark of their earlier works. With this new album they've gone back to what separated them from all of the rest of the vocal jazz groups out there. Trademark close harmonies and vocalese that is unparalleled are the hallmarks of The Manhattan Transfer, and this album is no exception. Free Samba and Times Lie are excellent examples of this.
My only criticism of the album is one of the same issues I had with the Vibrate album. Everything seems to be 10-20 Beats Per Minute too slow. Their rendition of Spain* (I Can Remember) is a good example. It's a song that has all the makings of greatness, wrecked by a plodding beat. Even the patter sections of a song like Ragtime In Pixiland seem to be weighted down.
All in all, after 40 years The Manhattan Transfer is still able to make great music.
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