The Ritz
The Ritz is a unique quartet in that it is comprised of four vocal music teachers, each from a different school district. Since winning the Pioneer District Quartet Championship in l984, The Ritz has gone on to the International Quartet Competition of theSociety for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA). In July of 1991 they became the international champions while representing the Johnny Appleseed District. Since the barbershop society doesn't allow its international champions to re-enter competition, The Ritz has focused on making performance tours and studio recordings. The quartet has regularly performed throughout the United States and Canada and has been the featured entertainment aboard Caribbean and Hawaiian cruise ships. In the fall of 1994 they were featured on the nationally broadcasted PBS special, "Keep America Singing" and again in March of 1996 on the "World's Largest Concert." Their concert tours have taken them to Great Britain, New Zealand and Australia.
Group members: Jim Sisler, Doug Nichol, DJ Hiner, Ben Ayling.
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Puttin' On the Ritz Moonlight Becomes You You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby I'm A Train There Will Never Be Another You Happy Medley Where Is the One? No, No, Nora A Little on the Lovely Side Champ's Medley I Think It's Gonna Be A Great Day Misty In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree Mammy Medley |
The four men of The Ritz, 1991 SPEBSQSA International Quartet champs, are one
of the classiest acts in the Barbershop world. "Puttin'" is like a "Best of
The Ritz" cd: the title tune, "Moonlight Becomes You," "You Must Have Been A
Beautiful Baby," "I'm a Train," "There Will Never Be Another You," "Happy Medley,"
"Where Is the One?," "No, No, Nora," "A Little On the Lonely Side," "Champ's
Medley," "I Think It's Gonna Be A Great Day," "Misty," "In the Shade of the
Old Apple Tree" and "Mammy Medley." The intricate harmonies, ringing chords,
great songs--this is a feel-good, sing along, classy CD from one of Barbershop's
best.
Listen to "No, No,
Nora" in Real Audio.
| 5382 CD $14.98 |
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1991 International Gold Medalists the Ritz have released this CD commemorating
their thirteen years together, and it is winsome and wonderful indeed. Containing
such favorites as "On The Sunny Side of the Street" and "Camptown
Races," the quartet also applies their melliflous tones to the bittersweet
"Tell Me on A Sunday" and the heartwarming "Teach the Children
to Sing," (including a chorus of children's voices). Several of the songs
were arranged by Walter Latkzo and two by Ed Waesche. The group's adept performances
convey their mastery of this challenging genre.
| 5106 CD $14.98 |
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You Can't Play Sweet Adeline On No Piano Moonlight Bay I Found The End Of The Rainbow Chopped Liver Landlord, Fill The Flowing Bowl Caroline Five Foot Two/Somebody Stole My Gal Louisville Lou Java Jive Jenny Brown I Can't Get Started Lida Rose/Will I Ever Tell You? Poor Man Lazarus It's Time Now To Go |
Wonderful singing and a sense of humor abounds in the performance of The Ritz.
These 1991 International Champions begin with a tune which sounds normal until
you listen closely and your ear gets caught by a close harmony warble. Mixing
award winning normalcy with tunes the likes of "Chopped Liver" (sung
to the tune of "Moon River") will leave you eagerly awaiting, normal
or ab? We have vocal horn breaks on the Old English "Landlord, Fill the
Flowing Bowl," and a cover of the Smothers Brother's "Jenny Brown"
mixed in among a wider variety of serious selections than one normally finds
from such exalted medal winners.
| 5011 CD $14.98 |
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Dixie Medley Swingin' On A Star When I Grow Too OLd To Dream The Whiffenpoof Song When The Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along Thanks Fot The Memory Gee, But I Hate To Go Home Alone Rosie Medley Jule Styne Medley Big Bad John Now Is The Month Of Maying Rigoletto Quartette What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor? When You And I Were Young, Maggie Elmer Fudd Medley |
We don't know if its possible, but to our ears The Ritz sound even tighter
on this recording. Perhaps it is the perfection of the ringing final chords
which punctuate "Swingin' On A Star," "The Whiffenpoof Song,"
or the "Elmer Fudd Medley." Elmer Fudd? Yes, Elmer tackles his favorites.
As you might guess, low humor is not lacking on this release but there is a
sophistication (sort of) found on the song "Rigoletto Quartette."
Once again they choose an Old English piece, this one by Thomas Morley, "Now
Is The Month Of Maying" to extend the stylistic horizons beyond the formal
barbershop competition songs, "Dixie Medley" and the like. It's a
recording of Champions!
| 5014 CD $14.98 |
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It's the Most Wonderful TIme of the Year Coventry Carol Christmas Time Is Here I Just Wanna Be Your Santa Claus Pat-a-pan Children's Medley Silent Night God's Blessed Son Today Is Born Masters in This Hall Still, Still, Still Got Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen A Special Night Myn Lyking Santa Claus Is Coming to Town What Child Is This Jingle Bells O Come, O Come, Emmanuel The Christmas Song Deck the Hall What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? |
1991 SPEBSQSA champions The Ritz have produced 20 holiday confections for your
aural consumption. From the expected "Silent Night" and "Jingle Bells," to Praetorius'
"God Blessed Son Today Is Born" and the fifteenth-century "Myn Lyking" (featuring
a string quartet) the arrangements aren't strictly barbershop. "God Rest Ye
Merry Gentlemen," arranged by Greg Volk, adds countermelodic movement to its
vertical seventh harmony, and when the Ritz swings into "I Just Want To Be Your
Santa Claus" or "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town," which are exactly the Society
arrangements we expect, it's jingle, jingle, all the way!
| 5015 CD $14.98 |
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