Mansound a cappella vocal ensemble

Mansound Jazz

ManSound celebrates the versatility of the human voice. Their harmonious accordance, amazing vocal skills, rich timbre palette, emotion and naturalness make the group a favorite among admirers of high-quality vocal music. They have received recognition by audiences and music critics all over the world. ManSound, an a cappella sextet from Kiev, Ukraine, got its start in 1994 as an idea of composer and arranger Vladimir Mikhnovetsky. The group consists of experienced professionals and it is a permanent participant of international jazz festivals and concerts.

From the very first performances of ManSound at concert venues in Ukraine, the interest towards the group has been increasing, as well as its popularity. The group got a hearty welcome at jazz festivals and concerts throughout the country. Since 1997, ManSound has been a sought-after guest at jazz festivals like, “Jazz Voices” (Moscow) and “Jazz Province”(in more than 10 Russian cities), and have been rewarded with well-deserved popularity in Russia.

ManSound began touring in 1996, when the group traveled to the United States for six weeks, performing with great success in universities and evangelical churches. They gave several dozen concerts in four states on the West Coast. In December of 1998, ManSound held a series of Christmas concerts in Holland and Switzerland. And in April 1999, ManSound performed with great success at the 7th International Jazz Festival “Jazz en Artois” (France). In February of 2000, ManSound performed at one of the biggest jazz events in the USA, the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, following the invitation of Lionel Hampton himself. They also performed in 2002 and 2003, delighting the participants of their daily workshops and crowds of 5000 at the nightly performances. After their first appearance, Dr. Lynn Skinner, director of The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, said that ManSound was the hit of the jazz event.

During the summer of 2001, Mansound performed in Branson Missouri as part of the Zhivago Show. They were nominated for Best Vocal Group by Branson's All-American Entertainment Awards. "This performance is one of the best kept secrets in Branson. On a scale from one to ten, I would rate this at twelve. This has to be one of the freshest talents to perform in the Ozarks in many years. Their ability and talent speak for itself and take a back seat to no one". Charles Lobodzinski (Crown Point, Indiana)

In July of 2002, Mansound participated in the International A Cappella Competition for Jazz and Pop Ensembles "Vokal.Total" in Graz, Austria. Mansound won first place in the Jazz Category winning over participants from eight European countries, and the USA, and taking home the coveted “Ward Swingle Award”. Ward Swingle, founder of the Swingle Singers, the first A Cappella group, and the jury chairman said of ManSound, “The variety of their repertoire is very impressive. I think that the group has a fine future”. The sextet’s repertoire consists of Slavic folk songs, Gospel, and the jazz standards which they perform with original arrangements. For the last ten years of the group’s life, ManSound has toured and performed in Germany, France, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Holland, Estonia, Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Russia, Belorussia and the USA.

Discography

Voyage

All male a cappella Vocal Jazz sextet from Kiev Ukraine ManSound was formed in 1994, the brainchild of composer/arranger Vladimir Mikhnovetsky, and they immediately began creating fans. First performing at, and winning, European Jazz festivals, ManSound hit the US by storm, wowing the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival and winning the coveted Ward Swingle Award. There are 15 tunes here, some favorites (admittedly the ones in English, as we can write their names here) are a hot salsa "Mas Que Nada," a scattish "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," an unbelievable arrangement of the BeeGee's "How Deep is Your Love," "Spain (I Can Recall)," "Air on G String," "Les Moulins de Mon Coeur" ("The Windmills of Your Mind") and "Beyond The Sea." ManSound has a powerful, exuberant sound, with spot-on vocal (and non-vocal) percussion that's scary good. The leads are sweet and soaring, and who cares if the singer knows exactly what he's singing? The arrangements are juicy and surprising, just listen to their fresh, bluesy take on "How Deep is Your Love." ManSound is the most exciting new sound in Vocal Jazz right now!

If It's Magic

"Magic" has only 7 songs, but 3 are marvelous medleys, two of them of George Benson's songs and one of Stevie Wonder tunes. Besides these favorites, "They Can't Take That Away From Me," "Nature Boy," "Lullaby of Birdland and "Angel Eyes" are standoutsÑwhich includes everything on the CD. Tremendous voice control, incredible arrangements, butter-smooth blue-note harmonies, surprising tempo changes and scat breaksÑit adds up to a stunning first CD by a huge, fast-rising talent in the jazz/a cappella world!

Slavic Roots

Formed five years ago in Kiev, the six men who make up the Ukrainian group Man Sound have recorded three compact discs and toured extensively in Europe. In their early years, the group gave dozens of gospel concerts in six western U.S. states. Most recently they were invited to the U of Idaho Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival by Hampton himself. The group's repertoire includes famous jazz compositions and Ukraine folk songs as well as traditional and modern gospel music. "Slavic Roots" are Ukrainian folk songs, all a cappella except for some light guitar on "Under the Cloud." Included are two medleys, "Triptych" and "Diptych," "Polechko-Pole," "Under the Cloud," "Hey, Let's Hoot," "There You, Wide Steppe" and "White Swallow." The group's powerful, fine-tuned ensemble sound derives from their individual talents as soloists. Adding scat jazz riffs to a "Volga Boatmen" base is the kind of fresh vocal surprise Man Sound is becoming well known for. Excellent and recommended!

9819 CD $15.98

Joy To The World

Joy To The World
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
Jingle Bells
Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!
Santa Baby
Carol of the Bells
Heaven and Earth
Amazing Grace
White Christmas
Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland
Silent Night
The Message
People Need the Lord
Great Is Thy Faithfulness

ManSound, of course, is the dynamic Vocal Jazz all-male sextet from the Ukraine who have been wowing international Jazz Festival crowds, winning awards and earning critical raves from yours truly. That understood, "Joy to the World" is ManSound's Christmas Album, and it's fabulous. Now, right here you could read about our favorites among the 11 songs, like "Joy to the World/We Wish You a Merry Christmas" medley, "Jingle Bells/Let It Snow!" medley, the lovely "Carol of the Bells (in Russian)," "Heaven and Earth" (also in Russian), MS's incredible jazzy, bluesy take on "Amazing Grace," "Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland," etc., or you could just listen to crazed, finger-popping cut #3, "Santa Baby," cute Russian accent, faux cornet solo and all. You'll realize at that point that "Joy to the World" is one of the least boring, most fun Christmas albums you've ever heard, buy it and enjoy the heck out of your holiday season. My work is done here!

Listen to "Heaven and Earth" in Real Audio.

2354 CD $15.95

Mansound

Discography

Voyage

If It's Magic

Slavic Roots

Joy To The World

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