Review: 1982 was a banner year for Northbrook, IL, as it was the year a Barbershop legend, The New Tradition Chorus, was founded, directed by Jay Giallombardo. Varying in size from 95 to 138 men, TNTC won their first SPEBSQSA medal in 1987, which began a remarkable streak of success in international chorus competition. They medaled every year, including a record 5 Silver medals in a row, until they finally grabbed the Gold in 2001! "Bandstand" is generous collection of 13 tunes and medleys that will warm your heart as well as that of your favorite jukebox, some of our favorites are the medleys: "50s Medley," "Jersey Boys Medley" containing the hits "Let's Hang On," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Working My Way Back to You" and "Walk Like a Man" and "Smile Medley;" "Bandstand Boogie," Roger Miller's crossover hit "King of the Road," The Turtles' bubblegum classicHappy Together," John Phillips' sweet Mamas and Papas anthem "Monday, Monday," Len "non/McCartney's "Lady Madonna," Harold Arlen's "Over the Rainbow" and "Wind Beneath My Wings/You Raise Me Up" by Larry Henley and Jeff Silbar. Director Giallombardo does most of the arrangements for his thoroughbred competition and performance band, and every cut is an entertaining, powerful, richly harmonic winner. Treat yourself to "Bandstand" by the continually amazing New Tradition Chorus!

Songlist: Bandstand Boogie, 50's Medley, King Of the Road, Unchained Melody, Happy Together, Jersey Boys Melody, Daydream, Monday, Monday, Lady Madonna, All The Gold In California, Over The Rainbow, Smile Medley, Wind Beneath My Wings / You Raise Me Up

Review: And now, ladies and gentlemen, up on the stage, resplendent in their "76 trombones" uniforms, the pride of Northbrook, Illinois, directed by Jay Giallombardo, current SPEBSQSA Chorus Champions New Tradition are here with a very strong new Christmas CD! Christmas being all about tradition, nostalgia, spirit and sweet singing, "A Holiday Tradition!" is a winner on all counts. Enough said, except here's the songlist: "In The First Light," "What Child Is This?," "Hark the Herald/Angels We Have Heard On High," "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear," "Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy," "Silent Night," "O Holy Night," "O Little Town Of Bethlehem," "I Have Seen The Light," "Deck The Halls," "Silver Bells," "Let It Snow," "March Of The Wooden Soldiers," "Light The Legend," "Sing A Song Of Hannukah" and "The Prayer." Enjoy!

Songlist: In The First Light, What Child Is This?, Hark The Herald/AngelsWe Have Heard On High, It Came On a A Midnight Clear, Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy, Silent Night, O Holy Night, O Little Town Of Bethlehem, I Have Seen The Light, Deck The Halls, Silver Bells, Let It Snow, March Of The Wooden Soldiers, Light The Legend, Sing A Song Of Hannukah, The Prayer

Review: The 138-strong, white-uniformed New Tradition Chorus was formed in 1982 as a performance and competition chorus, directed by Jay Giallombardo (who also does most of their arrangements), with the goal of becoming the best male chorus in the world. Beginning in 1987, when they placed 4th in SPEBSQSA's International Chorus competition, they medaled every year since then, including winning the gold medal in Nashville in 2001. So here we have the best male chorus in the world, nailing arguably some of the best songs in the world (most recorded live): "The Star-Spangled Banner," "This Is My Country," "America the Beautiful," "God Bless the USA," "There Is Something About a Soldier," "White Cliffs of Dover," "Cities of America Medley" (which includes "Chicago, My Kind of Town," "Meet Me In St. Louis, Louis," "Gary, Indiana," "Mention My Name in Sheboygan," "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans" and "New York, New York"), "God Bless America," "Tribute to World Peace" and "Battle Hymn of the Republic" (piano accompanied and sung with the Northbrook Melodeers women's chorus). "Powerful" can only begin to describe the NTC, their music and this inspiring CD!

Songlist: The Star Spangled Banner, This Is My Country, America, The Beautiful, God Bless The USA, There Is Something About A Soldier, White Cliffs Of Dover, Cities Of America Medley, God Bless America, Tribute To World Peace, Battle Hymn of the Republic

Review: In 1981 a new barbershop chorus was formed in the Chicago area to foster the love of barbershop harmony and incidentally to focus on musical excellence as part of the expressed goal of becoming one the best male a cappella chorus in the world. With that goal in mind, New Tradition Chorus began competing in 1982 and became the Illinois District Champions in 1987. That success qualified them for the International Competition. From that year they have never failed to win a medal and have been Silver Medalists for the last five years. From the very beginning, the music director has been the prolific writer and arranger, Jay Giallombardo. Performances in the Chicago area include appearances at conventions, outdoor festivals, banquets and political events, including performing at the Democratic National Committee Media Party, on national TV for Chicago Bears football games, at Chicago White Sox baseball games and in Canada and Ireland (for the St. Patrick's day festivities in 1997.) The annual Spring Show production has 3 performances and presents the chorus and chapter quartets set in a particular theme (e.g. Broadway, Irish, Patriotic, Western). In addition to singing, the members write, produce, direct, and design lighting and scenery for these shows. As a result it was natural to produce a recording of Broadway show tunes. You'll hear music from State Fair, Les Miserables, Carousel, Phantom of the Opera, Paint Your Wagon, Sound of Music, West Side Story, Cats, and more, sung by this chorus who has not achieved their goal to be the best in the world just yet. To date they are 'only' one of the best!

Songlist: It's A Grand Night For Singing, Bring Him Home, Do You Hear the People Sing?, If I Loved You, Phantom of the Opera / Music of the Night, They Call the Wind Maria, Climb Every Mountain, There's No Business Like Show Business / Anoth Op'nin', Another Show Medley, West Side Story Montage (Tonight, America, Maria, Somewhere), Oklahoma!, Memory, There Is Nothing Like A Dame, Tradition / Sunrise Sunset, The Impossible Dream

Review: After winning 13 consecutive medals in as many years, the New Tradition Chorus was crowned International Chorus Champion of the Barbershop Harmony Society in 2001. In this their third holiday recording, the New Tradition combines their warm, rich sound with exquisite arrangements by director Jay Giallombardo. Their recordings just keep getting better and better but this one clearly reaches a new high standard. The album includes favorites like "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and more contemporary titles like "Come and See What's Happenin' in the Barn". Jay's arrangement of "Away in the Manger / Amazing Grace" is as soft and gentle as a newborn baby and "Christmas Rag" is just plain fun. When you hear this inspiring collection, you'll want to make this recording a permanent part of your holiday celebration.

Songlist: Come and See What's Happenin, Festive Carol Medley, Over the River and Through the Woods, Here We Come A Wassailing, Boar's Head Carol, Deck The Halls, I'll Be Home for Christmas / Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, The Christmas Rag, Away In a Manger / Amazing Grace, For All Your Miracles, The Christ Child Medley, Lo How A Rose E're Blooming, The Holly and the Ivy, Coventry Carol, The First Noel, Feast of Lights, Have You Seen the Child, Bell Carol Medley, Ding Dong Merrily on High, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, Carol of the Bells, Jingle Bells, More Than Enough

Review: Northbrook, IL's 95-strong NTC, founded in 1982 as a performance and competition chorus and the intention of becoming one of the best men's choruses in the world, reached that goal in 2001, when, after 8 years of second place medals, they won the coveted gold. Director and arranger Jay Giallombardo, who was a charter member of the group and a member of SPEBSQSA since 1968, has made his devotion to musical quality a guiding light for New Tradition since its inception. That smooth, powerful quality is clear on all of "Sentimental's" 13 classic cuts: "Big Band Days," "Tuxedo Junction," "Taking a Chance on Love," "Skylark," "Everything Old Is New Again," "Do Nothin' 'Till You Hear from Me," "You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby," "Java Jive," a stunning "The White Cliffs of Dover" (recorded live at the 2001 SPEBSQSA Chorus Finals), a marvelous "Gershwin Medley," "Imagination," the lovely title tune, and a live bonus track, "dedicated to the heroes of Sept. 11, 2001." "Sentimental" is a nostalgic treat from start to finish by one of the best choruses on the planet.

Songlist: Big Band Days, Tuxedo Junction, Taking A Chance On Love, Skylark, Everything Old Is New Again, Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me, You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby, Java Jive, The White Cliffs of Dover, Gershwin Medley, Imagination, Sentimental Journey

Review: The New Tradition Chorus, from the Chicago area of Illinois, have been International Competition Silver Medalists for the last six years (including Anaheim '99). This CD was inspired by the Chorus' trip to Ireland in 1997, and the opening track is an "Irish Montage," evoking their warmly-received performances there. The thirteen-member "Next Generation," a subsidiary group of the Chorus, performs "Ob La Di, Ob La Da" and "Calendar Girl," while the Sweet Adelines Championship Chorus The Melodeers contribute their voices for "The Battle Hymn Of The Republic," recorded live in 1995. The "Cities Of America" medley is an entertaining whistlestop tour; anyone who has seen the New Tradition Chorus live understands that, along with their musical excellence, the show's the thing!

Songlist: Irish Montage, A Little Bit O'Heaven, Sweet Hour Of Prayer, I'm Looking Over A 4-Leaf Clover, Impossible Dream, Calendar Girl, A Tribute To World Peace, Ob La Di Ob La Da, Show Business Medley, This Is My Country Medley, Once Upon a Time, All The Little Toy Soldiers, Toy Soldiers March On Parade, Battle Hymn Of The Republic

Review: Disney is, of course, famous for it's animated movies and a big part of those movies success has been the wonderful songs the studio has always been an expert in commissioning. Barbershop music has always leant itself well to a Disney song so what a treat it is to have a recording by one of the top barbershop choruses in the nation that focuses entirely on Disney movie songs. Old classics like "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" and the wonderful "The Bare Necessities" are included as well as more recent songs such as "Beauty And The Beast" and Elton John's "Can You Feel The Love Tonight". This is already our favorite barbershop chorus recording and think it will soon become yours also.

Songlist: Be Our Guest, The Bare Necessities, When You Wish Upon a Star, A Whale of a Tale, Beauty and the Beast, Mary Poppins Medley, You've Got a Friend in Me, Under the Sea, Can You Feel the Love Tonight?, Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah, Circle of Life