In Celebration of the Human Voice - The Essential Musical Instrument
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Mixed Vocal Jazz Quartet from Boston, MA, United States.
The Boston Globe calls Syncopation "the 21st Century Manhattan Transfer or Lambert, Hendricks and Ross" and it is easy to see why. Like those legendary vocal groups, Syncopation performs jazz and pop music in four-part harmony with a style that is both timeless and up-to-the-minute. As an added treat each of the singers also plays an instrument or two like trumpet, trombone piano and percussion providing the excitement of a band much larger in size.
You may have seen Syncopation on WBZ-TV singing with the Boston Pops on their 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular (2009). The group often performs with instrumental accompaniment of piano, bass and drums, but they are equally renowned for their a cappella singing, which has earned them regional and national awards from Harmony Sweepstakes.
In its inception, Syncopation was mentored by Cheryl Bentyne of the Manhattan Transfer. Their first album, A New Dance, featured contributions from bebop trombone legend Phil Wilson, formidable jazz fusion trumpeter Tiger Okoshi, and Paul Stiller of the groundbreaking vocal group Vox One.
After signing a record contract with Geneon Entertainment in Japan, Syncopation's album Of Blue was recorded in Tokyo with some of Japan's hottest jazz musicians such as pianist Satoru "Salt" Shionoya.
On Wonderful You, Syncopation's most recent CD, the group interprets pop songs from the past 40 years. R&B, soul, folk, fusion and electropop are transformed by jazz harmonies, rhythms and style. "A unique spin on classic syncopated music with great voices," says Jordan Rich (WBZ).
A collaboration with Gold and Platinum Award-winning producer Anthony Resta has produced several Syncopation singles which have been released as digital downloads.
Syncopation has performed at the Tanglewood Jazz Festival, the Tri-C Vocal Jazz Festival, the Boston Globe Jazz Festival, the Meihou Music Festival in Japan, and the International Association for Jazz Education Conferece. The group regularly plays jazz clubs in New England like Scullers, Ryles, the Hi-Hat, the Sahara Club, and the Press Room. Media appearances have included radio (WBZ, Jordan Rich; WBUR, Robin Young's Here and Now; WGBH, Eric Jackson's Eric in the Evening) and TV (CN8's Backstage with Sara Edwards).
All About Jazz calls Syncopation "a thoroughly modern, bright, and fresh take on ensemble jazz vocals that effectively updates the entire genre."
SYNCOPATION is: Aubrey Johnson; Christine Fawson; David Thorne Scott
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High and Dry
Review: Mixed Vocal Jazz quartet Syncopation represented Boston well at the recent Harmony Sweeps Finals in San Rafael, CA, winning a strong ovation from the sellout crowd for songs like the sweet, soaring "High and Dry," which is here on "Wonderful You." There are 9 songs here, our favorites are the a cappella songs, Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now" and the aforementioned "High and Dry." Of the others, "Invisible War," lightly piano-accompanied, is very nice, as are the more heavily accompanied songs "Breakout," "I Can Fly," the title tune (from The Big Chill), Lennon/McCartney's "Broken Wings" the Motown tune "Betcha By Golly, Wow" and "Getaway." Beautiful leads, harmonies and arrangements, but let us once again make it clear that "Wonderful You" is mostly an accompanied album.
Songlist: Breakout, I Can Fly, Wonderful You (Big Chill), High and Dry, Invisible War, Broken Wings, Betcha By Golly, Wow, Getaway, Both Sides Now
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