April 14, 2007

Acappella Company - Glorious God

"Glorious God" is the second release in the popular "Praise & Harmony" series, which features a wonderful choir of nearly 300 mixed-voice singers who sing an uplifting collection of 25 songs of worship. These joyous songs make us want to get up and sing along, and a vocal training disc is also included, so that we can even learn and memorize the SATB harmony parts! Favorites are hard to pick here, because founder Keith Lancaster's sure touch is everywhere�three songs, many of the arrangements and the production are his. The soaring bass line of "Let Us Worship," the tender "I Worship You, Almighty God," "Holy and Anointed One" with its sweet refrain, "Your name is like honey on my lips, your spirit like water to my soul�", the inspirational "The Battle Belongs to the Lord," the call and response "Hallowed Be Thy Name," Keith Lancaster's own "Worthy Lord," "One Thing I Ask" and "Glory and Honor," the powerful "He Is Jehovah," the rhythmic round "King of Kings," the title tune "O What A Glorious God," "Celebrate Jesus," one of our favorite tunes, "Down To The River," "Christian Jubilee" and the rich crescendos of "Days Of Elijah�" each of these is a well-chosen gem. One of the most prolific Contemporary Christian ministries, with 27 titles, Acappella Company is also one of our favorites, because the music and lyrics are filled with love, and, in the words of their slogan, "you can hear it in our voice." We can, and we know you'll love "Glorious God!" 2244 CD 15.95
Listen to "O What A Glorious God"

Posted by acapnews at 1:49 AM

April 13, 2007

Vocation -

Three men, three women sextet Vocation was formed in 1999 at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, Sweden,and were helped by conductor Lone Larsen in shaping their unique sound. Reviewers have compared them to a heady list - the Real Group, Take 6, Manhattan Transfer and the New York Voices. Playing regularily on Swedish radio and TV, Vocation won "Choice of the Audience Award" at the International Vocal Group Fest in Tilburg, Holland in 2002. Eleven songs, a few accompanied by jazz band, eight in English: Duke Ellington's "It Don't Mean a Thing," "Without a Song," Johnny Mercer's "I Remember You" and "Come Rain or Come Shine," "Gee Baby ain't I Good to You?," plus the a cappella "Almost Like Being in Love," "Not Like This" and "Nature Boy." There's also three very nice pieces in Swedish, particularly "Nar Charlie ar fudd," with music by Hoagy Carmichael, we would guess that "Charlie" refers to jazz great Charlie Parker. The sound is bright and hot, the English flawless, and Vocation swims easily in the company of MT, NY Voices, Real Group and other big fishes in the vocal jazz school. A very impressive and enjoyable debut CD! 7619 CD 15.95
Listen to "Almost Like Being In LoveVocation"

Posted by acapnews at 1:52 AM

April 12, 2007

Return 2 Zero - 4

Orlando, Florida's (yes, you saw them at Disney World) favorite all-male Contemporary quartet brings us their fourth, and long-awaited, excellent collection of well-chosen, wonderfully-arranged and performed covers. "Play that Funky Music," "Green Eyed Lady," "Reminiscing" (with some unexpected scat singing), Stevie Wonder's "I Wish," "Pick Up The Pieces," "Fly Away," "Drift Away," the Gershwins' "They Can't Take That Away from Me," Chicago's "Saturday in the Park"� have fairly standard leads, but it's the cool stuff going on behind them that is Return2Zero's forte. Solid vocal percussion of course, but we also hear vocal bass, horns, unexpected tossed-in samples, scat, funny asides, silly noises and doo-woppy side-dishes of harmony all create a rich, tasty vocal stew that spells, well, entertainment. And in terms of pure entertainment, Return2Zero ranks with the best a cappella groups in the world. By the way, I feel the need to throw a few kudos in Walt's direction here�beginning with top-drawer Barbershop groups like the Dapper Dans on Main St., USA and progressing to stellar Doo-Wop groups like the Alley Cats, Contemporary groups like Toxic Audio and Return2Zero, and Choral groups like Derric Johnson's ReGeneration - you've turned a lot of people on to a cappella, bud. Thanks! 2418 CD 14.95
Listen to "Smiling Face"

Posted by acapnews at 1:40 AM