Voces8 has established itself as the foremost young British a cappella group, performing a varied repertoire, from popular and jazz arrangements to early polyphony. The 6-men, 2-women octet performs extensively in the UK, Europe and the US, and has been drawing reviews such as "stunning performance," "exquisite singing" and "a sound that spans the entire range of vocal color." We can only agree with this assessment in every way, and point out that after the octet's recent performance at the ACDA Convention in Oklahoma City, over a hundred people lined up at the PAC booths to buy "Evensong," and only 75 were lucky enough to get one, but we have now managed to get our hands on a bunch more from the group! 12 songs, every one an exquisite gem, so we will simply list them: British composers Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley's title tune, Al Jolson's "Me and My Shadow," Otis Blackwell's jazzy "Fever," "Gabriel's Message" (pop mix), Palestrina's soaring "Magnificat Primi Toni," Nat King Cole's "Straighten Up and Fly Right," Jerry Lieber/Mike Stoller's "Jailhouse Rock," "Good King Wenceslas," Orlando Gibbons' "O Clap Your Hands," Ben Folds' "The Luckiest," Gustav Holst's "Nunc Dimittis" and Leslie Bricusse/Anthony Newley's "Feeling Good." Be it Choral, Vocal Jazz, Pop, Classical Spiritual or whatever genre you'd care to put them in, Voces8 is one of the best a cappella groups we've ever heard. Buy "Evensong," turn the volume up or put on some fine headphones, and enjoy! |
