International Barbershop Harmony Society Quartet Champions Crossroads brings us their second album. The quartet won Gold at the BHS's 2009 international convention in Anaheim, CA, where Bass singer Jim Henry also directed the Ambassadors of Harmony chorus to their own international championship with the highest score ever obtained. All four members had previously won Gold in other quartets; Henry with 1993 champs Gas House Gang, baritone Brandon Guyton with 2002 champs Four Voices, lead Mike Slamka with 2003 champs Power Play, and tenor Fred Farrell with 1989 champs Second Edition. There are 13 songs here, favorites are Barbershop chestnuts such as "Sweet Adeline," "Hey There," the title tune and "Bread and Gravy;" Gospel tunes like "Your First Day in Heaven," "All People That On Earth Do Dwell," "Via Dolorosa" and "Guard Me, Oh Lord;" a very funny short parody of a missing hairpiece that "Blew By You," Swing-era hits like Cab Calloway's "The Jumpin' Jive," Irving Berlin's "Let Yourself Go" and Sammy Davis Jr.'s "Too Close for Comfort;" and a sweetly harmonic take on Lennon and McCartney's "Can't Buy Me Love." Crossroads is a so-called Barbershop "Super Group," formed of gold medal winners, the BHS's highest honor. Listen to "That Lucky Old Sun" to see why! |
