Chapter 6 is a professional male a cappella ensemble. Comprised of six vocalists and one arranger, Chapter 6 is the only vocal ensemble to win both The International Competition of Collegiate A Cappella (2001) and the prestigious National Harmony Sweepstakes (2004). The group features a diverse repertoire of American popular music, from Gershwin to Stevie Wonder, as well as original songs ranging from the comical Lost in Canada to the personal God's Love. In addition, clever medleys including The Wizard of Oz entertain music lovers of all ages; their signature six-minute version of the classic MGM film earned a Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (2005). The book Chapter 6, Volume 1 is published by New Harmony Music. It is the first collection of Chapter 6 music to appear in print form, and it contains all the arrangements from the album Swing Shift, plus additional bonus titles.

Songlist: Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing, How Deep is Your Love, The Wizard of Oz, Ode to Krispy Kreme, I'll Take Care of You, God's Love, It's About Time, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Pick Up the Pieces, Lost in Canada, What A Wonderful World, Jump, Jive, 'n Wail, You're Smiling Face

Popular Voiceworks is a fabulous collection of jazzy and popular songs in the practical Voiceworks format, with scorings from unison to four parts. Including new arrangements of popular favourites, as well as exciting new songs in a range of styles, this is a fantastic resource for singing groups of all ages.

Songlist: SECTION 1: GETTING MOVING, Swing Time!, You Gotta Move, Take Me To The Water, My Man's Gone Now, People Get Ready, 'Deed I Do, Me Ol' Bamboo, Little One, Take Me to the Funk, This Little Light of Mine, Gitika, SECTION 2: MOVING ON, Introduction and Practical Exercises, He's Gone Away, They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love, I Want Your Love, Silent Night, Dancin' Till the Blues Are Gone, Straighten Up and Fly Right, Sweet Tea, Song Without Words, Don't Let the Door Hitcha, I'm Not Your Pet, SECTION 3: SHOWSTOPPERS, Come What May, Pages, Comedy Tonight, Hot Hot Hot, Dancing in the Street, and more

This collection features five-part arrangements of your favorite jazz standards. Most are SATB plus solo, but "Autumn Leaves" is five luscious parts.

Songlist: Autumn Leaves, Fever, I Could Write A Book, If I Loved You, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Steppin' Out With My Baby, Walkin' My Baby Back Home

Here's a collection of three song each from three of the greatest songwriters of the classic jazz song - Gershwin, Porter and Ellington. Highly-regarded arranger Jay Althouse offers some stunning, tight, and tasty harmonies for unaccompanied mixed voices that can be performed separately or as three different sets by composer.

Songlist: A Cole Porter Jazz Trio, Just One Of Those Things, You Do Something To Me, An Ellington Jazz Trio, Solitude, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), A Gershwin Jazz Trio, I Got Rhythm, Someone to Watch Over Me, Night and Day, Satin Doll, Nice Work If You Can Get It

A timeless Burt Bacharach song "I'll Never Fall In Love Again" is brought to new life by Anders Edenroth. A straightforward and accessible arrangement that celebrates the classic sound of the late '60s. This challenging vocal jazz arrangement of "It Don't Mean a Thing" captures the energy and pizazz of Duke Ellington's original. For skilled singers - not a dull moment! "Since You've Been Gone" - A cheeky arrangement of an original song by Anders Edenroth and Emma Nilsdotter from The Real Group. A great chance to tell those past loves that "I'm better off without you!"

Songlist: I'll Never Fall In Love Again, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Since You've Been Gone

See it! Hear it! Sing it! Using familiar popular song phrases, POP INTERVALS FOR CHOIR teaches and reinforces the 10 most common intervals a singer will need to effectively sight-read choral literature. In addition, singing by step and establishing a key center are taught with popular songs that every singer will know. The importance of audiation (inner hearing) is reinforced with each interval as well as easy-to-follow instructions for preparation and extension. You will also receive digital access to a professionally-produced audio recording of the accompaniment for each exercise and PDFs of singer parts and theory practice pages for projection and reproducible options. Build your choir's musicianship the easy way with this motivational resource! Exercises are based on the following songs: Lean on Me (step), Ob-la-di Ob-la-da (skip), Isn't She Lovely (minor 2nd), Hallelujah (minor 3rd up), Count on Me (major 3rd up), Brave (perfect 4th up), Skyfall (perfect 5th up), My Way (major 6th up), Let It Snow (octave), Hey Jude (minor 3rd down), Happy Together (perfect 4th down), It Don't Mean a Thing (perfect 5th down). Suggested for grades 6 and up.

Songlist: Count On Me, My Way, Lean On Me, Hallelujah, Brave, Skyfall, Happy Together, Hey Jude, It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!, Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, Isn't She Lovely

The most important composer in the history of jazz, the legendary Duke Ellington lead his band continuously for five decades. This collection features 52 of his most beloved songs, including: Caravan - Don't Get Around Much Anymore - I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good - I'm Just a Lucky So and So - It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) - Mood Indigo - Perdido - Satin Doll - Solitude - Take the A Train - and more.

Songlist: Day Dream, Drop Me Off In Harlem, East St. Louis Toodle-oo, Love You Madly, Ring Dem Bells, Black Butterfly, The Mooch, I Didn't Know About You, Cotton Tail, Passion Flower, Everything But You, Something To Live For, Azure, Solitude, Dancers In Love, In A Mellow Tone, The Single Petal Of A Rose, Warm Valley, I'm Gonna Go Fishin', Jump For Joy, Caravan, Just A Settin' And A Rockin', Duke's Place, What Am I Here For?, Brown Skin Gal In The Calico Gown, Black And Tan Fantasy, Boy Meets Horn, Chelsea Bridge, Prelude To A Kiss, Perdido, and more

One of the most powerful live performers of her time, Nina Simone mixed jazz, blues, soul, classical and more to create a genre all her own. This book features authentic transcriptions in the original keys of 23 Simone classics in voice with piano accompaniment format: Feeling Good - He Needs Me - I Loves You Porgy - I Put a Spell on You - It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) - It Might As Well Be Spring - Little Girl Blue - My Baby Just Cares for Me - Solitude - Willow Weep for Me - Work Song - Young, Gifted and Black - and more.

Songlist: If I Should Lose You, Work Song, Solitude, He Needs Me, Night Song, Lilac Wine, Young, Gifted And Black, Take Me To The Water, If You Knew, Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye, Feeling Good, For All We Know, Children Go Where I Send You, I Loves You, Porgy, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), It Might As Well Be Spring, Little Girl Blue, Love Me Or Leave Me, My Baby Just Cares For Me, Something Wonderful, The Twelfth Of Never, Willow Weep For Me, I Put A Spell On You

100 songs from Bennett's remarkable and lengthy career which started in the early 1950s and is still going strong today! Our songbook features his very best arranged for piano/vocal/guitar, including: As Time Goes By - Because of You - Bein' Green - Body and Soul - Cheek to Cheek - Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words) - The Good Life - I Left My Heart in San Francisco - I Wanna Be Around - It Had to Be You - Just in Time - The Lady Is a Tramp - Moonlight in Vermont - New York State of Mind - Over the Rainbow - Put on a Happy Face - Rags to Riches - Smile - Stella by Starlight - Tender Is the Night - and more.

Songlist: Anything Goes, Ac-cent-tchu-ate The Positive, Rags To Riches, Dancing In The Dark, Once Upon A Time, Smile, I'm A Fool To Want You, All My Tomorrows, All The Things You Are, Because Of You, The Good Life, I'll Be Around, Alright, Okay, You Win, Firefly, Are You Havin' Any Fun?, New York, New York, As Time Goes By, Sweet Lorraine, Tender Is The Night, Some Other Time, Bein' Green, The Best Is Yet To Come, Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea, Blue Moon, Blue Velvet, For Once In My Life, Body And Soul, The Boulevard Of Broken Dreams, Emily, Look For The Silver Lining, and more

Instrumentalists, get ready for some fun. For the first time ever, you can play the exact lines as scatted by some of the greatest jazz legends of all time: Karrin Allyson, Louis Armstrong, Ann Hampton Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald, Roberta Gamarini, Dianne Reeves, Mel Tormé, Sarah Vaughan, and more! Of course singers can get in on the fun, too, with this unique songbook. Omnibooks are comprehensive collections featuring the most accurate note-for-note transcriptions right from the recordings and are spiral-bound for easy usability. They also include chord symbols, metronome markings and record information. This Scat Omnibook features 74 arrangements of 63 songs exactly as they were recorded. Includes an artist index and introduction on the history of scat vocals.

Songlist: You'll Have To Swing It, West Coast Blues, A-Tisket, A-Tasket, Air Mail Special, All Blues, All Of Me, Centerpiece, From This Moment On, All God's Chillun Got Rhythm, Nature Boy, Clementine, Schulie A Bop, St. Louis Blues, Bernie's Tune, Billie's Bounce (Bill's Bounce), Blue Skies, Bluesette, Body And Soul, Honeysuckle Rose, Stolen Moments, Bli Blip, Just Friends, There Will Never Be Another You, Suddenly In Walked Bud, Crazy Rhythm, Dinah, Sing, Sing, Sing, I Got Rhythm, Flat Foot Floogee, Flying Home, and more

A collection of 30 ballads recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Diana Krall, Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughan, and more! Includes: Black Coffee; God Bless' the Child; I've Got the World on a String; It Might as Well Be Spring; The Man I Love; My Funny Valentine; and more.

Songlist: All Of Me, Almost Blue, The Best Is Yet To Come, Black Coffee, But Not For Me, Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me, Fine And Mellow, The Folks Who Live On The Hill, The Frim Fram Sauce, God Bless' The Child, Good Morning Heartache, I'm Beginning to See the Light, I've Got The World On A String, If I Had You, If I Were A Bell, The Inch Worm, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), It Might As Well Be Spring, Little Girl Blue, Love Letters, Lullaby Of Birdland, The Man I Love, Midnight Sun, My Funny Valentine, Oh, Lady Be Good!, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year, Tenderly, These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You), You've Changed

Over 90 more classics from the American repertoire of classics.

Songlist: If I Should Lose You, Always, Ain't We Got Fun?, Guilty, Solitude, Rockin' Chair, Who?, Caravan, More Than You Know, Are You Havin' Any Fun?, As Long As I Live, At Sundown, So In Love, Candy, Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo (The Magic Song), By Myself, But Beautiful, Ol' Man River, Some Enchanted Evening, Cherokee (Indian Love Song), My Shining Hour, Come Sunday, Dear Hearts And Gentle People, Everything I Have Is Yours, Exactly Like You, Falling In Love With Love, Flying Home, I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance With You, Hit The Road To Dreamland, I Concentrate On You, and more

The Jazz Singer's Handbook provides an inspiring and practical window of insight into the world of professional jazz singing. Drawing upon an impressive career as an arranger, teacher, singer, pianist, and clinician, Michele Weir (faculty, UCLA) has distilled her experiences and observations into two handbook sections: the artistry and the mastery of singing jazz. Also included is a jazz chord library, a professional resource guide, a review of music fundamentals, and an index of terms and symbols. The CD includes sing-along tracks for standard songs, many of which are in two keys for different voice ranges, plus recorded examples of the performance and arranging concepts presented in the text.

Songlist: The Nature of Jazz Singing, The Story of the Text, Text Delivery, Coloring the Melody, Phrasing is Your Friend!, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Preparing to Sing A New Tune, Writing a Lead Sheet, Creating an Arrangement, Organizing a Gig Book, Rehearsing a Rhythm Section, Rhythmic Grooves and Playing Styles, Sitting In, Appendix I: Music Fundamentals, Appendix II: Jazz Chords Library, Appendix III: Professional Resource Guide, Appendix IV: Index

In addition to the gift of a thrilling and funny performance that won (against a very strong field of Regional winners) the 20th Annual Harmony Sweeps National Championship in San Rafael, CA, Chicago's talented all-male sextet Chapter 6 brought us a hot new CD! Happily, the three pieces that they performed at the finals, "Theme and Variations on 'It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing'" (which won for Best Original Arrangement), the hilarious 5-minute "Wizard of Oz," and even their encore performance (as Audience Favorite), "The 7th Wheel," which introduced us to the singing of their arranger, sometimes composer and sound engineer, Mark Grizzard. Grizzard also wrote the opening piece here, a fast-paced jazz number, "It's About Time." Rounding out the 11 songs are a nice Stevie Wonder cover, "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing," the BeeGee's hit "How Deep Is Your Love," the Gospel song "God's Love," an uptempo "What A Wonderful World," the very funny "Lost In Canada," James Taylor's "Your Smiling Face" and the bluesy "I'll Take Care of You." These guys are consummate entertainers, they have big fun on stage, and they can sing like angels. Like Chapter 6 at the Finals, "Swing Shift" is a hands-down winner!

Songlist: It's About Time, Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing, The Wizard of Oz, How Deep Is Your Love, God's Love, What A Wonderful World, Lost in Canada, Your Smiling Face, I'll Take Care of You, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)

The multiracial and multicultural Chicago Children's Choir has been changing the lives of children through musical excellence since 1956, and this is a live CD from the World Choral Festivals Vienna 2001. There are 12 songs here, ranging from traditional spirituals arranged by Moses Hogan, "Great Day," "Battle of Jericho" and "My Soul's Been Anchored In The Lord," and South African folk songs "Njenge Bhadhi" and "Ke Nali Moona" to Duke Ellington's "It Don't Mean A Thing" and Tobias Fox's "Shabach." All songs are accompanied, mostly by piano and drums. A great performance by an exceptional choir!

Songlist: Trosterin Musik, Salmo 150, Great Day, Battle of Jericho, My Soul's Been Anchored in the Lord, Las Amarillas, Njenge Bhadi, Ke Nali Moona, One World, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), The Gods Love Nubia, Shabach

The Holland-America Line (HAL) was originally a shipping company that maintained an ocean route between the Netherlands and the United States. Before the days of air travel, the Rotterdam-New York journey played an important role for emigrants from Europe to America. During the 1930s, thousands of Europeans departed on one of the HAL ships, traveling from the Wilhelmina dock in Rotterdam to the United States, in search of a better life or a safe refuge. Many left their native countries forever in order to escape the growing threat of the nazi regime. This was also the case for Erich Collin, Roman Cycowski, and Harry Frommermann, all of whom sang in the famous Comedian Harmonists, and all three of whom were Jewish. They fled from Germany after the Nazis had disbanded their ensemble; ultimately they emigrated to the USA. America was not just the land of the free; it was a world power in the music business. European musicians had already been drawing inspiration from American examples for many years; the Comedian Harmonists, first set up in Berlin by Harry Frommermann in emulation of the American Revelers, were no exception.

Songlist: It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), The flatter the plate, Bel me even op (7.7.7.7.7.), Java jive, Into each life some rain must fall, Liefde in rhythme, Daniel prayed, Bel ami, Jeepers creepers, Mijn broer maakt voor het hoorspel de geluiden, I'm making believe, Matrozenlied, Morgen vaar ik weg, Dry bones, Lou de ladenlichter, Veel mooier, Brother Noah, New York, New York, Does your heart beat for me

Gem City Chorus : From The Heart   

Gem City won the Sweet Adelines Internationals in the Chorus Category an unprecedented five times! How did they do it? Great material, enthusiastically performed and dynamically arranged! Makes it sound simple, doesn't it? Directed by Jean Barford, this Dayton Ohio aggregate's sound is as unified as can be, its articulation crisp, timing right on the money. "As Time Goes By" is swung a little faster than average, "How's Every Little Thing In Dixie" exaggerates the phrasing effectively, hurrying through the tune like the March Hare. Other great songs: "Mississippi Medley," "The Joint Is Jumpin'," and "It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing Medley."

Songlist: This Is The Moment, Showtime, Sentimental Journey, Runnin' Wild, End Of The Road, Billy-A-Dick, As Time Goes By, How's Every Little Thing In Dixie, God Bless America, Battle Hymn Of The Republic, Blow, Gabriel, Blow, The Joint Is Jumpin', Heartaches, Alabama Jubilee Bound Medley, That's What God Made Mothers For, One Of Those Songs, Mississippi Medley, Wild Beneath My Wings, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)

The canon of the Comedian Harmonists is recreated by the American Hudson Shad, who on this entertaining and historically compelling CD sing both in English and German, to capture the essence of their inspiration. Accompanied by piano, the Harmonists sound is one part jazz and one part music hall, as on Ellington's "It Don't Mean A Thing," where vocal bass and piano pump out a furious twenties rhythm, augmented by scat and and a vigorous horn solo. "Whistle While You Work" is a masterpiece of vocal orchestration, not to mention whistling, and when the Shad assume the personas of the Dwarfs-well, you just have to buy this record to hear it! The traditional "Die Dorfmusik" has a racuous yodeling motif over a swaying 3/4.

Songlist: Wochenend Und Sonnenschein, (Happy Days Are Here Again), Blue River, Mein Kleiner Gruner Kaktus, Four Leaf Clover, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Veronika, Der Lenz Ist Da, Liebesleid, Whistle While You Work, I Had A Dream, Die Dorfmusik, Stormy Weather, Georgia, Guitarren Spielt Auf, Standchen, Gloriana, Der Alte Cowboy (The Last Round-up)

The Idea of North : Extraordinary Tale   

"Extraordinary Tale" is a marvelously packaged CD that underscores why we love CDs over downloaded mp3s or such. The jewel case folds out to 6 panels, which are all decorated with moody, lowbrow children's book illustrations of mechanical birds, patchwork metal whales, and the group as children in a red-striped boat on a curly-cued sea. Inside a slot is a folded treasure map, where we see an old victrola, spouting fishes, the mechanical birds are singing, and the whale spouts a microphone-a metaphor on the group's experience as the top a cappella group in Australia, perhaps? The different islands on the map have the names of the 13 songs on them, plus the running times. On the flipside of that are the names of the singers, Sally, Naomi, Nick and Andrew, plus the welcome disclaimer: "This is an a cappella recording. All the sounds on this album were produced by the voices and/or bodies of the ION." For those not familiar with mixed Vocal Jazz quartet ION, they blew in from Down Under and won the 2003 Harmony Sweeps, and we joined everyone in the sold-out audience in becoming their fans for life. Our favorites among the 13 cuts? Their bluesy, scattish take on Chick Corea's "Armando's Rhumba," an understated, deliciously melodic, jazzy hit on the Swing tune "Don't Wait Too Long," a heartbreakingly fine soprano lead and background harmonics on Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now," Sting's "La Belle Dame Sans Regrets" riffs into an unbelievable lovely scat tapestry; Lennon and McCartney's "In My Life" fits perfectly into the poignant mood. Group member Andrew Piper gives us a rare, wonderful original, "One Minute More," Duke Ellington's "It Don't Mean A Thing" has a vocal muted trumpet and a vocal percussion solo that you should hear; Ray Charles' "Hallelujah I Love Her So," Stevie Wonder's "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer," Sinead O'Connor's "In This Heart," Aretha Franklin's "Since You've Been Gone" and Peter Allen's "I Still Call Australia Home" are all amazing but this review has gotten absurdly long. Treat yourself to "Extraordinary Tale," and thank us later!

Songlist: Armando's Rhumba, Don't Wait Too Long, Both Sides Now, La Belle Dame Sans Regret, In My Life, One Minute More, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Hallelujah I Love Her So, Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer, Give Me The Simple Life, In This Heart, Since You've Been Gone, I Still Call Australia Home

This recording celebrates two decades of educating, developing and inspiring musically talented children and helping them attain the highest level of choral artistry. Building upon a tradition of excellence this top-notch choir provides a comprehensive music education and performance program for children from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds. This CD represents repertoire that choristers have learned and performed throughout the 20 years and clearly demonstrate that their reputation for excellence is well deserved.

Songlist: Jubilant The Music, Pie Jesu, Jazz-Man, Path To The Moon, Laudemus, Non Nobis Domine, Mayim, Mayim, Schmuckt Das Frohe Fest Mit Maien, Yo Le Canto Todo El Dia, This Christmas Tide, Carol Of The Bels, The Psalm From El Nino, Cantique De Jean Racine, Noel Des Enfants Qui N'ont Plus De MAison, Dana Nobis Pacem / GIve Us Peace, Song For Mira, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Sound Of The Trumpet, La Fiera De Mast' Andereat

Dubbed "The Prince of Pops" by the Chicago Tribune, Erich Kunzel's Cincinnati Pops Orchestra has been nominated for 5 Grammies under his direction, winning one in 1998, and we have to say that this is some of the best, most spirited big-band swing we've ever heard. Of special interest to us, of course, are the vocals, which are supplied by one of our favorite jazz groups, The Manhattan Transfer, former (and founding) member of the MT, 9-time Grammy winner Janis Siegel, and inventive singer/guitarist John Pizzarelli. There are 14 all accompanied (in fact, 7 of them are completely instrumental) tunes here, and not surprisingly our favorites are "Choo Choo Ch' Boogie," "Sugar" (That Sugar Baby of Mine), "Skyliner," and "Clouds" (adapted from "Nuages,") featuring the MT; "Straighten Up and Fly Right" and "Avalon" with John Pizzarelli; and "I'll Be Seeing You," with Janis Siegel. As we would place the Swing Era at or near the top of all musical eras, we thought "Got Swing" was a treat, and every tune gave us the urge to get up and dance!

Songlist: String of Pearls, Stompin' at the Savoy, Choo Choo Ch' Boogie, Straighten Up and Fly Right, Sugar, Skyliner, Blues in the Night, Avalon, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Clouds, adapted from "Nuages", Jumpin' at the Woodside, Flying Home, I'll Be Seeing You, Sweet Georgia Brown

The four Mills Brothers had a style that combined the best elements of vaudeville, Negro minstrelsy and the barbershop quartet with elements of the new jazz sound. Their habit of cupping their hands over their mouths to create an orchestral sound (similar to effects created by Europe's Comedy Harmonists), was a sensational factor in their success story, and appearances on popular radio programs like "Rudy Vallee's Fleishmann's Yeast Hour" led to their first million-selling record, "Tiger Rag/Nobody's Sweetheart" in 1931. The Brothers endeared themselves to movie audiences the world over with appearances on such hits as "Big Broadcast of 1932" with Bing Crosby, Kate Smith, Cab Calloway and the Boswell Sisters.

Songlist: Tiger Rag, Dinah, You Always Hurt The One You Love, St. Louis Blues, Bugle Call Rag, Swing It, Sister, Sleepy Head, Across The Alley From The Alamo, You Rascal, You, I Heard, Nobody's Sweetheart, Rockin' Chair, I Wish, Shine, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), I Don't Know Enough About You, Be My Life's Companion, Sixty Seconds Got Together, Till Then, I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm, Put Another Chair At The Table, Goodbye Blues

Fifty Six-strong MUSE is a women's choir dedicated to musical excellence and social change. Believing that diversity is strength, they are feminist women of varied ages, races and ethnicities, with a range of life experiences, political interests and musical abilities. Heterosexual, lesbian and bisexual, these are women loving women united in song, seeking out pieces composed by women, songs that enhance women's voices, and a concert experience that entertains, inspires, motivates, heals and creates a spirit of community in their audience. Some of our favorites of these 20 songs were commissioned by MUSE, Holly Near's "Foolish Notion" and "I Ain't Afraid" (with the spot-on refrain about religious fundamentalism, "I ain't afraid of your praying, I'm afraid of what you do in the name of your god"), Therese Edell's "Emma," and Sweet Honey in the Rock's Beatrice Johnson Reagon's "Greed" (from "Anybody Here"). Other favorites are "Step By Step," "Three Walking Songs," Connie Kaldor's "Mother's Prayer," Jennifer Stasack's "Wage Peace," Daniel Galay's "Mayim Maya" and "Emily Remembers" by Shirley Eikhard. Also wonderful are George Gershwin's "S'Wonderful," Duke Ellington's "It Don't Mean A Thing" and Ysaye Maria Barnwell's lovely a cappella "Wanting Memories." Extensive to light accompaniment on most songs. "Growing" is a powerful, thought-provoking, inspirational CD that touches us on many levels!

Songlist: Wanting Memories, Duerme Negrito, Foolish Notion, I Ain't Afraid, Imagine My Suprise, S'Wonderful, The Summer Day, Emma, Go Down Moses, Greed, Step By Step, Three Waulking Songs, Mother's Prayer, Wage Peace, Mayim Maya, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Sayitshaya and Vulani Amasango, Song of the Exile, Emily Remembers, I Feel Like Going On

Since its debut in 1998, the Pacific International Children's Choir Festival has established itself as one of the finest events of its kind in the US. This is a double CD set, featuring a collection of performances fom festival years 1998 through 2001 on Disc 1 and highlights from PICCFEST 2002 on Disc 2. There are 19 live, accompanied, wonderful, spirited songs on Disc 1, by some of the best children's choirs we've heard: from "Panis Angelicus," by the Phoenix Boys Choir and "Jabberwocky," by the Seattle Children's Chorus, to "On suuri sun rantas autius" by the Surrey Children's Choir and "It Don't Mean a Thing" by the Youth Choir of Central Oregon--it's all pure, sweet stuff. Disc 2, from 2002, features 13 live cuts by 13 different groups, from Indianapolis Children's Choir Kantorei, Northwest Girlchoir Vivace Choir and Pacific Chorale Children's Chorus to the Piedmont Choirs Concert Choir, the Portland Symphonic Girlchoir (one of our favorites), and Young Voices of Colorado--there's not a bad cut here. This is a real feel-good CD on many levels. Though all accompanied, the focus is on the voices of the children, which are incredible! Recommended.

Songlist: PICCFEST 1998, Panis Angelicus (Phoenix Boys Choir), Beauty of the Trees (Coastal Sound Music Academy), I's the B'y (Die Meistersinger Children's Chorus), 1998 Festival Chorus:, Laudamus Te, Mayim, Mayim, Children, Go When I Send Thee, PICCFEST 1999, Niska Banja (Campbell River Children's Choir), Jabberwocky (Seattle Children's Choir), 1999 Festival Chorus:, Ave Verum Corpus, Lord, Bow Thine Ear, Alleluia, The Lord Bless You and Keep You, PICCFEST 2000, On suuri sun rantas autius (Surrey Children's Choir), Duet - Cantata No. 9 (Temple University Children's Choir), 2000 Festival Chorus:, Laudate Dominum, PICCFEST 2001, 2001 Festival Chorus:, Bist Du Bei Mir, For In His Own Hand, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), PICCFEST 2002, Untraveled Worlds (Alaska Children's Choir), Weep No More (Oregone Festival Chois Forza), Rise Up My Love (Seattle Children's Chorus), and more

Phil Mattson and VoicesIowa : Count Your Blessings   

Formed at Southwestern Community College's School for Music Vocations in 1991, the mixed-voice sextet VoicesIowa was recently honored by Down Beat Magazine as "Vocal Jazz Group of the Year." Their repertoire also includes Renaissance part-songs, 19th and 20th century compositions and arrangements of contemporary music. Their Director Phil Mattson has been nominated twice for Grammy Awards. These 12 songs, recorded live at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi, MN, feature Mattson-arranged winners like "Snow Covers the Valley," Bach's "Jesu, Meine Freude," Burt Bacharach's "Alfie," "Never Let Me Go," Johnny Mercer/Harold Arlen's classic "Blues in the Night" and Irving Berlin's "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep." Ward Swingle's "Country Dances" and the Swingle-arranged "Satchmo," Duke Ellington's "Don't Mean A Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing," Anders Edenroth of the Real Group's "Friendship" and Bobby McFerrin's "Jubilee" are other favorites. Great stuff, from the first cut to the last!

Songlist: Since All Is Passing, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Snow Covers the Valley, Jesu, Meine Freude, Alfie, Jubilee, Never Let Me Go, Satchmo, Friendship, Blues in the Night, Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep), Country Dances

Charlie Mead, director and composer/arranger, is at it again, dazzling us with his swinging musical stylings with the help of his eight talented singers. This time, the beautiful sounding octet takes on a vacation to various island getaways with four original compositions by Charlie, all giving you the feeling of being in the great outdoors. As they take us on this journey, they also satisfy our thirst for a few old classics with some unique arrangements of "On The Street Where You Live," "A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square," and "I'm Beginning To See The Light." To end this fabulous CD, the top- notch performers sing Bach's "Goldberg Variations," a simplistic musical masterpiece who's instrumental orchestrations were most recently made famous by the Hannibal Lectar movies.

Songlist: It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Blue Meridian, Nice 'N Easy, Summer Dreamin', Some Other Time, On the Street Where You Live, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, Walk Between Raindrops, Orange Colored Sky, Hook, Line and Sinker, Music of the Spheres (Gershwin Piano Prelude No. 1), Aria, Bach Goldberg Variations

Portland Symphonic Girlchoir : Girlchoir Favorites   

Now entering its third decade, ably led by Co-Conductors Roberta Q. Jackson and Debra R. Burgess, the award-winning PSG is taking its place among the finest children's choral ensembles in the country. Over 1,000 young women ages 5 to 18, who love to sing, have come together through the years to create the distinct voice of the Portland Symphonic Girlchoir, and the 100+-strong ensemble joins the 33-strong, "20th Anniversary Alums & Mums Choir" for 17 piano-accompanied, selected live cuts, recorded from 2008 to 2010. Favorites are a pair by Duke Ellington," "It Don't Mean A Thing" and "Mood Indigo," Charles Collins' "Mary Had A Little Blues," Bill Perison's "Naughty Four O'Clocks," "Gershwin for Girls," Moses Hogan's "Ride On, King Jesus," Charles Collins' "The Star," Stephen Hatfield's "Living In a Holy City," "Deep Peace, a Gaelic Blessing" and David Brunner's "A Song to End All Wars." We love the sweet, spirited sound of the Portland Symphonic Girlchoir, one of the best in the world!

Songlist: Give Us Hope, Music Is Indeed, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Mood Indigo, Mary Had A Little Blues, Naughty Four O'Clocks, Gershwin For Girls, Birth Of The Blues, Bye Bye Blackbird, Living In A Holy City, Ride On, King Jesus, My Lord, What a Mornin', The Storm Is Passing Over, Deep Peace, A Gaelic Blessing, The Star, She Shall Have Music, A Song To End All Wars

We can't start with superlatives when describing the Real Group's work. Our thesaurus isn't infinite. Suffice it to say that they are the premiere jazz a cappella group in Sweden. Well, maybe in Europe. Ok, ok, in the world. They open with a choral scat introduction as they launch into an upbeat "It Don't Mean A Thing." Stevie Wonder's "Sir Duke" never had it so good. Sweet and slow harmonious interplay is the texture of "When I Fall In Love." Don't drift off into a reverie because (pow!) here's the well known "Chili Con Carne," and so we are alternately jazzed and beguiled by a dozen great tunes, all in English.

Songlist: It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Sir Duke, When I Fall in Love, Chili Con Carne, God Only Knows, As Rain, Drive My Car, There Will Never Be Another You, Come Sunday, Very Early, I'm With You, Everybody Needs Somebody to Love

The Real Group : Unreal   

Whee! "The Flight Of The Foobirds" is chock full of delicious scat, "A Cappella In Acapulco" is not only alliteratively alluring but it will have your feet tapping for sure. "A Child Is Born" is nothing short of unreal! Hmm, there's a recording title there somewhere. The vocal trumpet on that one tune is plenty of reason enough to listen to Unreal! about a hundred times. It doesn't seem possible. What we have here is one of two cds released only for the Canadian and U.S. markets which includes some of the very finest of The Real Group. In addition to the dozen tunes sung in English, there are two Swedish folk songs. No, no, neither the Beatles nor Hoagy Carmichael is Swedish but Anders Edenroth is, and shares three originals with us including the aforementioned "A Cappella In Acapulco."

Songlist: Flight of the Foo-Brids, Walkin', A Cappella in Acapulco, A Child is Born, Come Together, Wait and See, Skylark, I've Found a New Baby, What Are You Doing for the Rest of Your Life?, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Body and Soul, Kristallen Den Fina, Jag Vet En Dejlig Rosa, For the One I Love

The Real Group : Get Real   

A Korean import, this CD is similar to the Real Group's earlier release, 'Unreal,' with a few very exciting differences. If you've ever looked at their sheet music collection published by 'Walton,' you may have stumbled upon a song called 'How Come Its So Hard To Be The Way You Are?' If you've listened to a decent amount of their Swedish repertoire, you would have learned that the song is actually the English version of 'Varfor Far Man Inte Bara Vara Som Man Ar?' But where can you find the English version of this song? Look no further, its on 'Get Real.' A few other new highlights to this CD are a studio version of 'Strawberry Fields Forever,' their award-winning cover of 'Dancing Queen,' and you'll get to hear English lyrics added to 'For The One I Love.' All three of these additional tracks show off the group's virtuoso ability to create a vocal accompaniment that you will swear sounds more like other instruments rather than the human voice! While you may have heard many of the tracks on this CD before, this is a must have for all Real Group fans worldwide!

Songlist: A Cappella in Acapulco, A Child is Born, Dancing Queen, Wait and See, How Come It Is So Hard To Be The Way You Are, What Are You Doing for the Rest of Your Life?, For the One I Love, Flight of the Foo-Brids, Love Is Meant For Everybody, Come Together, Strawberry Fields Forever, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Kristallen Den Fina

This is a collection of Swing tunes from 2006 Sweet Adelines International Chorus winners The Scottsdale Chorus, directed by Lori Lyford. We have a special place in our hearts for the Swing Era, and the Chorus truly does it justice on songs like "Singin' With The Big Bands," "Embraceable You," "In The Mood," "Rhythm Medley," "Jump Shout Boogie," Duke Ellington's "It Don't Mean A Thing," "Original Dixieland One-Step," "Lies/Times Medley," "Saxophone Man" and "Where Does the Time Go." The Scottsdale Chorus is all about rich harmonies, spirited singing, great arrangements and classic material - what's not to like?

Songlist: Singin' With the Big Bands, Opus One, Embraceable You, In the Mood, Rhythm Medley, Jump Shout Boogie, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Original Dixieland One-Step, If You Love Me, Really Love Me, Lies/Times Medley, Oh How I Miss You Tonight, Saxophone Man, Where Does the Time Go

The Swingles' discography boasts a stylistic diversity unmatched by any other a cappella group--from Mozart to madrigals, Bach to the Beatles, folk songs to fugues and film themes, but "Mood" focuses on their forte: jazz. These eight gifted singers have a symbiotic relationship with some of the best arrangers in the world, Ward Swingle, Bertrand Groeger, Alexander L'Estrange, Jonathan Rathbone and others. "Mood" begins with Miles Davis's "So What," which is followed by a brilliant selection of 1960s Latin jazz, "Surfboard," Jobim's "Insensatez" and "The Girl From Ipanema" (The best version we've heard), and "Milonga del Angel." Three moody jazz ballads, "A Time For Love," "The Peacocks" and "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" follow. Then three Richard Rodgers classics, "Have You Met Miss Jones?," "My Funny Valentine" and "The Lady Is A Tramp." Then come four classic 30s and 40s standards: "Just One of those Things," "My Foolish Heart," "All The Things You Are" and "It Don't Mean A Thing," finishing with Quincy Jones' 1966 hit, "Soul Bossa Nova" (from Austin Powers). Our favorite is the stunning 60s Latin Jazz section, which we hope they devote a whole CD to, but every song is a finely-crafted jewel. "Mood Swings" swings us into a jazz mood and never lets us go. Listen to the vocal trumpet solo on "The Lady Is a Tramp"--it's almost unnecessary, because the soprano voices are already doing soaring jazz trumpet riffs throughout the song. This is breathtaking proof of our contention that the Swingles are the best at whatever style they choose to sing - simply perfect! Highly recommended.

Songlist: So What, Surfboard, Insensatez, The Girl From Ipanema, Milonga del Angel, A Time For Love, A Timeless Place, What Are You Doing For The Rest Of Your Life?, Have You Met Miss Jones?, My Funny Valentine, The Lady is a Tramp, Just One Of Those Things, My Foolish Heart, All The Things You Are, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Soul Bossa Nova

Renowned director Gene Aitken is considered one of the most exciting and energetic educators and clinicians today, and his Jazz Studies Program at the University of Northern Colorado has received a Grammy nomination and more Down Beat magazine awards and National Endowment for the Arts grants than any other institution. The 3-man, 2-women Axidentals perform with a very hot 5-piece jazz ensemble, but they also have several fine a cappella cuts on "Hot XI," including Rodgers & Hart's "My Heart Stood Still," Mark Murphy's "Gone," "It Don't Mean a Thing," and Duke Ellington's "Come Sunday." All woman jazz quartet Sus 4 also perform "Invitation" and "Love for Sale" with 5-piece jazz accompaniment. Two man, 3 woman a cappella jazz ensemble Et Cetera's "Paradise," "Old Man River" and a cover of the Average White Band's "Pick Up The Pieces" are other favorites. An excellent collection from some of the best Collegiate jazz groups in the country!

Songlist: Somethin's Coming, My Heart Stood Still, Gone, Lazy River, Signed, Sealed, Delivered, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Yatra Ta, Teach Me Tonight, Come Sunday, Night and Day, Invitation, Love for Sale, Paradise, Old Man River, Pick Up the Pieces

Various Artists : Harmony Sweepstakes 2004   

This year's Harmony Sweepstakes reminded all who participated, how magical making music can be. Now, we all can share that magic by listening to this excellent live recording. With 20 years gone by, this national competition is still going strong and bringing out the very best in a cappella singing. This year's show had an excellent assortment of various styles, including jazz, pop, contemporary, Latin and much more. There were lots of humorous moments, including the national champions, Chapter Six's original song, 7th Wheel, as well as somber/uplifting moments including the beautiful performance of Kiss From A Rose by Impulse. Of course no one could forget Clockwork's performance of Inna-Godda-Da-Vida or Vox Bop's Commercial medley. With continuous stellar performances from all eight groups, this 19 track CD is sure to keep you entertained.

Songlist: Happy Birthday, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Blue Bayou, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, Salsa Te Triago Yo, 7th Wheel, Charlie on the M.T.A, Take 5, St. Louis Blues, I've Got Rhythm/Fascinatin' Rhythm, God Bless This Child, Obsession, Cree (Believe), Isn't She Lovely, Use the Force, The Commercial Medley, Bye Bye Blues, Shining Star, Kiss From A Rose

Vocation : 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!

Songlist: It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Without A Song, Regnets sang, Nar Charlie ar todd, I Remember You, Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You, Almost Like Being In Love, Imorron, Hot Like This, Nature Boy, Come Rain of Come Shine

The members of Western Wind, four men and two women, share an incredible depth of experience and scholarship. Combine that a musical sensitivity that embraces almost any genre, and the result is a "musical history tour." Beginning with the medieval, the group includes Rennaissance polyphony, African-American spirituals and Duke Ellington swing on their journey. "Dolcissimo Uscignolo" and "L'Amfiparnaso" border on the operatic. Philip Glass' "Vessels" (Glass is a contemporary composer of some repute) takes as a central concept a repetitive series of intervals, minor second, major second, minor third, though not in that order, juxtaposed against an arpeggiated scale or repeated tone, conveying a marvelous sense of energy, upward movement and growth. Fifties doo-wop takes a turn with "Sh'boom, Life Could Be A Dream," though the vocal style is much too refined to resemble the original version(s). Four tracks have minimal accompaniment.

Songlist: Introduction:, O Western Wind, Medieval:, Sumer is Icumen In, Flos Regalis, Se d'Amer Me Repentoie, Irme Quiero Madre, Renaissance:, Ay Luna, Miraculous Love's Wounding, L'Amfiparnaso, Act I, Scene I, Dolcissimo Uscignolo, Contemporary:, Vessels, Zango, Mexico Fellaheen, Spirituals:, Amazing Grace / The Promised Land, I Believe This Is Jesus, Folk, Pop, & Jazz, I'm too Tired to Tell You That I Love You, 'Round Midnight, I'm Beginning to See the Light, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Sh'boom, Life Could Be a Dream, Canary in a Coal Mine, Wimowen, That Lonesome Road

On April 5, 1998 The Women's Chorus of Dallas performed the music from this CD in Dallas; exactly 100 women on stage in authentic 1940s attire. The artistic director, and the only man at TWCD rehearsals, is Dr. Tim Selig. Their principal accompanist and arranger is Anne Albritton, whose piano graces all the songs. There are 17 great songs from the 40s here, but actually many more; "Train Medley," for instance, includes "Take the A Train," "Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe," "Chattanooga Choo-Choo," and "Choo-Choo Ch'Boogie." There's a wonderful booklet included with photos and dedications and memories. The audience, many of whom got through the 40s with the help of this wonderful music, loved it, and so will you!

Songlist: In the Mood, Big Band Bash, Come Rain or Come Shine, Sunny Side of the Street, Stormy Weather, Long Ago and Far Away, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Flat Foot Floogie, Mood Indigo, Train Medley, Route 66, In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning, Thanks for the Memory, What I'll Do, For All I Know / My Buddy, I'll Be Seeing You, God Bless America

We feel like we know these 7 personable young men from the Chicago area very well. 3-time winners of the Chicago Harmony Sweeps Regional beginning in 2000, they have been onstage regularly at the National Finals, finally winning the whole enchilada in 2004. The liner notes for "In Concert" are about as minimal as they can be-some nice small stills from the DVD on the front, and then a listing of the songs on the back. This seemed curious until we realized that the DVD is aimed at people who have seen Chapter 6 in concert or heard one of their 4 excellent CDs, people like us. We don't need breathless prose to convince us about how wonderful the group is, we know that-let's just get this packaging open, and-cool, there's 2 DVDs, one with 17 hits, and the other with behind the scenes footage. It's all here, Stevie's "Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing," Freddie's "Bohemian Rhapsody," "Theme and Variations on It Don't Mean A Thing if It Ain't Got That Swing" (which won Best Arrangement in 2004), "Ode to Krispy Kreme" and the hilarious, brilliant 5-minute "Wizard of Oz" that absolutely won them the Finals and drew them another standing O at the A Cappella Summit that year. Great stuff all the way through, and we have to say, stardom couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of guys!

Songlist: It's About Time, Don't Worry 'Bout A Thing, What A Wondeful World, Pick Up The Pieces, Bohemian Rhapsody, Ode To Krispy Kreme, And They Praised God, And I Raised Cod, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), God's Love, The 7th Wheel, How Deep Is Your Love, Lost In Canada, Sweet, Sweet Spirit, Wizard Of Oz, The Rootbeer Song

Formed at Southwestern Community College's School for Music Vocations in 1991, the mixed-voice sextet VoicesIowa was recently honored by Down Beat Magazine as "Vocal Jazz Group of the Year." Their repertoire also includes Renaissance part-songs, 19th and 20th century compositions and arrangements of contemporary music. Their Director Phil Mattson has been nominated twice for Grammy Awards. These 12 songs, recorded live at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi, MN, feature Mattson-arranged winners like "Snow Covers the Valley," Bach's "Jesu, Meine Freude," Burt Bacharach's "Alfie," "Never Let Me Go," Johnny Mercer/Harold Arlen's classic "Blues in the Night" and Irving Berlin's "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep." Ward Swingle's "Country Dances" and the Swingle-arranged "Satchmo," Duke Ellington's "Don't Mean A Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing," Anders Edenroth of the Real Group's "Friendship" and Bobby McFerrin's "Jubilee" are other favorites. Great stuff, from the first cut to the last!

Songlist: Since All Is Passing, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Snow Covers the Valley, Jesu, Meine Freude, Alfie, Jubilee, Never Let Me Go, Satchmo, Friendship, Blues in the Night, Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep), Country Dances