'How Come It Is So Hard To Be The Way You Are' is a rockin' humorous look at today's society. The recording of the English version of this song can only be found on the album, 'Get Real.' 'Heavenly Crystal,' the english version of a folk song well known in Sweden, this arrangement is inspired by the music of J.S. Bach. Just plain cool - there's no other way to describe Anders Edenroth's newest arrangement, 'Words'! Edenroth has created a witty, sophisticated examination of the nature of 'words' - their sense, their social role, and the varied ways they can be sung and spoken - which will intrigue jazz choirs at all levels. "Gota" - Pronounced 'geu-ta' (hard 'g') - has its name from the Faeroe Islands in the Northern Atlantic. The music line and wordless vocal jazz treatment fuses with ethnic folk music in a truly original way. A true 'performance piece' and favorite in the repertoire of Swedish vocal giants The Real Group, Gota has quickly gained recognition world wide. For vocal jazz oriented high school and beyond.

Songlist: Words, Heavenly Crystal, How Come It Is So Hard To Be The Way You Are, Gota

"Soul Bossa Nova" is not for the faint of heart! The Quincy Jones instrumental used in the Austin Powers' movies has been adapted to an a cappella vocal setting that really cooks and will totally wow your audience! Bailando is the gerund of the Spanish word, "bailar" which means to dance, move rhythmically to music, as well as to skip or bounce in a dance-like manner. This arrangement by Greg Jaspere id bound to get everybody swingin' along. "O Sapo" - In this irresistible Brazilian song setting, vocal lines imitate percussion patterns to create a truly infectious groove. "Gota" - The music line and wordless vocal jazz treatment fuses with ethnic folk music in a truly original way. A true 'performance piece' and favorite in the repertoire of Swedish vocal giants The Real Group, Gota has quickly gained recognition world wide. For vocal jazz oriented high school and beyond.

Songlist: Gota, Soul Bossa Nova, Bailando, Ba Ba Doo Ba (A Jazz Improv), O Sapo

The Real Group : The Middle Of Life   

The A Cappella world is abuzz with the good news: the release of "The Middle of Life," The Real Group's much-anticipated new CD. Even better, "Life" is all new, all originals, all studio and all in English! Anders Edenroth writes the music and lyrics to "Prime Time Blues," a funky, saucy romp that features the title phrase and some state-of-the-art vocal percussion and mock horns, his "Words" is a lyrical, rhythmic masterpiece, "Friendship" has Anders singing a mellow, soaring lead, and his "The Grass Grows Greener" is an instant jazz standard with his voice adding a muted, precise tone. Peder Karlsson writes the understated, bluesy "Mister Father," his "Are You Coming To Me" is a salsa-flavored fiesta tune featuring Katarina on lead, "A Quiet Song" features Peder's slow, bluesy voice, and "Gota," featuring Peder and Katarina, has a simple, meandering melody that builds in intensity to symphonic proportions. Margareta Jalkeus writes "Spring Is Coming" and has a nice, soaring solo riff that becomes a dreamy scat sequence, and has a moody, mysterious lead on her "My Hidden World." Katarina Henryson writes "I Tried," shares writing credits with Anders on the ironic, pop-ish "A Perfect Life," and her bluenote alto on her "Given" is sweetly profound. So much talent here - we find ourselves listening to this CD again and again to appreciate just how far the a cappella envelope has been pushed, and comparing the genius and musical focus of the individual composers. Simply put, "The Middle of Life" is a masterpiece, an unexpected gift from Sweden to be unwrapped and savored on many levels!

Songlist: Prime Time Blues, Mister Father, Words, Spring Is Coming, I Tried, Friendship, Are You Coming To Me?, The Grass Grows Greener, My Hidden World, A Perfect Life, A Quiet Song, Given, Gota

"Live music is a powerful thing" says the opening sentence of this recording's liner notes and for The Real Group it is especially true. Recorded in April 2013 at the intimate jazz club Billboard Live Club in Osaka and Tokyo, this superb recording showcases the stunning voices and sublime arrangements that make the Real Group one of the very best in the business. Some of the songs on the recording have been in their repertoire for awhile but have never been recorded before by current group members Emma and Morton. They bring a fresh new interpretation of the material and its wonderful to hear how these old favorites have developed. There is also plenty of new material such as "Lucky Luke", the Daft Punk song "Harder Better Faster Stronger", the swingin' "Gee! Mine or Mozart's?" and Michael Jackson's "Bad". This reviewer has had the great pleasure of hearing the Real Group perform live and this recording helps relive the experience and for those of you who have not heard them live now here's your chance. The physical CD comes with a lovely color booklet chock full of photos and musings from the group members.

Songlist: Gota, Pass Me The Jazz, Nature Boy, Lucky Luke, Bad, Hellosong, A Life For Me, Catching The Big Fish, Harder Better Faster Stronger, Gee! Mine or Mozart's?, Love's Forever, Love's For You, For Me, For Now, Words, Julfemman, Mister Father, Count Basie Medley