This mournful arrangement of the Thelonius Monk ballad, 'Round Midnight' starts with a rubato intertwining intro, then spotlights tense cluster voicings supporting a female soloist throughout. With imaginative reharmonizations, yet good voice leading, this chart is extremely effective and accessible. 'If You Wanna Fly' is an Al Jarreau-style showcase for a strong tenor-baritone soloist. This up-tempo samba features hot choral backgrounds throughout doing horn section licks, an a cappella vocal/percussion break in the middle and some quick unison passages with choir and soloist. 'Not Like This' is another exquisite ballad made popular by Al Jarreau. Contemporary harmonies and recorded by Voice Trek for their CD 'At Last.' Written by Bobby McFerrin and featured on his first album, 'Jubilee' is full of energy and fun. This arrangement is a cappella, with the bass singer doing an instrumental-like bass line throughout. It begins as a samba, goes to swing for a vocal improvisation solo and an ensemble 'soli' section, then back to the samba. The recording by Phil Mattson and the P.M. Singers (Jubilee album) features vocal percussion throughout, emulating a true drum part. If you have an experienced group and you're looking for a showcase piece to feature a talented bass singer and vocal percussionist, this arrangement is for you!

Songlist: Not Like This, Jubilee

This a cappella treatment of Rodgers and Hart's 'Little Girl Blue' has become a classic amung vocal groups. Plenty of vocal and dynamic range to give this chart lots of freedom for interpretation and make it your own. One of Harold Arlen's great ballads, 'Last Night When We Were Young' is written a cappella for SSATB choir with a short soprano solo. Chords are colorful but not difficult to hear. 'Exactly Like You' is a great a cappella medium swinger that is fun to sing and a fine program opener. Written by Bobby McFerrin and featured on his first album, 'Jubilee' is full of energy and fun. This arrangement is a cappella, with the bass singer doing an instrumental-like bass line throughout. It begins as a samba, goes to swing for a vocal improvisation solo and an ensemble 'soli' section, then back to the samba. The recording by Phil Mattson and the P.M. Singers (Jubilee album) features vocal percussion throughout, emulating a true drum part. If you have an experienced group and you're looking for a showcase piece to feature a talented bass singer and vocal percussionist, this arrangement is for you!

Songlist: Little Girl Blue, Last Night When We Were Young, Exactly Like You, Jubilee, Jubilee, Last Night When We Were Young, Exactly Like You

This superb 382-page resource contains more than 350 North American folk songs, carefully sequenced both rhythmically and melodically for use with the Kodály method, which is based on authentic Hungarian folk music. The collection features information about solfege, form, phrase, length, range, rhythmic construction, and more.

Songlist: Jubilee, 1 2 3, Ah Vous Dirai-Je, Maman? (Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star), Animal Song, Frog Went A-Courtin', Poor Wayfaring Stranger, Christus Natus Hodie, Goodbye, Old Paint, All The Pretty Little Horses, Let Me Fly, Cumberland Gap, On Springfield Mountain, Jesus Born In Beth'ny, Alphabet Song, I Wonder As I Wander, Daddy Shot A Bear, Down In The Valley, Soldier Boy, Little Bird, Skip To My Lou, Mary Had A Little Lamb, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, Pretty Saro, London Bridge, The Farmer In The Dell, Hickory Dickory Dock, I Got A Letter This Morning, Riding In A Buggy, Awake, (Go Tell Aunt Rhody) The Ole Grey Goose Is Dead, and more

Intricate arrangements and big and bold orchestrations, featuring saxophonist Richie Cole, characterize this six piece mixed group's sound, a pleasing mix of old and new jazz influences. The sound is suggestive of the Singers Unlimited in terms of complexity, though on "Waltz For Debby" and the tour-de-force (written by Clare Fischer) "The Quiet Side," the richness of the voicings invites comparisons to the Real Group. Speaking of "The Quiet Side," it is a seven minute exploration of form and tonality that begins a cappella, segues into a mid-tempo accompanied section that escalates in intensity using scat as it's medium, through an ascending sequence that descends again to the original introduction. "Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars" takes a vocal percussion idea which then evolves into a sultry duet with shimmering backups, "C'est Si Bon" is a throaty and suggestive interplay between voice and flugelhorn, with the horn part equal in importance to the arrangement. "Johnny One Note" is the Gene Puerling arrangement. A highly enjoyable and accomplished collection.

Songlist: Johnny One Note, C'Est Si Bon, Jubilee, Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars', Stella By Starlight, Waltz For Debbie, My Melancholy Baby, The Quiet Side

This fun CD includes live performances of the Pacific Mozart Ensemble from years 2000-2004. Eric Freeman and Jim Hale (members of PME and one of our favorite vocal jazz quintets, Clockwork!) have both contributed quite a few arrangements, which makes this an extra special recording. This CD has everything from classic pop and rock, to jazz ballads and big band standards. You are sure to enjoy every one of these amazing tracks! Best when purchased along with Jazz and Pop A Cappella, Vol. 4, Live, as they both cover the same seasons of this fantastic ensemble!

Songlist: Hazy Shade of Winter, Taxman, El Hambo, Four Lads Medley: Moments to Remember, No Not Much, Love is a Many Splendored Thing, Alma Mater (from Grease), Samba de Minha Namoradhino, Swingin Till the Girls come Home, You Raise Me Up, Goody, Goody, Travelin' Prayer, When the Night, Conjunction Junction, Jubilee, Philosopher's Song, BeeGees Medley, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, When the Hangover Strikes, I'm Cute, Five Brothers, Handful of Keys, Up Above My Head

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

The Seattle-based Tudor Choir is a professional mixed-voice choir with a flexible membership between 10 and 30 singers, founded by director Doug Fullington in 1993. They specialize in Renaissance polyphony and also sings Baroque, early American and 20th century music. "Gentle Words" is their 3rd CD. The Shakers (or United Society of Believers) originated in England in 1747. In 1770 the charismatic Ann Lee became the acknowledged leader, she and 8 others departed for America in 1774 to escape persecution. Their animated and ecstatic worship practices gave rise to their common name. The societies they formed are characterized by pacifism, gender/racial equality and an astounding industriousness and invention. These songs are part of a body of 10,000 Shaker songs. There are 28 a cappella tunes here, all following the Shaker aesthetics of beauty, simplicity and utility. "I will bow and be simple," "In Yonder Valley," "All is summer," "Love is little," "The burning day," the triumphant "Circular march," "Heavenly display," the foot-stomping "Followers of the Lamb," the joyous "Angels of heaven," "Dismission of Great I," "Gentle words," "Beautiful Valley," "Jubilee," "Cords of love" ... There is a quiet beauty and power to these songs--no wonder the Shakers have outlived all other utopian religious groups. Spirited, spiritual music sung beautifully!

Songlist: I will bow and be simple, In yonder valley, All is summer, O Lord make me pure, Love is little, The burning day, Circular march, Help me, O Lord, Heavenly display, Followers of the lamb, Come to Zion, We must be meek, Lay me low, Solemn song, Beautiful treasure, Peace, Angels of heaven, Hunger and thirst, Dismission of Great I, Revelation, Prayer for the captive, Gentle words, Beautiful valley, Jubilee, Exekiel's vision, Almighty Savior, Cords of love, I will go on my way

Protogees of Phil Mattson, Voices Iowa are students at the prestigious School For Music Vocations/Southwestern Community College. Under such tutelage, one recognizes a burgeoning talent that will be the vocal jazz sound of tomorrow. Indeed, Bobby McFerrin's "Jubilee" is an athletic workout requiring stamina and fortitude, while, on the opposite end of the spectrum, "Body and Soul" demands an equal measure of control and abandon (the latter a Grammy nominated arrangement originally written for the Manhattan Transfer, and complimented by Richie Cole's saxophone). Cole Porter's "Love For Sale" (a cappella) is anchored by a finger-snapping rhythm and connected by walking bass notes, and finishes with an aexhilarating vocal glissando, a veritable firecracker.

Songlist: Since All is Passing, I Hear Music, How Do You Keep The Music Playing, Jubilee, Body And Soul, Yag Vet In Delig Rosa, Love For Sale, Embraceable You, Yours In My Heart Alone, Dancing In The Dark, Bons Amigos, That Lonesome Road

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