Various Arrangers : Girls Love to Mambo

Ready for samba! "The Girl from Ipanema" - The legendary Brazilian composer Antonio Jobim's most famous song in a memorable setting. "Blame It on the Bossa Nova" - You'll capture the sound of an era when you perform this campy hit from 1963 at the zenith of the Bossa Nova craze! Opening with a two part call and response, it moves into a fully harmonized chorus with some clever lyrics that will create smiles all around. "Mas Que Nada" - This classic bossa nova tune will give a smooth Brazilian flavor to your next jazz or show choir concert. Originally recorded by Sergio Mendez & Brazil '66. Includes Portugese and English lyrics. "Mambo Italiano" - Here is an irresistible choral setting of Rosemary Clooney's famous hit from 1955 that will be tons of fun to perform! A delightful concert change of pace! "One Note Samba" - This samba standard absolutely sparkles with cheerful rhythm! Perfect for high school singers and up with plenty of solo opportunities, you'll work your diction skills and dazzle your audience. "Papa Loves Mambo" - Direct from the 1950's comes this delightful little song and recorded by a myriad of artists through the decades. Mark Hayes' arrangement is full of fun and life and will be appealing to all ages. Try some movement adding a little uh to your performance and a little mambo to your stage. Absolutely timeless!

Songlist: The Girl from Ipanema, Blame It on the Bossa Nova, Mas Que Nada, Mambo Italiano, One Note Samba, Papa Loves Mambo

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

Five man, one woman Brazilian quintet BR6 is back, and we are very, very happy to hear it! This impossibly smooth, talented, incredibly arranged a cappella group wowed us with their first album, "Rio A Cappella," then again with a stellar cover album, "Here To Stay." Now we hold in our hot little hands "Musica Popular Brasileira A Cappella Vol. II," (basically, a cappella covers of Brazilian Pop Music), with all the liner notes and song titles in Spanish, and we're sitting here with headphones on, just digging on all this sweet, sexy, salsa-flavored a cappella music! 12 songs, including one of our favorite Idea of North covers, "Mas Que Nada," a jazzy, vocal instrumental song called "Surfboard" that would make the Swingles proud, some silly, fairly wonderful faux horns on "Diexe a Manina," the haunting "Beijo Partido," the vocal percussion and faux horns Jazz gem "Nao Vou Ficar," the breezy, bluenote "Retrato da Vida" and "Eu Quero um Samba," which is impossible not to dance to! Every cut here is big fun, great jazzy stuff, and it didn't even cross our minds that we didn't understand the words. Don't miss this long-awaited collection from one of South America's best!

Songlist: Papagaio do Futuro/ Fe na Perua, Mas Que Nada, Tanta Saudade, Sou Voce, Bala com Bala, Surfboard, Deixe a Menina, Beijo Partido, Nao Vou Ficar, Casa, Retrato da Vida, Eu Quero um Samba

A four piece mixed group from Australia, "The Idea of North" has compiled an eclectic mix of songs, performed and arranged in an accessible contemporary jazz style. About half are accompanied; the melody line on "My Funny Valentine" is played by a flugelhorn, and there is bass and percussion on several other songs (bassist Duncan Brown plays in the snappin' and poppin' style of the "Seinfeld" theme). "The 23rd Psalm" (arranged by McFerrin) and "Irish Blessing" reveals a traditional side, and "Just a Closer Walk With Thee" has a gospel inflection and ragtime vocal horn solo. James Taylor's "Shed a Little Light" and "That Lonesome Road" are included, as is Harry Connick's "Trouble." This is a "crossover" record: it could qualify in either the contemporary or jazz categories. The second CD.has guest artists, James Morrison on Trombone on "Mas Que Nada," and "Fragile," the only two very lightly accompanied songs. This is an impressive, confident CD, reminiscent of the Real Group, and all the tunes are so beautifully arranged, selected and performed, it's hard to pick favorites - so we just sat back and enjoyed the sweet jazzy ride. The full color, beautifully photographed liner notes are a perfect complement to the music. Recommended!

Songlist: Sweet, Sweet Spirit, Fragile, Triste, Takes My Breath Away, Amazing Grace, Trouble, Shed A Little Light/The Gulf War Song, Sitting In Limbo, My Funny Valentine, The 23rd Psalm, You've Got What It Takes, That Lonesome Road, Just A Closer Walk With Thee, The Irish Blessing, My Foolish Heart, Straight To My Heart, It's Alright With Me, Mas Que Nada, Neat Surprise, Singin' A Cappella, Gotta Move On, Two Sides to the Story, Fragile, Abide With Me

Mansound : Voyage   

All male a cappella Vocal Jazz sextet from Kiev Ukraine ManSound was formed in 1994, the brainchild of composer/arranger Vladimir Mikhnovetsky, and they immediately began creating fans. First performing at, and winning, European Jazz festivals, ManSound hit the US by storm, wowing the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival and winning the coveted Ward Swingle Award. There are 15 tunes here, some favorites (admittedly the ones in English, as we can write their names here) are a hot salsa "Mas Que Nada," a scattish "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," an unbelievable arrangement of the BeeGee's "How Deep is Your Love," "Spain (I Can Recall)," "Air on G String," "Les Moulins de Mon Coeur" ("The Windmills of Your Mind") and "Beyond The Sea." ManSound has a powerful, exuberant sound, with spot-on vocal (and non-vocal) percussion that's scary good. The leads are sweet and soaring, and who cares if the singer knows exactly what he's singing? The arrangements are juicy and surprising, just listen to their fresh, bluesy take on "How Deep is Your Love." ManSound is the most exciting new sound in Vocal Jazz right now!

Songlist: Mas Que Nada, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, How Deep Is Your Love, Spain (I Can Recall), Air On G String, Les Moulins De Mon Coeur, Beyond The Sea, Yiddishe Mamme, Tetri Rashi, Amore No

In 2008-2009, celebrating its fifth year as one of the San Francisco Bay Area's premier women's vocal ensembles, 12-voice Musae presented its first ever Meet the Composer event, premiered works composed especially for them, hosted a grand party/fundraiser at the City Club, brought its annual December and May concerts to San Francisco, Berkeley and Tiburon, and recorded and released "five!" The ensemble describes its mission and vision as offering "a new experience of women's voices by combining musical artistry with an innovative and generous approach to performance." The 14 well-chosen cuts here begin and end with a soaring 12th Century chant by Hildegard von Bingen, "Karitas Habundat," there's Allister MacGillivray's lovely ballad "Song for the Mira," the heart-tugging Irish anthem "Danny Boy," and some wonderfully light and jazzy (and accompanied) renditions of "Mas Que Nada," "Canto de Ossanha," "Tempo de Amor" and "O Tico-Tico No Fuba." Next we have Graham Mayer's haunting, dissonant "When I Have Fears That I May Cease to Be," Princess Lili'uokalani's lovely "Ahe Lau Makani," Rene Clausen's powerful "Set Me as a Seal," Brian Holmes' soaring affirmation "I Shall Keep Singing" and Ryan James Brandau's beautiful "An Irish Blessing." Musae simply touches and inspires us with their "heartfelt and adventurous music." Enjoy!

Songlist: Karitas Habundat, Song for the Mira, Danny Boy, Mas Que Nada, Canto De Ossanha, Tempo De Amor, Tutu Maramba, O Tico-Tico No Fuba, When I Have Fears That I May Cease To Be, Ahe Lau Makani, Set Me As A Seal, I Shall Keep Singing!, An Irish Blessing

Ro Sham Bo : It's Not Over   

Berkeley, CA's three man, three woman a cappella jazz ensemble Ro Sham Bo, who impressed us with a strong set at the '06 Harmony Sweeps Bay Area Regional (winning Best Original Arrangement and 2nd place overall), bring us this impressive debut CD of 12 songs. The salsa favorite "Mas Que Nada" starts the program, the brilliantly arranged "Nature Boy," the silly "Barney is the Devil," jazzy "Why Haven't I Heard From You," "Greasy Granny" and "It's Over," the bluenote, scattish "Anthopology," the Blues standard "God Bless the Child," the moody "Interlude" and the striking bluenote arrangement of "Ballgame," which was a special request that the group sang only one time, are favorites. "It's not over" is a beautifully selected, arranged and performed debut by this talented mixed Bay Area sextet!

Songlist: Mas Que Nada, Baghdad Cafe, Barney Is The Devil, Why Haven't I Heard From You, God Bless The Child, Greasy Granny, Nature Boy, Simple House, It's Over, Anthropology, Interlude, Ballgame

Various Artists : Harmony Sweepstakes 2003   

We're of the almost certainly biased opinion that the Harmony Sweeps Finals are the best a cappella shows in the world. Imagine 8 groups, who have come in first in Regional competition with 10 other groups in places like New York, Boston, the Bay Area, Chicago and LA, performing before a packed auditorium in San Rafael, CA for 12 minutes each, for the coveted National Championship. Each year outdoes the last, and "electric" doesn't do justice to the 2003 Finals. There are 18 songs on the CD, two from each group and two from '02 Champs, and very funny hosts, LA's Perfect Gentlemen, "Gimme Some Skin" and the guitar accompanied (!) "Meanest Thing You Ever Did Was Kiss Me." The Bay Area's hilarious Moosebutter brings us "Psycho, The Musical," winner of "Best Original Song" (lyrics), and their trademark parody, "Star Wars," part of a set that won them 2nd place honors. The Pacific NW's Second Chance contribute a funky "Go Tell It On The Mountain" and the very funny beach song parody "Sand Down My Pants." LA's Undivided Musical Group sing "Amarte Mas" and nail Ward Swingle's arrangement of "Mission Impossible Theme." Boston's All About Buford do wonderful covers of the Gershwins' "Summertime" and Rodgers & Hart's "My Funny Valentine." Chicago's Nightwatch sing two songs from their infamous "Diner Set" (complete with ballistic donut), "Truck Drivin' Man" and "Yes Sir, That's My Baby," and New York's very smooth Cadence covers "Straighten Up and Fly Right" and "Tempted' beautifully. Denver's Groove Society gets the crowd up and rocking with "You're No Good" and the classic "Listen to the Music." Unbelievably, as good as all these groups were, the best was saved for last, Mid-Atlantic winner Idea of North from Australia, who shine on "Mas Que Nada" (which won the David Lichtman Award for Best Arrangement) and Randy Newman's heart-tugging "When She Loved Me." Idea of North got the nod from the judges, and won Audience Favorite, while Moosebutter and Cadence placed 2nd and 3rd. A chorus of "Goodnight Sweetheart" later we were all walking out of beautiful Marin Veterans Auditorium, not believing how good a show we had just seen and heard!

Songlist: Mas Que Nada, Amarte Mas, Psycho: The Musical, Go, Tell it on the Mountain, My Funny Valentine, Truck Drivin' Man, Gimme Some Skin, Straighten Up and Fly Right, You're Not So Good, Tempted, When She Loved Me, Sand Down My Pants, Star Wars, Meanest Thing You Ever Did Was Kiss Me, Yes Sir, That's My Baby, Mission Impossible Theme, Summertime, Listen to the Music

Various Artists : Harmony Sweepstakes 25th Anniversary    

This 25th Anniversary collection is 2 discs of prize-winning tunes and Big Fun from the first 25 years of the best a cappella show on the planet, The Harmony Sweepstakes National Finals! The first disc has 23 of our favorites from these shows, and it was, you might imagine, very hard to pick from:- let's see-8 Regional Winners per show times 25 equals 200 great groups, times 3 or 4 songs per group, well, you get the picture. How can we forget The Idea of North's "Mas Que Nada," Naturally Seven's "Bridge Over Troubled Water," Chapter 6's marvelous "Wizard of Oz Medley" or Moosebutter's hilarious "Star Wars?" Now we, and you, don't have to! Just to give you a taste of all the goodies on Disc 1, we present a list of the groups that are included: 17th Avenue All Stars, The Idea of North, +4db, Hi-Fidelity, Naturally Seven, Moira Smiley & Voco, Chapter 6, Clockwork, Traces, Harmonytrix, Acapelicans, Moodswing, The Coats, The New Originals, Pickups, Chicago Voice Exchange, Metropolis, Moosebutter, Face, Citylights and SoVoSo. The second disc has 18 songs from the amazing 25th Anniversary Finals, featuring "Book of Love," "Cat is High" and "Ghost Train" from 3rd Place winner Rezonate, "Bye Bye Norman" and "Bill Bailey Medley" from 2nd Place winner and Audience Favorite, the Bay Area's own The Love Notes, and "Brand New Day" and "Don't Break The Heart" by National Champs Maxx Factor. Also included are "When the Lilacs Bloom" and "Nothing At All" from 2008 Champs Vocaldente, plus tunes from Road Show, Mouth Beats, 3 Men and a Melody, Cartoon Johnny and Evolution. It always seems to us that every Harmony Sweeps National Finals is even better than the last, but there's really no comparison, because they all are wonderfully unique. So, for a very reasonable price, treat yourself to this Sweeps banquet, and, as we have, settle back and savor each of the a cappella goodies within!

Songlist: Sly and the Family Stone Medley, Mas Que Nada, In a Mellow Tone, Blackbird, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Bring Me Little Water, Sylvie, Wizard of Oz Medley, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, Mary Don't You Weep, O Sinfuni Mungu, Get Down Tonight, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Paper Moon, Stray Cat Strut, Plastic Jesus, Route 66, Spiderman, Sweet Georgia Brown, Change in My Life, Star Wars, O Fortuna, That's How You Jazz, Say