Customer Reviews

Andy Bey & Bey Sisters

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I purchased this because I caught Andy Bey's voice on the radio and was overwhelmed by the unique style an quality of his voice. Then when I read that he'd recorded with his sisters, I knew I had to have a listen and after listen after listen I continue to be shocked by all of the vocal and rhythmic surprise that pour out one after the other. Check out the time signatures on "Taste of Honey", a song I'd never expected to be excited about again. These folks harmonize as only siblings can. They pronounce ever sound the same way, form their vowels the same way and have the same musical sensibilities. This is so satisfying to those who love vocal harmony and rhythm.

I have always been a big Andy Bey fan, and now to hear his talented sibling trio that started it all... Salome & Geraldine are devine singers. A group WAY before thier time. I so wish more people knew about them, as they are amaizng. Just lisitn to the blends on this CD!!!! And the family has a second generation of talented people in the wings, singer Aisha de Haas, and OBIE award winners Darius de Haas and Ronnell Bey just to name of few. Buy this CD and you will listin to it all the time!

Not since Billy Ekstine and Sarah Vaugh sang "Passing Strangers", have voices blended so well that they add up to more than their component parts. The shared gene pool of this brother and his two sisters must account for some of the vocal magic. You literally will not believe your ears. The sound has more to do with harmonics than harmony. The selection of songs is very tasteful with a few exceptions but this group could sing the phone book and you'd still listen. Truly one of a kind, this recording is actually the re release of two vinyls dating back to the 1960's. The first ten selections on this CD represent the best album. Kenny Burell, Milt Hinton, and some other jazz greats provide back-up. This is a truly amazing gem.

Contemporary Andy Bey is marvelous but somewhat sedate and even lugubrious for some folks. These vintage recordings--actually two albums--where he sings and creates extraordinary harmonies with his two sisters is quite the opposite of lugubrious. What's the word? Joyful? Ecstatic? Try the "Love" medley, with Love is Just Around the Corner, I Love You, and Love You Madly. It's just great. So is everything else. They should play this one on suicide hot lines. It's just life-affirming and wonderful.

Back in the 60's in Toronto, I worked at CBC Television. I did a show with this group and they were just great. Their arrangements are wonderful and their harmony is unique. One of my favorite tracks is "Since I fell for You". I had the LP (which was well worn) and was so glad to find it in CD form.

Andy Bey has gone on to record a lot of great jazz on his own and Salome is now living in Canada and doing a lot of club work.

I just wish Andy and his Sisters would get together again for a reunion! Now, that would really be something!

Do yourself a favor and take a listen to some of the excerpts from this CD, here on this site. You'll be sold!

Is this the best Jazz vocal album of all time? Maybe. Andy Bey and the Bey Sister's is among the few vocal albums that totally floors me. The others, John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, several of Billy Holiday's recordings, and a handful of others. The Bey albums are set apart in that the music runs the gambit of tempo's, is always swinging, has horn-like arrangements for the vocals,--with lush, beautiful harmony, and still manages a blues and spiritual tinged authenticity that grabs you in the chest. The musicians here are top notch,and I like Andy Bey's approach to the piano. Both the music and the vocals have merit here. I own Mobile Fidelity, Mapleshade, Mosaic, Classic, and other audiophile labels with great music and recordings. The Bey albums are beautifully recorded. If you love sweet, sophisticated Jazz, blues and spirituals, I can't imagine not being bowled over by this rare find. I have most of Bey's solo efforts, and I love them also, but the two albums presented on this set are the only ensemble vocal albums I've run across that (for me at least)has an enduring authenticity that completely avoids the cheesy-hipness that I have come to associate with this genre. Mind boggling that this isn't on everyone's short list, and I'm glad for the Bey renaissance. Thank's to whomever dug this one out of the vaults.

I first heard Andy Bey on a Horace Silver album back in the mid-90s. His voice was so unique and distinctive compared to most of his contemporaries, you had to take notice. And as distinctive as it is, he still has an amazing range and versatility that sometimes, it sounds as if another male singer has taken the mic. I never realized he had been around for so long or that he had a small but powerful catalogue. Salome and Geraldine Bey are equally versatile and I wish they'd put out more music either individually or as a group.

I was looking for a good version of " 'round Midnight" to download to my iPod and I came across this version by he and his sisters. The sound was so haunting, dirgey and gothic, I eschewed Sonny Rollins version for the one found on this album. Andy and his sisters weave harmonies that sound otherworldly. Not only that, some of the versions of songs here sound ahead of their time even for a time of change that was the 60s when these were recorded. The music jumps from one form of jazz to another be it traditional jazz, gospel, big band-ish and even more soulful sounding jazz. This has become a staple at my house and in my car, office and iPod.