Customer Reviews

Collection

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The NYV are absolutely incredible. I've had the priviledge of seeing them live, and they are even better in person. Their harmonies and dissonances are flawless, and their balance is perfect. While this album is a bit on the "pop" side for me, this in no way diminished their amazing talents, and they do come across with some straight-up, old-school Jazz vocalizations that are truly amazing. I'm particularly thinking of "All Blues." If you buy this album, you will love it. Most of my friends think I'm a nut for listening to vocal jazz, but if you enjoy it, you will enjoy this album.

Only four stars for not giving us a full dozen of tunes, as well as for choosing inferior original material (Now Or Never, Do You Wanna Know..., Now That The Love...) over much better NYV originals (Dare The Moon, Street Party, Silence Of Time). Still a must-have collection, especially considering that two of the three albums it is compiled from appear to be no longer available.

This is a fantastic anthology of the years of the New York Voices when it recorded with five members, and its arrangements of traditional jazz standards breathe new energy and life into these memorable tunes. Other songs are have a definite pop influence. The musicianship of these artists (on this CD, Kim Nazarian, Darmon Meader, Peter Eldridge, Caprice Fox, Sara Krieger (on certain tracks) and Lauren Kinhan (on others)) is notable, as are their beautifully blended voices and keen sense of style. Their CD tastefully breaks down the barriers that traditionally has confined Vocal Jazz.

This is an absolutely incredible collection! The way that these 4 (sometimes 5) vocalists compliment each others voices in such beautiful fashion is truly a new wonder of the world. Songs such as "Now That the Love Is Over", "National Amnesia", "Open Invitation", "Do You wanna Know What I Want", and MUCH MORE are absolutely beautiful and no vocal jazz fan should be without them! Singing in a choir that performs many of their tunes I assure you these are the best original songs and arrangement I have EVER heard and have had the priviledge of permorming. Not even the legendary Manhattan Transfer can match them in my opinion! Three words: BUY THIS CD!!!

It's too bad we can no longer get the other two cd's this group recorded on GRP. I've been looking everywhere for them since my own copies have been swiped by my students. This is a great compilation...the only thing better is the actual cd's this was made from

I discovered NYV five years ago on a whim "10 FREE BMG CDs." The University Jazz group I was in (and now direct) promptly purchased $900 in NYV charts. Nobody can touch this group in music today.

I enjoy "What's Inside" and keep it in my car for the moments when I want to scream to the top of my lungs on "Aint No Sunshine" or meld with the smooth sounds of "Silence of Time." Truly phenomenal arrangements and voices-and I'm not normally that enthused about anything.

The only other group that comes close is The Real Group from Sweden.

I was interested in Vocal Jazz when I first decided to try this CD, and now I have a passion for it!!! Why can't there be more groups like New York Voices!?! I love this CD, and I do so much I am ordering the charts of the songs on the CD for my Jazz Choir or a small group to do. Of course we will never come close to the way New York Voices sound, but we'll give it a try!!! Their music is great!

I found this CD as a cut-out at a local Camelot music store for $3.99 and considered it my #1 music bargain of 1998. Original compositions and classic jazz tracks such as "All Blues" and "Giant Steps" are given fresh, glowing interpretations. More generous promotion may have allowed this group to achieve the popular recognition that the Manhattan Transfer has cornered in this style. Comparing greatest hits collections, this is more ambitious and better! GRP's normally slick, smooth production is actually an asset. Strongly recommended!

I'm going to preface this review by stating that I have never been a huge fan of "Vocalese". While I truly respect the talents of groups such as Manhattan Transfer,Take Six and Lambert, Hendricks and Ross the music style itself never really appealed to me on any type of emotional level. I've almost always viewed this genre as a novelty in the field of jazz. Again, very talented groups but a style of jazz that never truly touched a nerve.

That being said....New York Voices "Collection" has, oddly enough, become a true favorite in my vast cd collection. But I would be cheating if I told you that I have a new found respect for this type of music because of this fine disc. While I may not be a fan of Vocalese even I am aware that New York Voices actually integrates a more "Pop" style into their music than this genre would probably choose. Hence my enjoyment!

Three highlights stand out for me, "Now or Never","Do You Wanna Know What I Want" and "National Amnesia" are all wonderful songs but ...their not Vocalese in the truest sense of the word. And for that , I guess, I enjoy them as much as I do. Their best material tends to integrate a certain melodic flow with rich harmonies and a kind of "pop" sensibility that I find almost irresistable. What comes across is a group that sounds as if they're having a blast! Don't think that that's all that this fine group is comprised of though. They do "tackle" jazz standards such as "Giant Steps" and "All Blues" although with mixed results. Don't misunderstand me though, while "Giant Steps" is done remarkably well, it does tend to meander on for slightly too long. It feels as though these may have been included to give the act a more "street creed" among true jazz lovers. Something they need not aspire to. This group is vastly talented enough to stand on the merits of their own compositions. They really are that good!

In the end, I've always felt that Vocalese has always required a bit of "showboating" from it's singers and that at times, it subscribes to the "more is more" style of singing. Something I've never been comfortable with. Fortunately, New York Voices tends to approach their craft with a bit more subtly than that! Thank goodness! So be comfortable in the knowledge that by purchasing a copy of this wonderful disc you are selecting something with true "musicianship". And that is always in style!

Truely a greatly inspired collection of some of their best arrangements. The album is remarkable at displaying the group's amazing vocal arrangement abilities - what great talent! My favourite track on the album certainly is "That's the way of the world", originally on the "Hearts of Fire" album. It also contains some wonderful tracks from "What's Inside". My "collection" would be complete with the albums "Hearts of Fire" and "What's inside" if I could just find it! Can someone help me find it as I have literally searched all over the world?