Customer Reviews

Mood Swings

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

 

 

The Swingle Singers are hard to label. They are A Cappella, but they don't stick to one style. They are most famous for their eight-voiced arrangements of famous classical pieces, but they also venture into pop and jazz every once and a while. This CD is all jazz, and while I appriciate the creativity and incredible difficulty of the arrangements, the jazz feel isn't quite there. It's almost like when a classical choir does an encore called something along the lines of "Gershwin!" Perhaps that is a little rough though. These are true jazz arrangements (all by the founder of the group, Ward Swingle), just not executed as most vocal jazz group would. The Swingle Singers do not as their name might suggest swing the notes. Many pieces are intentionally not swung. It's a very peculiar feel which you might love or hate. This review sounds pretty harsh, but I do enjoy this CD and would recomend to any jazz or A Cappella fan. Ward Swingle is a brilliant arranger and the group, aside from the feel, performes them brilliantly.

Another beautiful a capella jazz program from Swingle Singers. It is different from their more well know classical music ones, but still brilliant. Simply divine voices...

This is a nice smooth, classy recording of the classic Swingle sound. I guess the relentless nature of that sound from track to track gets a bit much to make this a single-session-listen-to-it-all type of record. Soul Bossa is very good indeed. Much as like this album I would recommend Beauty and the Beat Box for anyone wanting a wider range of material by the Swingle Singers on one album.