New York Voices

New York Voices | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 12, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Grp Records
• ASIN: B0000001QI
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,048 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars one word: Innovative, November 10, 2001

By 

Paul Neveu (Seacoast region) - See all my reviews

This review is from: New York Voices (Audio CD)

Although I like their other albums, in my eyes, this CD by the New York Voices goes several steps beyond. This is a group that is not afraid to take risks -- and on this album they stick their neck out big time. With intricate harmonies, rhythms and voicings, as well as individual parts that are written more like instruments in a jazz ensemble, this album is proof that if you put a lot of time and effort into something, the result can be astounding.

Many vocal groups falter when individual members put their own style and agenda ahead of the group's. A typical result is burying you with too much vibrato, or trying to showcase the vocal "tricks" possessed by each member (imitating instruments, making that fake growling sound, too much "do-wop", etc). This album is the antithesis of that philosophy. They are not afraid of dissonance, the raw sound of the human voice, or taking chances if the overall result has a greater impression on you, the listener. Turns out this was a good bet.

My only hope is that the NYV will put out another album like this one, without any theme to it. In my opinion, this is the style of writing and performing that sets them apart.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have, April 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: New York Voices (Audio CD)

The New York Voices' first, self-titled CD, deserves to be in any jazz musician's (and certainly Vocal Jazz musician's) collection. Indeed, "New York Voices" has wonderful arrangements of jazz standards such as "Round Midnight" and "Caravan" as well as original pop songs with definite jazz roots such as "Dare the Moon," and "Now or Never." Also notable is the haunting, a capella "Come Home." The NYV combine their jazz chops (listen to "Caravan," and you'll hear mega-chops!) with their fantastically expressive and versatile voices, brilliant arrangements and sense of style, making their first-CD a must-have!

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing debut by future vocal jazz greats, May 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: New York Voices (Audio CD)

The debut recording by vocal jazz group New York Voices suffers from poor production and some synthetic sounds that partly cloud the quality of the music. Most of the time the three gals and two guys seem to be singing at the top of their (New York) voices but still sound tinny and too far back in the mix. Anyway, the music's great, the fantastic arrangements of standards (such as Caravan and the a bit overlong Round Midnight) as well as the intriguing original material (National Amnesia, Dare The Moon, Street Party). Hard to believe their later albums would get even better.