Customer Reviews

Symphony Sessions

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This is a fabulous new CD from the Manhattan Transfer. Previously it was only available as a Japanese import, but luckily Rhino records has made it available in the U. S. After Manhattan Transfer's delightful 2004 outing "Vibrate," I was hoping that the follow-up would be good as well. While "Symphony Sessions" can't quite be considered a new album in the traditional sense, it does feature 10 favorites by the Manhattan Transfer newly recorded with a Symphony Orchestra plus two songs they've never recorded before. Time has not diminished their wonderful vocal blend or the strength of their solo voices (as anyone who has heard the "Vibrate" album knows) and the newly-recorded performances are terrific. We finally get a good studio recording of long-time fave "Route 66" (which was previously available as a live track or the not-so-good studio recording featured on the "Sharky's Machine" soundtrack.) We get a new recording of the old fave "Candy," which had previously only been recorded with the first Transfer line-up that included Laurel Masse instead of Cheryl Bentyne. "That's the Way It Goes" is one of the songs they have never recorded before and it is a delightful 50's doo-wop piece in the tradition of "Heart's Desire." The other completely new song is "Because You Are All Heart," a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald which is a vocalese performance of an instrumental song called "A Portrait of Ella." One of the real standout treats on this set is their new recording of "Clouds" from the "Swing" album. The orchestral arrangement on this is beautiful and it's nice to have a more fleshed-out arrangement as the original recording was mostly accompanied by guitar. Cheryl's solo on "Clouds" is even *better* than it was on the "Swing" album. The "Symphony Sessions" CD ends with a real bang. The Transfer revisits the totally awesome title track from their now out-of-print (!!!) 1991 album "The Offbeat of Avenues." And the last song is a stellar new version of their all-time fave "Birdland." At first I was a little put off by the more subdued vocals on the new recording of "Birdland," but then I realized that sometimes the vocals on the original 1979 studio version from "Extensions" are so loud and mixed so up-front and you almost have to be in a super-happy manic state to listen to it. This more subdued version is perfect for any time, although you still probably need to at least be in a good mood to want to hear it. Overall, anyone who has ever liked anything by The Manhattan Transfer should have no problems digging this new CD from them.

Symphonies/Pops Orchestras are not known for their ability to really swing, however, the arrangements on this album compliment so fully what the Transfer does with a song that swing feels second nature to this orchestra from Prague. The vocals are really fine, too. They are all tunes that we've heard on previous Transfer recordings, except for "Because You Are All Heart," which is a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald with vocalese lyrics by Alan Paul. To me, this work echoes the group's effort with "Body And Soul" back in 1979 on the "Extensions" album (not to get nit-picky with a previous reviewer on Amazon, but there is another recording of "That's The Way It Goes" from the Transfer's "Bop Doo-Wopp" album, recorded live in Japan in in the 1980s. It was part of the live sessions that would eventually become the "Man-Tora" CD release, yet, strangely enough, wasn't included in that presentation).
Anyway, "The Symphony Sessions" is a tremendous collection of the group's repertoire reconfigured through the Pops genre. If one is very familiar with the studio versions of these tunes, one might miss the slick studio (and often multi-track-recording) sounds of the group, particularly with "Nightingale," "Offbeat of Avenues" and "Birdland." However, these recordings offer a more raw and honest (yet not live) feel. There seems to be no doubling-up of vocals here, and the group still sounds pretty damn good.
The CD opens with "Route 66," incorporating Nelson Riddle's theme for the 1960 television series of the same name, giving the orchestra more to do than just mark time for the vocals. "Candy" follows, and indeed, it is the first time this tune has hit tape, vinyl, CD or computer chip since it was first recorded in 1975 with the original lineup of the group. It is more geared for the Pops sound as opposed to the big band sound it originally had on the group's first album (which was based directly on an earlier 1940s recording by the Pied Pipers). Another highlight is "A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square" which I haven't heard since the 1981 release of the album "Mecca for Moderns." This Gene Puerling arrangement has spread from just voices to orchestra with the symphony absorbing the lush intro ("London By Night") and some of the incidental and transitional parts. But this arrangement shines on as one of the most gorgeous, and even though they're not doubling up the vocals in the studio this time around, the Transfer makes this sound so warm and magical - I always think of Christmas when I hear this arrangement.
A surprise was hearing "Offbeat Of Avenues." I love this tune in its studio form, and have seen it live a couple times, and it translates very well to the stage. But I was very impressed to hear the incorporation of an orchestra. The baroque intro bursts into the opening chords of the song, strong with the backbeat of that early 90's slamming sound, yet it all makes sense. My only caveat is the reverb on the group's vocals. When we get to the vocal breakdown, much is lost to the reverb effect (the orchestra was recorded in Prague, the vocals in LA). Then there's "Birdland," which is the complete version. By that I mean that in the 1980s, the Transfer shortened the tune, shedding Tim and Janis' vocalese solos in the middle and making it a 'pop-friendly' version. In this version, the whole thing is intact, and bless that drummer, he or she keeps that album-inspired rim-clack beat going for over 6 whole minutes.
The songs I haven't mentioned are all great too, I just picked the aforementioned tunes as examples.
In all, it's not a ground-breaking CD, but for fans of the group, it just shows yet another side of this amazing quartet.

I was interested to see others' comments here: "quiet", "subdued", "not live". The kindest term I can think of for the performances on this disc is "careful". Not as in, "full of care", but as in "studied, deliberate, cautious". A peek into the booklet reveals why: The orchestral tracks were recorded in February 2006, the vocals in March 2006. Just like the cover photo, which shows the 4 singers quite obviously pasted into a scene they were never actually in, a pieced-together musical performance just isn't convincing--it doesn't come together and take off when all the performers are not able to work off each other. It's karaoke with professionals instead of amateurs. I'm really sorry to find the Manhattan Transfer turning out a product like this.

If you have listened to Manhattan Transfer for many years like I have you will enjoy hearing theses MT favorites and jazz standards with fresh arrangements for symphony orchestra. If you have seen them live with an orchestra you will have most likely heard these arrangements performed in concert. Their voices are as great as always and the complex harmonies are right on.

This is really fantastic CD. Amazing music, amazing voices. Fantastic vocal arrangements. Song No. 11 is something unbelievable (Offbeat of Avenues)
I recommend this album very much.
Who would think they are in their sixties! They explode with energy.

Here's a compilation of some Manhattan Transfer classics done with a large symphonic backing. Lots of strings, but not the usual up-tempo work that I have come to expect with the group. A good listen for a quiet restful evening.

The Manhattan Transfer has a timeless classique sound to encompass the ages. The two females (Cheryl Bentine and Janis Siegal) and the two males whose named I forget make up this eclectic singing quartet and they have remained together for decades and they still look incredible as if time has passed.

I was privileged to see the Manhattan Transfer in concert a few years back and they were incredible. They may not appeal to the youth but who cares, they appeal to those of us who listen to vocalists and this quartet has it down packed.

I was lucky to get this compact disc at a pharmacy. It's funny, I'm getting older and my tastes have suddenly become discount rack. Oh well, that's good for me.

I hope if you enjoy the Manhattan Transfer, you'll love this collection.

...to entertain, to energize, to excite.

"The Symphony Sessions" is great. I love to play it on long drives - I often hit "repeat" and listen for miles to "Birdland". It's fun to hear MT backed by an orchestra, but most of us know they would sound good singing with anything - a spoon and a tin can! Beside my above mentioned all time favorite, I highly recommend "Route 66" and "A Nightingale Sang in Barclay
Square", but the whole CD is wonderful. I also would highly recommend MT's "Tonin'" which is my CD to go to whenever I need my spirits lifted - don't give a thought to the drivers who stare at you - turn up the volume and SING ALONG!

Years ago I bought a bunch of Manhattan Transfer albums after seeing them perform live. Now I'm buying them on CD. They are timeless.

i have everything they've put out over the years. this isn't the very best work they've ever done (to my taste) but they work with a symphony better than any other group. their voices are instruments in themselves. i heard some of this product live at a recent concert of theirs and that triggered the buy.