Customer Reviews

Vibrate

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

 

 

When the Manhattan Transfer decided to follow up their brilliant 1991 album "The Offbeat of Avenues" with three mediocre albums starting with 1994's "Tonin'," I felt like I lost four of my best musical friends. Luckily, my friends are back with a terrific new release for Telarc records. Everything I love about the Manhattan Transfer is here. Daring vocal arrangements combined with bold song choices. This is the formula they used for their 5 best albums "Extensions," "Mecca for Moderns," "Vocalese," "Brasil" and "Offbeat of Avenues." Luckily they returned to that winning formula for "Vibrate." Kudos to the Transfer for this extrememly rewarding new CD.

The Manhattan Transfer has always been a very eclectic singing group, given the superlative degree of musicianship of each of its four singers. But when you think of the M.T., you tend to think of two genres: vocalese (e.g., most of "Vocalese" and the best cuts of "Mecca for Moderns") and jazzed-up doo-wop (e.g., "Boy from New York City," "Trinkle Trinkle" and "Operator")

This album has precious little of that. Its vocalese consists of a harmonized version of Jon Hendricks' wonderful "Doodlin'", an old Horace Silver staple most prominently covered by Mark Murphy; and its doo-wop is the last cut, a cool medley of "Come Softly To Me" and "I Met Him on a Sunday" (complete with "Papa do-run-run's" in the background)

The album as a whole is as wide a pastiche of eclectism as you'll find from a singing group. From Latin-tinged ("Walkin in New York), to Oriental-influenced ("Greek Song"), to Mediterranean-toned ("Vibrate"), to straight ahead jazz ( Miles'"The New Juju Man"), this album has it all.

My favorites are the three cuts augmented with a string quartet and piano: the aforementioned title track; a lovely cover of Gershwin's "Embraceable You"; and IMO the album's highlight, or "Core of Sound." I think the reason these work so well is that, not only are they gorgeous arrangements in and of themselves, but also the violin extends the soprano range of Cheryl Bentyne, while the cello extends the bass range of Tim Hauser, so that the tightly harmonized quartet sounds even more impressive than usual.

Special note, as well, to the most adventurous track, "First Ascent", a space-aged sounding, tightly harmonized tune over a fast 7/8 background.

Based on all of these superlatives, you ask, why only four stars? Basically, I have to put some distance between this album and the Transfer's best, or "Vocalese", as well as the best vocal ensemble jazz album of the new millenium, or the New York Voices' "Sing Sing Sing." But it's a very high four, and I strongly recommend this album to all. This one will grow on you. RC

This album proves why the Transfers are still the planet's premiere vocal group!! Happy that they are back to their eclectic/variety album mode. from the esoteric tunes of Miles Davis to swing to vocalese to doo-wop to latin to contemporary tunes by Rufus Wainwright and Brenda Russell - this album has almost everything. Would've wanted a couple of R&B flavored tunes on this..... or even to be so daring as to visit the dance genre or acid jazz/smooth jazz sound once again (remember Mecca for Moderns and Extentions?)Janis, Tim, Cheryl and Alan - after all these years, I am still your number one fan!

Just a note to Telarc - the major disappointment on this album was the photography, art direction , packaging and lay-out. For such a classy group, the CD's Front cover was definitely NOT flattering for the group.

You can never fault the Manhattan Transfer on quality - they're some of the best singers working today - but some of their song selections make me scratch my head in wonder. Maybe I'm younger than the average fan, but songs like "Walking in New York" are just a little too Lite FM for me. That said, I thought "Greek Song" was a risky choice that paid off very well. Overall the album is quite good, but there's not a track that truly stands out as classic MT. It's very well done, just not the collection of songs I was hoping for.

If you're looking for swinging music with the natural sound of a live concert, this album will disappoint. Robert Woods, erstwhile owner of Telarc, created what was, overall, the finest recording company that ever has existed in part because he sought to reproduce REAL sound in REAL environments. He produced this MT project, and it has "business decision" written all over it, not "musical decision." What you get here is another over miked, cut-and-pasted recording job indigenous to a technological-mad industry. Record some tracks here, record some tracks there. Doesn't matter where or when. Slip on the headphones and overdub until you drop. Slap all these tracks together and offer it to a gullible public that has grown up hearing nothing else and considers the sound man as one of the performing musicians. Sad. Looks as if Bob Woods employed too many rock 'n roll cooks in this project's kitchen. The MT, rather than standing in front of background instrumentalists, is immersed a rock 'n roll-style mishmash of sound. The included (and copious) program notes glow in admiration of each arrangement, but they are mostly ones that send me jumping to the next track in search of the swinging Manhattan Transfer I remember. The search was largely in vain. Only in the Doodlin' track did they come close.

Where oh where has good sound gone?

If you like the Manhattan Transfer, and I have for the past 35 years, you'll love their CD "Vibrate." There are two standards on the CD; Embraceable You and a medley of Come Softly to Me/I Met Him on a Sunday.

In addition, there are cute ditties like Doodlin', Vibrate and The Greek Song.

All the songs are delightful, with a smooth, harmonic blend of the groups two male and two female voices.

Transfer the CD music to an MP3 player, and the sound is great for the gym, or laying in your back yard, just doodlin'.

I've been a Transfer fan forever...and having grown up in the NYC area, I really dig their style. Their vocal abilities are beyond compare, and even though this album might be an acquired taste for many...(it is somewhat of a departure from what you might have expected from them);
the more I listen to it the better it gets. If you ever get the chance to see them live, don't miss it!

Tight harmonies,great orchestrations...this album has it all! Nods to Miles Davis, Jon Hendricks (do yourself a big favor, and listen to the album "Everybody's Boppin'" by Lambert, Hendricks & Ross for some tremendous early work in this style) as well as work by newer composers (Rufus Wainright's "Greek Song").

As a person who first heard Manhattan Transfer live in the '70's, let me assure you that they have lost NOTHING in vocal quality or the willingness to branch out.

It's not "Bop Doo-Wopp", and it doesn't rise to the level of "Vocalese" but this offering by MT clearly shows that they are going strong!

i have everything they have put out (domestic and international). i've only been to 1 concert. love their music, all types.

The Manhattan Transfer has done it again, their 15th album shows the power of jazz/pop. Since the early 1970s, The Manhattan Transfer have been pushing and redefining the boundaries of vocal music in the context of jazz, pop and numerous other styles. Along the way, the collective efforts of vocalists Cheryl Bentyne, Tim Hauser, Alan Paul and Janis Siegel have earned The Transfer a healthy collection of Grammy Awards and a loyal fan base that spans the entire globe.
The latest chapter in the quartet's exploratory trajectory is Vibrate,, their new album on Telarc set for release on September 28, 2004. Throughout the album's eleven tracks, The Transfer explore both the traditional and progressive sides of jazz, plus various shades of Latin, world and pop music.

The Manhattan Transfer make the whole world vibratin', their 15th album contains the excitement of jazz/pop. 15 albums, 10 Grammys, and known as The Kings And Queens of Tuxedo Junction.