Vocalese - The Manhattan Transfer (1LP Vinyl)

Vocalese by The Manhattan Transfer.

Few vocal groups ever dared to take on the language of bebop with the fearlessness that The Manhattan Transfer brings to "Vocalese." This is an album that treats the human voice as a full member of the band, weaving intricate wordless lines and lyric-driven melodies through some of the most challenging material in the jazz canon. From the opening swing of "That's Killer Joe," the group announces its intention to sing the horn parts, the solos, and the very architecture of the music itself.

The program is a tour through the vocalese tradition, and it wears its influences proudly. "Airegin" and "Another Night In Tunisia" nod to the enduring bop repertoire, while "Oh Yes, I Remember Clifford" and "Sing Joy Spring" carry the spirit of trumpet lyricism into layered, four part harmony. Tracks like "Rambo," "To You," and "(You Should) Meet Benny Bailey" give the record its variety, moving between muscular ensemble passages and moments of graceful, conversational phrasing.

Side B keeps the energy high with "Ray's Rockhouse" and "Blee Blop Blues," pieces that let the singers stretch out and trade lines with the kind of precision usually reserved for instrumental soloists. The closer, "Move," is a fitting exit, a burst of forward momentum that leaves no doubt about the group's technical command and their sheer joy in the material.

This reissue was produced for Exhibit Records by Ernie Campagna, and it has been given the care that music of this complexity demands. The mastering was handled by Kevin Gray and Momchil Zanev at Cohearant Audio, a pairing whose work is prized among listeners who want every interlocking vocal line to sit clearly in the mix. When voices are this densely arranged, the quality of the transfer matters, and this pressing lets the harmonies breathe.

The presentation is rounded out by graphic design from Bob Wynne Graphics, keeping the visual identity of the release in step with the ambition of the music inside. It is a package built for those who appreciate both the sound and the object, the sort of record that rewards attention on the turntable and on the shelf.

For collectors of vocal jazz and anyone drawn to the intersection of bebop and the human voice, "Vocalese" remains a landmark statement. It is a bold, virtuosic celebration of the art of putting words to solos, delivered by a group at the height of its powers. Pull it from the sleeve, drop the needle on "That's Killer Joe," and let the harmonies pull you straight into the tradition.

Pressing Details:
[from inside gatefold]
REISSUE CREDITS
Produced for Exhibit Records by Ernie Campagna
Mastered by Kevin Gray and Momchil Zanev at Cohearant Audio
Graphic Design: Bob Wynne Graphics

Track Listing:
A1. That's Killer Joe
A2. Rambo
A3. Airegin
A4. To You
A5. (You Should) Meet Benny Bailey
A6. Another Night In Tunisia
B1. Ray's Rockhouse
B2. Blee Blop Blues
B3. Oh Yes, I Remember Clifford
B4. Sing Joy Spring
B5. Move

Artist: The Manhattan Transfer

Format: 1LP

Genre: Jazz

Label: Exhibit Records (4)

Catalog Number: eXLP1-44063

Release Year: 2013

Country: United States

Condition: Sealed (New)