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Primarily A Cappella
"Come on and Take a Sleigh Ride" is the second release
from talented mixed-voice (4 men, 4 women) a cappella octet An Octave
Above, who were 1st runner-up at the 2005 Chicago Harmony Sweeps
Regionals. The group has been gaining fans with live performances
at many Chicago venues, and this Christmas album shows off some
of their cutting-edge arrangements and tight, jazzy harmonies. Twelve
songs, some of our favorites are the opening cut "Sleigh Ride,"
a moody, jazzy "What Child is This" (with a fine solo
by Debra), a richly harmonized "Away in a Manger," a bluesy,
funky "God Rest You Merry Gentlemen," "Mary Did You
Know" (with Melinda's sweet lead), a surreal, '30s-retro "Toyland,"
a richly Italianesque "Gesu Bambino," a nicely-arranged
"O Holy Night," a classic "Silent Night," and
an upbeat "We Three Kings" with tight percussion by Scott.
Good fun stuff from Chicago sure to brighten your holidays! |
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Primarily A Cappella
The 4 men and 4 women of An Octave Above, (named 1st runner-up
at the 2005 Harmony Sweeps Chicago Regional) are a group of professional
vocalists, together for only 3 years, whose repertoire includes
doo-wop, jazz, standards and madrigals. This is the group's impressive
debut CD of 13 songs, beginning with a jazzy, light "Chile
Con Carne," a sweet Ward Swingle-arranged "All the Things
You Are," and a ringingly harmonic cover of James Taylor's
"That Lonesome Road." Doo-Wop classics "Come Go With
Me" and "In the Still of the Night" segue nicely
into Billy Joel's anthem "And So It Goes," a bluenote
"There Will Never Be Another You" grows upbeat and scattish,
"Tico Tico" puts a margarita in our hand and pulls us
onto the dance floor, and finally we have Ward Swingle's sparkling
arrangement of "Country Dances." Excellent stuff from
this fast-rising Chicago octet! |
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a-cappella.com
(reviewed by Colleen Callahan)
This is a great compilation of a cappella music on one CD. I enjoy
the contrasting genres as well as the musicality of the performers.
Thoroughly enjoyable! |
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a complete listing of An Octave Above's performance repertoire. |
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Copyright © 2002,
2004 by An Octave Above LLC. All rights reserved. |
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