Artiste: The Manhattan Transfer
Spotlight Track: Twilight Zone / Twilight Tone
Album: Extensions
Label: Atlantic
Piano, Synthesizer, Arranger: David Foster
Piano, Synthesizer, Arranger: Greg Mathieson
Bass: Abraham Laboriel
Guitar: Steve Lukather
Percussion: Paulinho Da Costa
Drums & Percussion: Alex Acuña
Conductor: Clare Fischer
Produced By Jay Graydon
Released in 1979, this week’s album recommendation takes us to the vocal jazz trend with Grammy winners, The Manhattan Transfer. For more than 3 decades, the quartet of Janis Siegel, Tim Hauser, Alan Paul and the forever hot Cheryl Bentyne have continued to impress jazz audiences worldwide with their slick vocal interpretations on highly complex material stemming from boogie-woogie to bop to vocalese.
Produced by studio wizard Jay Graydon (remember Al Jarreau), the album we’re focusing on this week is by far the best one I’ve heard from this amazing quartet, setting the scene for some early morning jivin’ in the office with a few Old Chang Kee curry puffs and Vitasoy. From the very first track – which is a class take on ‘Birdland’ – the vibe is set for some high points in the morning while you attend to some emails with a smile on your face.
Since I’m a sucker for the jazz fusion sound, I was having some difficulty in deciding which track to put the spotlight on since 90% of the cuts on this album are pure fusion delight. ‘Twilight Tone’ won the toss for this one – with it’s upbeat tempo and groovy spaceage arrangements, I felt it might be a good number to recommend for those early morning Inbox/Outbox action.
Other album tracks which should most definately not be ignored are ‘Birdland’, ‘Wacky Dust’, ‘Nothin’ You Can Do About It’, and ‘Shaker Song’. Go get the album from Amazon and I guarantee your early morning office face will not be so cram.
Tangkap This!!!
-Crispian
