Nostalgic Jazz, a la Manhattan Transfer, tight jazz harmonies, 6 numbers with rhythm section plus brass, 5 a cappella tunes

11 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Jazz Vocals, JAZZ: Swing/Big Band



Details:
It was right about the turn of the century that South City Voices really broke onto the Atlanta music scene. A couple years earlier Don Discenza, director of music at his church, recruited Derk Simonson, Jennifer Ferren, and Jan Barlow from his choir and activated a lifelong dream to sing bass, write music, and arrange songs for a professional level jazz vocal group. Jennifer was, and is, a pop singer and songwriter with her own popular rock band. Derk was, and is, a big band singer. The "Creative Life Singers", as the group was called then, began performing some of Don's original spiritual compositions with his "hip" arrangements. When Jan left the group, Don contacted Rebecca Windham, an Atlanta jazz singer and piano/vocal teacher who also coaches vocal groups. This addition was responsible for a new level of performance. Shortly thereafter, Becky invited Susan Taylor, a long time Atlanta favorite, singing with her band, and the group launched into 5 part harmonies. Appearances at local jazz venues were added with a rhythm section, a horn or 2, and a new name, "Outside the Vox".

And then we met Mac. Actually, Cecil Welch, an Atlanta trumpet legend introduced us to Mac Frampton, a nationally known concert pianist, arranger, and conductor. We began touring with the "Hollywood Hills Orchestra", everywhere from Parkersburg to Pasadena, and we had another name - "The Starlight Singers". In the summer of 2002, Heather Jones, an ensemble singer and soloist with The Michael O'Neal Chamber Choir, replaced Jennifer and Susan, who left to concentrate on their own growing careers as soloists with their own bands. Work began that Fall on promotional material for the new group, permanently renamed South City Voices, and, finally, our first CD. "Got Swing!" was completed in October, 2003 featuring new arrangements of old standards by Becky and Don.

This exceptional vocal quartet is now delighting concert audiences as they swing through jazz arrangements of popular songs written in the 30's, 40's, and 50's. Rebecca, artistic director for the group, and Don, each in their own groove, provide originality to many of these songs. Other songs are left in their original version because that rendition is as much a part of what the audience remembers as the song itself. Darmon Meader, Steve Zegree, Kirby Shaw, Phil Mattson, Roger Treece, Paris Rutherford, Anders Edenroth, and Morgan Ames are some of the arrangers that blow them way, and they are constantly on the lookout for more charts from them. Mixing original with timeless arrangements is why our blend of music is unique. It's a lot of hard work and a dedication to singing tight harmonies, but the group's love of the music makes it all worth while. It's all about the music - keeping it alive. They look forward to conducting student workshops as a part of doing concerts in University settings. It's especially gratifying to see young people in the audience, digging it. In as much as Becky, Derk, Don, and Heather were all performers prior to SCV, they're quite comfortable, and adept, at taking the solo spotlight as well.

The group also honors the need for each member to pursue their own individual musical interests. Don is a gifted jazz pianist and loves his trio gigs, and, occasionally accompanying Luciano Pavarotti on accordion. He also loves to arrange, orchestrate, and compose as does Becky. In fact, her CD, "To A Warmer Heart" is all her own original material. Derk is also in heaven singing with big bands in a style reminiscent of Sinatra, and Heather enjoys classical ensemble work. While their solo styles are quite different, singing with the group requires a style that resembles instruments which gives the South City Voices its brassy sound on swing, and string and woodwind sound on ballads. As rehearsal director, Becky is constantly raising the bar of perfection combined with frequent revisits to the "basics" as well.