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Manhattan Transfer performs at J&R on September 24th

Mark your calendar to be at J&R’s 25 Park Row store on Thursday 9/24, 6:00 P.M. for a performance and autograph signing appearance by Manhattan Transfer.

The Grammy winning acappella group uses 4-part vocal harmonies. The New York group stated to form in 1972 and by 1974 began to perform at all the big city nightspots of the day including Reno Sweeney and Max’s Kansas City.

Manhattan Transfer’s unique sound uses no music instruments other than vocal harmony. Although early religious music relied on vocal harmony (i.e. Gregorian Chants, it was jazz that brought back the vocal sans instruments style. It’s called Vocalese and resembles doowop acappella music styles that were popular in neighborhoods during the 1940’s through the 1960’s. Prior to Manhattan Transfer’s popularity, the popular 1950’s three-part harmony group Lambert, Kendricks, and Ross dominated and popularized the art and style of vocalese. Call it jazz or pop, Manhattan Transfer continues to ignite enthusiasm.

Their appearance at J&R marks the upcoming 9/29 release of The Chick Corea Songbook, Manhattan Transfer’s newest album since the release of Manhattan Transfer’s Definitive Pop Collection, a 2-Disc retrospective of their greatest hits in 2008, as the group began celebrating their 35th anniversary. Manhattan Transfer released an album nearly every year since 1975 and you can find them at J&R. Tim Hauser founded the group in the early 1970’s. The four voices belong to Hauser, Janis Siegel, Cheryl Bentyne, and Alan Paul.

Manhattan Transfer’s appearance at J&R Music World precedes a performance at the Egg Center of Performing Arts on September 25th in Albany, New York. After that, the group embarks on a European tour. So, essentially, J&R is the last New York City gig where you can see and hear Manhattan Transfer for the rest of the year.