Vocalese (album)

Vocalese is the ninth studio album by Jazz band The Manhattan Transfer, released in 1985 on the Atlantic Records. Recording sessions took place during 1985. Production came from Tim Hauser and Martin Fischer. This album is considered to be The Manhattan Transfer's most critically acclaimed album. It received 12 Grammy nominations, making it second only to Michael Jackson's Thriller as the most nominated individual album. It also received extremely high ratings from music critics, including a 4.5 out of 5 stars rating from Allmusic. The album peaked at number 2 on the Top Jazz Albums and number 74 on the Billboard 200. The album's title Vocalese refers to a style of music that sets lyrics to previously recorded jazz instrumental pieces. The vocals then reproduce the sound and feel of the original instrumentation. Jon Hendricks, proficient in this art, composed all of the lyrics for this album.

This article is about the album. For the musical style, see Vocalese.
Vocalese
Studio album by
The Manhattan Transfer
Released1985
Recorded1985 at The Village Recorder, Ocean Way Recording & Bill Schnee Studios (Los Angeles, CA); Craig Harris Music (Studio City, CA); Fantasy Studios (Berkeley, CA); Can-Am Recorders (Tarzana, CA); Clinton Recording Studios (New York City, NY).
GenreVocal jazz
Length45:29
LabelAtlantic
ProducerTim Hauser, Martin Fischer
The Manhattan Transfer chronology
Bop Doo-Wopp
(1984)		 Vocalese
(1985)		 Live
(1987)

Critical reception

Awards

This album earned the group Grammy Awards for:

It also earned Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male for Bobby McFerrin and Jon Hendricks for "Another Night In Tunisia".

Track listing
  1. "That's Killer Joe" (Benny Golson, Jon Hendricks) – 5:02
  2. "Rambo" (J J Johnson, Jon Hendricks) – 3:19
  3. "Airegin" (Sonny Rollins) – 3:19
  4. "To You" (Thad Jones) – 3:53
  5. "Meet Benny Bailey" (Quincy Jones, Jon Hendricks) – 3:29
  6. "Another Night in Tunisia" (Dizzy Gillespie, Jon Hendricks, Frank Paparelli) – 4:12
  7. "Ray's Rockhouse" (Ray Charles, Jon Hendricks) – 5:06
  8. "Blee Blop Blues" (Count Basie - Jon Hendricks) – 3:01
  9. "Oh Yes, I Remember Clifford" (Benny Golson, Jon Hendricks) – 3:45
  10. "Sing Joy Spring" (Clifford Brown, Jon Hendricks) – 7:07
  11. "Move" (Denzil Best, Jon Hendricks) – 2:49

Personnel

[2]

  • Clarence Banks: trombone (2, 8)
  • John Barnes: synthesizers, drum machine, vocoder, arrangements (7)
  • The Count Basie Orchestra: orchestra (2, 8)
  • Mike Beisner: additional backing vocals (4)
  • Cheryl Bentyne: vocals, arrangements (6)
  • Alex Blake: bass (3, 5)
  • Ray Brown: bass (2, 8)
  • Ron Carter: bass (9)
  • Sonny Cohn: trumpet (2, 8)
  • Richie Cole: alto saxophone (11)
  • Johnny Coles: trumpet (2, 8)
  • Richard Davis: bass (4)
  • Walter Davis, Jr.: acoustic piano (10)
  • Eric Dixon: saxophone (2, 7)
  • Bob Flanagan: additional backing vocals (4)
  • Tommy Flanagan: acoustic piano (4)
  • The Four Freshmen: additional backing vocals (4)
  • Yaron Gershovsky: arrangements (1), synthesizer (1), acoustic piano (2, 3, 5), vocal arrangement (5)
  • Dizzy Gillespie: trumpet (10)
  • Autie Goodman: additional backing vocals (4)
  • Freddie Green: guitar (2, 8)
  • Craig Harris: Synclavier programming (7)
  • Tim Hauser: vocals, arrangements (1)
  • Marshall Hawkins: bass (11)
  • Jon Hendricks: additional backing vocals (6), vocal soloist (7)
  • Rod Henley: additional backing vocals (4)
  • Dick Hindman: acoustic piano (11)
  • Kenny Hing: saxophone (2, 8)
  • Danny House: saxophone (2)
  • Bill Hughes: trombone (2, 8)
  • Ralph Humphrey: drums (3, 5, 10, 11)
  • Wayne Johnson: guitar (1, 3, 5), banjo (5)
  • Philly Joe Jones: drums (4)
  • Thad Jones: music supervisor (2, 8)
  • Charles Loper: trombone (2, 8)
  • Phil Mattson: vocal arrangements (9)
  • Bobby McFerrin: vocals, bass, percussion and vocal arrangements (6)
  • Bob Ojeda: trumpet (2)
  • John Patitucci: bass (10)
  • Alan Paul: vocals, vocal arrangements (5, 7)
  • Dick Reynolds: arrangements (4, 11)
  • Don Roberts: baritone saxophone (5, 11), tenor saxophone (9)
  • John Robinson: drums (1)
  • Marshal Royal: saxophone (2, 8)
  • Bud Schaetzle: musical director
  • Janis Siegel: vocals, vocal arrangements (1, 2, 3, 8, 10)
  • Byron Stripling: trumpet (2, 8)
  • Grady Tate: drums (2, 8, 9)
  • Danny Turner: saxophone (8)
  • McCoy Tyner: acoustic piano (9)
  • Mel Wanzo: trombone (2, 8)
  • John Williams: saxophone (2, 8)
  • Dennis Wilson: arrangements and conductor (2, 8), trombone (9)
  • Casey Young: synthesizer programming (1)
  • Snooky Young: trumpet (8)

Production
  • Producers: Tim Hauser and Martin Fischer
  • Recorded and Mixed by Elliot Scheiner
  • Additional Engineers: Craig Harris, Gary Ladinsky and Brian Malouf.
  • Assistant Engineers: Gene Curtis, Dan Garcia, Steve Katayama, Steve MacMillan, Dan Matovina, Tom Size and Jay Willis.
  • Mixed at Sound Labs Hollywood (Hollywood, CA).
  • Mastered by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, CA).
  • Album Coordination: Ivy Skoff
  • Publishing Coordination: Sue Yahm
  • Art Direction: Fayette Hauser and Nels Israelson
  • Photography: Nels Israelson
  • Management: Brian Avnet

Charts

[3]

  • US Billboard 200 – 74
  • US Jazz Albums (Billboard) – 2
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References
  1. http://allmusic.com/album/vocalese-r132383/charts-awards
  2. http://allmusic.com/album/vocalese-r132383/credits
  3. http://allmusic.com/album/vocalese-r132383/charts-awards
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