Bobby McFerrin\u2019s new disc is a complete revamp of a capella in jazz, dragging it away from the finger clicking parodies of the Swingle Singers, via Manhattan Transfer into something edgier, larger and more contemporary.\u00a0 McFerrin is universally known for Don\u2019t Worry Be Happy and, occasionally, for his version of McCartney\u2019s \u2018Blackbird\u2019.\u00a0 But since those quite early pieces he has established an incredible record of moving around in both the classical and jazz traditions to work them both into a new synthesis.\u00a0 Of course it helps if you have a four octave range, immense charisma, and the general demeanour of a genially mischievous beat-boxer.<\/p>\n
On this disc, McFerrin explores the range of unaccompanied choir from church traditions through \u2018African\u2019 call and response, to the glee club. The standout track here is the lovely \u2018Say Ladeo\u2019, in which a traditional ballad moves between a gentle tapping beat through exquisite slow passages in which solo soprano voices float over repeated bass patterns to return to the beat.\u00a0 McFerrin is an inveterate explorer of dynamics and knows exactly where and when to lower the volume and move the basses against the higher voices. Nor is he afraid to move from the large ensemble to\u00a0focus more closely on one or two voices.<\/p>\n
The third track, Wailers, is the most \u2018African\u2019 of the pieces here.\u00a0 The voices scat a range of syllables with the tenors answering the more open-throated calling of the altos.\u00a0 The bass lines are far more percussive and a driving pulse is kept up through the whole track. On this track, the singers are pushed along by Weather Report\u2019s Alex Acuna on percussion, not that they need it.\u00a0 Just when you feel that this might be the sound track to \u2018Big Cat Africa\u2019, there is a lovely modulation into something more Middle Eastern helped by the presence of the duduk \u2013 a Middle Eastern oboe.\u00a0 The track was accomplished with the help of \u20182,500 Audience members from Bergen, Norway\u2019.\u00a0 They must have had huge fun that night \u2013 and all had perfect pitch, it seems.<\/p>\n
This exotic feel is further developed on \u2018Message\u2019 an eleven minute piece that takes in Latin, Sanskrit, Mandarin, all moved through melodies that are both poised and thrilling.\u00a0 McFerrin\u2019s take on the story of Adam and Eve comes in \u2018The Garden\u2019, and a jollier\u00a0versoin of\u00a0the Fall, it would be hard to imagine.\u00a0 The disc ends with the beautiful \u2018Brief Eternity\u2019 which is closest to the European classical choir tradition, but with a warmth and swing all of its own.<\/p>\n
Ian Pople<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Bobby McFerrin\u2019s new disc is a complete revamp of a capella in jazz, dragging it away from the finger clicking parodies of the Swingle Singers, via Manhattan Transfer into something edgier, larger and more contemporary.\u00a0 McFerrin is universally known for Don\u2019t Worry Be Happy and, occasionally, for his version of McCartney\u2019s \u2018Blackbird\u2019.\u00a0 But since those […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":[]},"categories":[15,283],"tags":[52],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\n