Manhattan Transfer - The Symphony Sessions (2006)

This is a fabulous CD from the Manhattan Transfer. Previously it was only available as a Japanese import, but luckily Rhino records has made it available in the U. S. After Manhattan Transfer's delightful 2004 outing "Vibrate," I was hoping that the follow-up would be good as well. While "Symphony Sessions" can't quite be considered a new album in the traditional sense, it does feature 10 favorites by the Manhattan Transfer newly recorded with a Symphony Orchestra plus two songs they've never recorded before. Time has not diminished their wonderful vocal blend or the strength of their solo voices (as anyone who has heard the "Vibrate" album knows) and the newly-recorded performances are terrific. We finally get a good studio recording of long-time fave "Route 66" (which was previously available as a live track or the not-so-good studio recording featured on the "Sharky's Machine" soundtrack.) We get a new recording of the old fave "Candy," which had previously only been recorded with the first Transfer line-up that included Laurel Masse instead of Cheryl Bentyne. "That's the Way It Goes" is one of the songs they have never recorded before and it is a delightful 50's doo-wop piece in the tradition of "Heart's Desire." The other completely new song is "Because You Are All Heart," a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald which is a vocalese performance of an instrumental song called "A Portrait of Ella." One of the real standout treats on this set is their new recording of "Clouds" from the "Swing" album. The orchestral arrangement on this is beautiful and it's nice to have a more fleshed-out arrangement as the original recording was mostly accompanied by guitar. Cheryl's solo on "Clouds" is even *better* than it was on the "Swing" album. The "Symphony Sessions" CD ends with a real bang. The Transfer revisits the totally awesome title track from their now out-of-print (!!!) 1991 album "The Offbeat of Avenues." And the last song is a stellar new version of their all-time fave "Birdland." At first I was a little put off by the mo
re subdued vocals on the new recording of "Birdland," but then I realized that sometimes the vocals on the original 1979 studio version from "Extensions" are so loud and mixed so up-front and you almost have to be in a super-happy manic state to listen to it. This more subdued version is perfect for any time, although you still probably need to at least be in a good mood to want to hear it. Overall, anyone who has ever liked anything by The Manhattan Transfer should have no problems digging this new CD from them. ~Joshua Smith