New York Voices Live!

New York Voices is the Grammy Award winning vocal ensemble renowned for their excellence in jazz and the art of group singing that performed at Westminster School on May 12. Each year, thanks to the generosity of the Graham Gund ’59 Performing Arts Series, outstanding artists are welcomed to the Westminster campus to enrich our students understanding and appreciation of the performing arts and to give them the opportunity to work with professional artists in master classes and workshops.

Darmon Meader, Peter Eldridge, Kim Nazarian, Caprice Fox, and Sara Krieger formed New York Voices in 1987. By way of explanation, Darmon, Peter, Kim and Caprice attended Ithaca College in New York, and were part of an invitational alumni group formed to tour the European Jazz Festivals in the summer of '86. As a result of this exciting experience, the idea of forming a professional group was born. In 1989 they signed their first record deal with GRP Records and released their self-titled debut album, New York Voices. The group received rave notices and quickly received domestic and international recognition in the Jazz World. From '89 to '94, they released four total CDs on the GRP Label, Hearts of Fire, What's Inside, and The Collection.

Changes
While recording for GRP, they underwent personnel changes. In 1992, Sara Krieger retired her chair, and after auditioning over 60 vocalists from all over the U.S., the group found Lauren Kinhan. There was an immediate chemistry in fit and sound, allowing the group to make a quick transition and fast become the "new" New York Voices. Lauren's first musical contributions can be heard on NYV's third CD, What's Inside, released in May of 1993. In early 1994, Caprice Fox left the group, forever fixing NYV as the quartet it is today.
 
Besides their own CDs, NYV has made many guest appearances on recordings and live performances that have earned them critical acclaim and demand in a variety of musical settings. Their CDs include their Grammy award winning collaboration, Count Basie Orchestra with New York Voices, Live at Manchester Craftsmen's Guild (MCG Records), the contemporary classical The Ancient Tower (Robert Lepley - EarthBeat Records), Heirs to Jobim (BMG Records), Don Sebesky's I Remember Bill (BMG), Jim Hall's By Arrangement (Telarc), A Love Affair - the Music of Ivan Lins (TELARC), Irving Berlin's Louisiana Purchase (DRG), and many more. They have had the pleasure of performing with a number of influential jazz artists including Ray Brown, Bobby McFerrin, Nancy Wilson, George Benson, and the like.

The Program
NYV's varied program was made up of jazz and pop standards, old and new. The morning fittingly began with Louis Prima's "Sing, Sing, Sing," which provided an introduction to both tightly blended harmonies and wide-ranging improvisations from each singer. Duke Ellington's "Bli Blip" followed, an easy paced, low-key, bluesy love tune with solos by the singers and a featured ride by bassist Paul Nowinski. Pianist Alon Yovnai provided a pointillistic and witty accompaniment that clearly pleased the other performers as much as the audience.

A Latin Beat
Next, NYV moved to Latin music, performing Paquito D'Rivera's "Snow Samba," adding tenor Darmon Meader's saxophone to the mix and featuring Marcello Pellitteri's sophisticated drum solo. The singers showed perfect comfort with the sound of Latin harmony and rhythm and the customary vocal sound of this music. Much less Latin jazz flavored was their arrangement of Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Meu Amigo," in a neo-baroque arrangement that alluded to Villa-Lobos's homage to J. S. Bach, the Bachiana Brasileiras. Starting a cappella, the piece varied between complex counterpoint and rich harmony.
 
Before going further, let us add that sound engineers usually get overlooked, but they can make or break such a performance. In this case Paul Bevan, whom NYV always brings with them when he is available, artfully engineered the sound. We have seldom heard such balanced, natural, and basically neutral sound in the theater before.
 
Turning to more recent American works, NYV performed Stevie Wonder's "Don't You Worry About a Thing" with a samba beat. Soloing was mezzo-soprano Lauren Kinhan, who made the switch from jazz voice to pop voice completely natural, making for an even richer experience. This was followed by Laura Niro's Fifth Dimension hit, "Stone Soul Picnic," arranged in top shelf funk by baritone Peter Eldridge, with solos by soprano Kim Nazarian, whose warm low register and clear, high register shone throughout the morning. The pop selections concluded with a moving and melancholy arrangement of Paul Simon's "Mother and Child Reunion." In the introduction, we were told that although Simon recorded this song in an upbeat arrangement, it is really about his divorce. Peter Eldridge arranged and soloed this soulful lament that was deeply felt by the whole room.

An Ensemble Close
The morning ended with a move to the deep regions of jazz, John Coltrain's "Moment's Notice," with lyrics added by Peter Eldridge. Because of the lyrics, the arrangement is called "Noticing the Moment." This very sophisticated arrangement called on the tightest ensemble work, with Coltrain's demanding lines performed is unison between sax, piano, and voices, with the voices moving from singer to singer like ballet or a double, or rather, a quintuple play. This final exhibition of skill and Art was a triumphant conclusion to a brilliant program that brought the highest level of musicianship to the Hill.
 
Following the performance in Werner Centennial Theater, NYV presented two master classes for Westminster’s student choir and voice students. They demonstrated their rhythm and methodology, and then joined the students in combined song.

World-wide Performances
NYV has traveled the globe with their elegant music, befriending people everywhere they go. They have appeared on the stages of Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, The Blue Note (Japan, NYC), The Austria Opera House, The Zurich Opera House, and the list goes on. They have been seen at the many jazz festivals including the North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland, The Montreal Jazz Festival, and the New Orleans Jazz and Blues Heritage Festival.
 
Along with their extensive concert performances and recording dates, NYV also works in the field of education, giving workshops and clinics to high school and college music students. Individually, the four members are involved in a variety of projects including solo performances and recordings, teaching, writing, and arranging. The group hopes to continue to explore all styles of music, and expand their audience for years to come.