The Manhattan Transfer - The Junction (2018)

The Manhattan Transfer has been making memorable music for decades. The jazz vocal group, launched by Tim Hauser in 1969 (Hauser died in 2014), now features Alan Paul, Janis Siegel, Cheryl Bentyne, and newest member Trist Curless, who joined the band following the passing of Hauser. The group, currently in the middle of their tour, believes that Curless adds another facet to their legendary music, one that celebrates the past and embraces future possibilities.

The new release "The Junction" of the group’s first studio album in ten years, The Junction, dedicated to the memory of Hauser. Says Paul about the project, “The concept of The Junction is that this is a special meeting place, a junction of merging our four-and-a-half-decade musical legacy with something new. It wasn’t exactly a seamless transition because Tim is irreplaceable, and he and Trist are very different singers. We weren’t looking to replace Tim’s unique personality, but found in Trist someone who could add a new element to the group, and take care of the bottom of the quartet with his true bass.”

The Manhattan Transfer remains a cornerstone for great pop and jazz hits, a legacy that the group has cemented since their first recording 41 years ago. The legendary quartet has been awarded 10 Grammy Awards of 20 nominations and has been inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. Trist Curless has now officially become a member of the group, joining Janis Siegel. Alan Paul, Cheryl Bentyne, all of whom are conscious of maintaining the integrity and artistry left by founding member Tim Hauser who passed away in 2014.

The Manhattan Transfer was born when Tim Hauser was paying his bills by driving a New York City cab while aspiring to form a harmony vocal quartet that could authentically embrace varied musical styles, and still create something wholly unique in the field of American popular song. Through driving a taxi, he met the next members of the legendary group — Laurel Massé and Janis Siegel. Alan Paul, who was appearing in the Broadway cast of “Grease” at the time, was recommended as the additional male voice and the four became The Manhattan Transfer on October 1, 1972. Cheryl Bentyne joined The Manhattan Transfer in 1979, replacing Laurel.

In 1974 the group began performing regularly throughout New York City at Trude Heller’s, Mercer Arts Center, Max’s Kansas City, Club 82, and other cabaret venues. By the end of the year they were the number one live attraction in New York City. They were signed to Atlantic Records and released their self-titled debut in 1975. The second single, a remake of the gospel classic “Operator,” gave the group their first national hit. 1979′s Extensions earned The Transfer another smash with “Twilight Zone/Twilight Tone.” The vocal remake of the classic “Birdland” became recognized as the group’s anthem and earned them their first two Grammy Awards. In 1981, they became the first group ever to win Grammy Awards in both Pop and Jazz categories in the same year.

Track List:
01. Cantaloop (Flip Out!) (4:44)
02. Swing Balboa (Down On Riverside) (3:12)
03. The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul (3:51)
04. Blues For Harry Bosch (4:28)
05. Shake Ya Boogie (Galactic Vocal Version) (4:25)
06. Sometimes I Do (4:57)
07. Ugly Man (4:49)
08. The Junction (4:57)
09. Tequila / The Way Of The Booze (3:05)
10. The Paradise Within (Paradise Found) (5:01)

Personnel:
Cheryl Bentyne, vocals
Alan Paul, vocals
Janis Siegel, vocals
Trist Curless, vocals


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