The Singers Unlimited & Art Van Damme
Release Date: 01 December 2017
Label: MPS
Packaging Type: Digipak
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 4029759097464
Genres: Jazz Vocal Jazz
Description
In the early 1970's, Oscar Peterson gave a demo tape to his friend Brunner- Schwer. It contained a recording of a vocal quartet from Chicago, Singers Unlimited. Enthralled by the music, the MPS chief spontaneously booked the group, which previously earned their money performing advertising jingles. For the three-man and one woman choir, it was the beginning of a successful international career.
In the following years MPS produced no less than 15 albums for the vocal virtuosos. They included one LP with the Oscar Peterson Trio and three a cappella albums. In June 1973, MPS engaged accordion virtuoso Art van Damme (1920-2010) for a session with the Singers Unlimited. The American is seldom mentioned in today's jazz literature, yet he brought the accordion, a popular instrument in folk music, into jazz. Van Damme played Benny Goodman clarinet solos on what is perceived as an unwieldy instrument; the "accordion world champion" appeared in shows with Dizzy Gillespie and Ella Fitzgerald. For the recordings with SingersUnlimited, van Damme wrote instrumental arrangements for a combo (with MPS house bassist Eberhard Weber and Swiss drummer Charly Antolini).
The Singers Unlimited were recorded using the then revolutionary multitrack technology; their production was one of the most expensive MPS recordings. On the other hand, with its swinging easy-listening sound, the album was also one of the company's best-selling.
Tracklisting
Oscar Peterson
Monty Alexander
Various Artists
John Taylor Trio
Volker Kriegel
Jean-Luc Ponty
Alphonse Mouzon
The Rolf Kuhn Group
Emily Saunders
Freddy Cole
Billie Holiday
Various Artists
Irene Kral
Ineza with The Alex Webb & The Copasetics
Helena Debono & Charlie Bates
Roberta Gambarini & Hank Jones
