the unaccompanied voice


i’m partial to a cappella singing in a several genre. i’m hoping i’m not alone in this and, thus, seek recommendations of such performances from my compatriots on the ‘gon. let me begin with a listing of a few recordings that are among my favorites:

• fairfield four; almost anything, but particularly “standing in the safety zone” and “I couldn’t hear nobody pray.”

• the persuasions; “frankly a cappella” (a tribute to zappa) and “might as well” (a tribute to GD)

• the bobs; “...cover the songs of”

• “the unaccompanied voice” (secretly canadian cd)

• the roches; “the roches”

• chanticleer; “colors of love”

• anonymous 4; “11,000 virgins” (hidegard von bingen), also , not quite a cappella but beautiful “voices of light” (richard einhorn)

please share some of yours.

-cfb
cornfedboy
I got my music and it was done on Garrison's American Radio Company programs when he was in New York. There are some real audio (not Garrison's) sample clips at:
http://www.laurendale.com/item.asp?ID=CH-1062&
http://www.laurendale.com/item.asp?ID=CH-1057&
http://www.laurendale.com/item.asp?ID=CH-1058&
If you don't have Opus3 #77-06, "Black is the Color", you should. Meant to post this earlier. :)
Had to dig up this thread to add a new disc.
If you like modern liturgical music with a strong Eastern flavor, the new Chanticleer recording of John Tavener's Lamentations and Praises (Teldec 09274-13422) is simply outstanding. Wonderful music, wonderful sound, wonderful imaging. Your Avalon speakers will do great things with this atmospheric soundstage (well mine do anyhow).
Very highly recommended, nearly all acapella.
Manhattan Transfer "Vocalese" will knock you dead with the super-complex 4-part arrangements and harmonies. This album has some pretty wierd songs on it, but they are all amazing in the vocal renditions. These singers use their voices like jazz instruments to re-create jazz and scat type songs with the same type arrangements and solos that a jazz quartet would play with their instruments. It is very incredible, and they do it so well it is unbelievable. Certain songs are pretty far out on the edge. I find that when I listen to this album, I can't turn it off because I'm so curious about what is coming next. Most people would be truly amazed at what these 4 artists can do with vocals. As far as I remember, there are no instruments at all on the album other than the voices. Their other albums are good too, but those have instrumentation as well as vocals.