With a title like
Vibrate, it would seem that the
Manhattan Transfer had filled their first studio disc in four years with jazzy and exciting vocal workouts intended to shake the speakers. But the title is a bit misleading as
Vibrate is one of their most subdued and elegant recordings, and one that harks back to the days of
Mecca for Moderns where pop tangents were part of their repertoire. With an arrangement that remains fairly intact from the
Brenda Russell original, "Walkin' in New York" begins the disc with a summery sidewalk swagger that sets the relaxed tone of the disc. Two successful
Rufus Wainwright covers follow as the
Transfer take "Greek Song" globe-hopping through the Middle East via Hawaii and then spin down to Brazil for a beautiful tango-inspired version of "Vibrate." On past recordings they have covered contemporary pop with mixed results, often sounding staid or forced, as on 1983's
Bodies and Souls, but the chamber pop of
Wainwright is a perfect fit for their vocal style. The tribalistic experiment of "First Ascent" bristles with harmonies and rhythms from musical lands rarely tread upon while a remake of
the Beach Boys' "Feel Flows" abandons the original's psychedelic pop for a more soulful arrangement. Oddly enough, as their pop tendencies flourish on
Vibrate, their more typical jazz tracks tend to sound like misfits. "Doodlin'" and "Embraceable You" are immaculately performed but lack the personality and depth found in the disc's pinnacle moment, "The New JuJu Man (Tutu)." This stunning vocalese recitation of the infamous
Miles Davis recording of
Marcus Miller's "Tutu," with lyrics by
Jon Hendricks, is one of the most incredible performances that the
Transfer have recorded.
Cheryl Bentyne sounds otherworldly as she conjures up the spirit of
Miles' muted trumpet and spews the solo lick by lick as the balance of the
Transfer humanize the original's cold keyboard arrangement. As if they even need to prove it, the
Transfer once again show that they are indeed the masters of vocal jazz and when they push the boundaries of vocal music, the results can be stunning. The balance of
Vibrate may not come close to the dizzying height of "Tutu," but the
Manhattan Transfer offer a pleasurable excursion through an eclectic set of contemporary jazz and pop. ~ Aaron Latham