One of the most acclaimed and innovative of all contemporary vocal groups, The Manhattan Transfer, rocked the house at NJPAC’s Victoria Theater in Newark, NJ on November 4, 2017!
Known for their chart-topping pop hits, in addition to performing a cappella, swing, Brazilian jazz, and R&B — not to mention tunes from the Great American Songbook — whatever type of music the group decides to sing, they infuse it with their world-famous four-part harmonies.
The Manhattan Transfer was originally formed in 1969 by the Jersey Shore’s Tim Hauser. Two years after the group disbanded, Hauser restarted the vocal quartet with new members Laurel Massé, Janis Siegel, and Alan Paul.
Refining their act in NYC clubs, the foursome recorded a demo which was released by Atlantic Records. This recording — the quartet’s breakthrough 1975 album, The Manhattan Transfer — produced a Billboard Top 20 hit, “Operator.”
In 1978, Massé was replaced by Cheryl Bentyne. The group’s first album with Bentyne — 1979’s Extensions — produced the hit “Twilight Zone/Twilight Tone.” It also included a cover version of Weather Report’s “Birdland,” created in the musical style known as vocalese — a type of singing in which vocalists add words to jazz instrumental compositions. With lyrics by Jon Hendricks of the jazz vocal trio, Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross, the quartet won a Grammy for Best Jazz Fusion Performance and a Grammy for Best Vocal Arrangement went to Janis Siegel.
The Manhattan Transfer made music history in 1981 by becoming the first group to win Grammy awards in both the popular and jazz categories in the same year. “The Boy From New York City” — a song which reached theBillboard Top 10 — won them a Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, and “Until I Met You (Corner Pocket)” earned them a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group. Both songs came from the same Manhattan Transfer album, 1981’s Mecca For Moderns.
In 1982, the quartet won yet another Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for its rendition of “Route 66.” Moreover, Vocalese, released in 1985, received twelve Grammy nominations making it — at the time — second only to Michael Jackson’s Thriller as the most-nominated album ever.
In 1998, The Manhattan Transfer was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. Today, the quartet continues to tour and record despite Tim Hauser’s death in 2014, at which point, singer Trist Curless was invited to join the group.
In addition to The Manhattan Transfer’s founding member, Tim Hauser — who hails from Monmouth County — Alan Paul also comes from New Jersey, having been raised in Newark. After graduating from Newark State College — now Kean University — Paul performed the dual role of Teen Angel/Johnny Casino in the original cast of Grease on Broadway where he introduced such well-known songs as “Beauty School Dropout” and “Born to Hand Jive.”
In a recent interview with Spotlight Central, Paul talked about the origins of his career as a vocalist revealing, “I actually started singing at the South Ward Boys Club in Newark.”
He also conversed about this evening’s performance at NJPAC saying, “It’s 45 years from 1972 when the second incarnation of The Manhattan Transfer with Tim, Janis, Laurel, and myself started. So in honor of that 45 year anniversary, we’re doing this show,” before going on to note, “I am very excited about performing there, especially because I’m from Newark. For me, personally, it means a lot. I have a lot of family and friends who are going to be coming, so it will be a special night.”
As we wait in the lobby outside NJPAC’s beautiful Victoria Theater for the concert to begin, we talk with several audience members about tonight’s show.
First, we chat with Ariana from Denville who reveals, “Alan Paul is my great uncle! He was the original Teen Angel in Grease — I got my musical talent from him.”
“I have great memories of seeing The Manhattan Transfer when I was young,” Ariana tells us, recalling, “I remember, one time, when I was little, Cheryl Bentyne had these purple shoes that I admired and she even let me put them on!”
“The first day of high school this year, when I opened my textbook, there was a whole page on The Manhattan Transfer,” Ariana continues, “so I am currently doing a project for my music appreciation class on the group. As a result, I’m really looking forward to hearing them perform tonight!”
We also chat with Adam from Rockaway who tells us, “Alan Paul is my uncle,” explaining, “there are a lot of family members here tonight!”
Going on to add, “Growing up, whenever Alan was around, I would get to see him. One time in college — when I was studying in Munich, Germany — Alan got tickets for me and my friends to see The Manhattan Transfer perform. He even got backstage passes for us.”
“After the show, there were these German students who loved the group so much they were serenading anyone who would listen by singing Manhattan Transfer songs to them in English. When my friends and I came out, we were so impressed, we gave them our backstage passes. They were so grateful!”
Making our way inside NJPAC’s gorgeous Victoria Theater, we also chat with Dennis from Monroe who tells us, “I’m a longtime fan of The Manhattan Transfer.”
Revealing, “I’m a jazz guy — I like artists like Charles Mingus, Miles Davis, and Dizzy Gillespie — and I play percussion in a jazz band,” Dennis continues, “Over the years, The Manhattan Transfer have had such an eclectic style — whatever they do, they do it well — so, for me, that’s what makes it so much fun to listen to them.”
We additionally chat with Mitch and Carla from Saddle River. While Mitch tells us, “We first saw The Manhattan Transfer around 1979 — at what was then called the Garden State Arts Center,” Carla confesses, “We haven’t seen them since, although we did see Janis Siegel perform a solo concert in NYC, and she was magnificent! As a result, we thought it was time to experience the magic of the entire group again after nearly 40 years!”
The lights dim and a Manhattan Transfer 45th Anniversary Concert video compilation plays on the big screen in the front of the house.
Here we see classic TMT clips including performances of the four original members performing together, a video of the group performing “How High the Moon” with the legendary jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald at the Grammy Awards, and a parody of a black and white I Love Lucy episode starring Tim Hauser and Janis Siegel as Fred and Ethel Mertz and Cheryl Bentyne and Alan Paul as Lucy and Ricky Ricardo. In the compilation, we also see a 1987 Diet Coke commercial starring TMT, and even the complete music video for the group’s 1979 hit “Twilight Zone/Twilight Tone.”
Opening with a swingin’ rendition of “Topsy,” The Manhattan Transfer — Cheryl Bentyne, Janis Siegel, Alan Paul, and Trist Curless — take the stage accompanied by musical director Aaron Gershovsky on piano and synthesizer, Conrad Korsch on bass, and Ross Pederson on drums.
As Seigel takes the lead singing, “Brothers n’ sisters listen while I tell you about the strangest thing/Somethin’ you might have heard before, like a bell’s familiar ring,” Paul and Bentyne make their voices sound like brass instruments.
When Curless takes over the lead vocal — his rich, full voice jumping around the scale — Bentyne, Paul, and Siegel harmonize facing one another getting the perfect vocal blend.
Moving on to a medley of four swing tunes, on the first piece, “That Cat is High,” fingers wag as the quartet sings, “That cat is high/Look at that look in his eye/Oh man he’s high/The cats higher than a kite,” the group’s intricate vocal parts complimenting one another.
Segueing into “Java Jive,” the vocalists sound rich, smooth, and hot before modulating with ease into “Tuxedo Junction.”
Concluding the medley with their own hit, “Operator,” the audience applauds as soon as they recognize the tune’s bouncy opening strains. Clapping along as the group expertly vocalizes, musical director Yaron Gershovsky plays a killer piano solo — his hands flying around the keys — after which Siegel and the others join in on the fun, their hands waving in the air on this rollicking number.
Following avid applause, Alan Paul jokes, “Thank you everybody — have a good night,” but it’s clear to the audience that this group is obviously just getting started!
Continuing, “This is a very special night for me,” Paul announces, “I’m from Newark, so being here is like coming 360 degrees!”
Talking about the group’s 45th anniversary, Paul says, “We started in 1972 with Tim Hauser, Janis Siegel, and Laurel Massé — as you could see in the video before the show — but in 1979, Cheryl Bentyne joined the group,” to which Bentyne can be heard replying, “I’m the lucky one.”
Their beautiful harmonies taking us on a trip down America’s favorite highway, TMT launches into a swinging rendition of “Route 66.” With the Victoria Theater’s stellar acoustics, the audience enjoys the crystal clear sound of Paul, Bentyne, and Siegel as they vocalize the role of a back-up horn section.
A barrelhouse Gershovsky piano solo brings applause from the crowd before the group ends with the number’s famous “Whoo-whoo!” train whistle sound.
Dedicating their next number to group founder Tim Hauser — and revealing the idea to record the song originally came “from Tim’s 78 record collection” — the group performs “Candy,” a selection from their first album. Featuring Alan Paul’s pure, rich vocal tone, the number sounds as smooth and sweet as caramel.
On this — the 100th birthday of Ella Fitzgerald, who was born in 1917 — Siegel acknowledges how thrilling it was for her to sing with Ella on the Grammy Awards before performing the group’s tribute to “the humble first lady of song.”
Singing lead and then scatting a trumpet solo, the crowd cheers for Siegel as she and the quartet perform a spirited rendition of “A-Tisket, A Tasket.”
Moving on to their Grammy winning version of Count Basie’s “Until I Met You (Corner Pocket),” as the tight instrumental trio supports their world-class vocals, the singers masterfully switch back and forth from perfect unison into colorful four-part harmony.
Curless skillfully scats a sax solo as the group’s choreography enhances the swingin’ mood of this top-notch vocal music arrangement.
A vocalese medley of songs follows which opens with “Four Brothers,” a tune featuring lyrics that fly by at the speed of light. Sounding like a big band, the group moves on to “Swing, Moten, Swing.” Finishing up with the bebop-infused “Airmail Special,” this fun medley also includes an impressive bass solo by Conrad Korsch, not to mention dueling drum and piano solos by Ross Pederson and Aaron Gershovsky where Pederson plays with his sticks on his drum microphone and Gershovsky knocks on the top of his piano after playing it!
The quartet slows things down to perform a lovely rendition of “On a Little Street in Singapore” before segueing into the breezy Latin-inspired classic, “Poinciana.”
Moving on to their 1983 tune, “Mystery,” Siegel’s brilliant lead vocal is accompanied by a synthesized soundscape on this funk-influenced electronic rock number.
Revealing, “I was obsessed with the television show Twin Peaks, so I wrote this song to sound like something you’d hear at a jazz club in outer space,” Siegel introduces “10 Minutes Till The Savages Come,”
Bentyne takes the lead on this number — her beautiful, alluring voice singing, “Tunnel down in soft silk and satin/Loosen up and roll to the rumble of the drum/Make believe it’s midnight in Manhattan/10 minutes till the savages come.”
Curless also shows his vocal range and versatility on this innovative tune where, later, Bentyne’s solo expertly scats directly over Curless’ scatted bass.
Moving on to a selection from their upcoming album, The Manhattan Transfer does the unexpected when they create vocalese out of rap music with their unique rendition of Us3’s “Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia).”
As the audience enthusiastically cheers for this ultra-cool performance, the group responds by stating they now “need to represent Jersey — and Brooklyn — with a healthy dollop of doo wop music!”
Donning shades, the group launches into The Cuff Link’s 1950’s hit, “Guided Missiles.” Noting “it’s all in the attitude,” Alan Paul leaves the stage, returning to wild applause in his South Ward Boys Club jacket, the crowd going crazy for his killer performance!
Siegel’s wonderful voice sounding exactly like it did a quarter-century ago, TMT delights the crowd with a glorious rendition of “The Boy From New York City,” the audience happily singing and clapping along!
With the crowd starting to applaud as soon as they hear the famous introduction, the quartet segues into a stellar version of “Birdland.”
The vocals sounding as crisp and clear as the original 1979 recording, the singers and band — Kershovsky on synthesizer and piano, Korsch channeling virtuoso musician Jaco Pastorius on electric bass, and Pederson on drums — all rock it to the rafters together on this Weather Report fusion classic. The audience leaps to its feet following this exceptional performance!
As the audience cheers, the group leaves the stage. After continued hooting and hollering, The Manhattan Transfer returns to sing and dance the night away with an encore performance of “Choo Choo Ch’Boogie,” the group’s incredible four-part harmony once again dazzling this crowd.
As the audience makes its way out of the theater, we take a moment to chat with several music lovers who describe their reactions to The Manhattan Transfer’s performance tonight.
Exclaims Dennis from Monroe — whom we talked to earlier — “It was fantastic — amazing; there’s so much talent there, it’s hard to put into words!”
Sophia from Spring Valley concurs noting, “This was my first time seeing The Manhattan Transfer, and I really enjoyed them — this group is really good,” before adding, “and I especially liked the doo wop number.”
We also chat with Gideon from Jersey City who says, “I loved this show — it was terrific!” Acknowledging, “I’ve been a fan since the beginning,” Gideon states, “they sound as good as ever. Trist Curless is an excellent replacement for Tim Hauser,” before commenting, “My favorite numbers were the vocalese songs, ‘The Boy from New York City,’ and, of course, ‘Birdland.’”
Lastly, we chat with Lizzy from New York City, who admits, “I’ve been a lifelong fan of The Manhattan Transfer, so I’ve seen them multiple times.” Adding, “I was ten years old when I first saw them— they were my very first-ever concert!” Lizzy acknowledges that her favorite TMT performance tonight was “10 Minutes Till the Savages Come.”
Before we exit the auditorium, we happen to notice that Alan Paul has made his way from backstage into the audience to catch up with several of his family members and friends here to enjoy The Manhattan Transfer’s 45th Anniversary Concert tonight.
Taking a moment to chat with us about this special evening, Paul comments, “Like I said before on stage, I’ve really come 360 degrees tonight, because this is where I started in music! As you know, I grew up here in Newark. In fact, that was my father’s jacket that I wore on ‘Guided Missiles’ — it’s from Newark’s own South Ward Boys Club where my singing career first started.”
Going on to recall, “I was walking around town earlier today, and there were so many things I remembered from when I was a kid,” Paul acknowledges, “It was great to perform here tonight — the entire audience was so open and receptive,” before concluding with a smile, “For me, it was such a joy!”
To learn more about The Manhattan Transfer, please go to manhattantransfer.net. For information on great upcoming performances at Newark’s NJPAC — including An American in Paris in Concert with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra on November 25— please go to njpac.org.
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