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The Manhattan Transfer

The Manhattan Transfer was not an overnight success, but a result of many years of dues-paying and persistence, particularly by bass singer and founder Tim Hauser. Tim's musical history goes back to a doo-wop group called the Criterions, who recorded a couple of singles on Cecilia Records when Tim was 15. In January 1969, Tim Hauser and Erin Dickins co-founded Manhattan Transfer, with Tim's longtime friend Pat Rosalia and Marty Nelson. The group was soon signed by Dick Asher at Capitol Records, and recorded their first album, Jukin' in Nashville with a guest artist, singer/songwriter Gene Pistilli. The album featured several Pistilli compositions, songs from the Gene Goldkette Orchestra and Fats Waller, and The Ink Spot's "Java Jive," a perennial Manhattan Transfer favorite. These recordings represent the group's first foray into jazz vocalizations. The original Manhattan Transfer disbanded in 1973 citing artistic differences.

The Manhattan Transfer re-emerged as a four-piece, with Janis Siegel (alto), Laurel Masse (soprano), and Alan Paul (tenor), who found each other in a series of happy accidents. Tim Hauser was driving a cab at the time, and picked up passenger Laurel Masse; they got to talking. Tim met Janis Siegel through a drummer acquaintance. Janis had been performing at the Greenwich Village coffeehouse scene with a group called "Laurel Canyon." Alan Paul had been appearing in the musical "Grease!" (Laurel's boyfriend was a musician in the production, and referred him).

With personnel in place, they began to build a following at all of the hip New York clubs: Max's Kansas City, Reno Sweeney's, Cafe Carlyle, etc. Atlantic's Ahmet Ertegun heard of them and came to a gig. His enthusiastic response resulted in a record deal and an association that lasted for many years. The Manhattan Transfer's first recording, the self-titled "Manhattan Transfer" featured "Operator," a fifties gospel tune, which reached number #22 on the Billboard chart and was their first hit. They were hard to catagorize - "Cabaret Rock" or "Disco Sha Na Na" were some of the labels attached to them - but their popularity grew solidly, accompanied by intensive touring. They even had their own short-lived TV series (as well as frequent guest appearances on other variety programs). "Coming Out, " "Pastiche" and the first live album followed. "Pastiche" was noteworthy as it was the first time the group collaborated with Jon Hendricks (of Lambert, Hendricks and Ross), and was the beginning of a long and remarkably fecund relationship. However, the record did not sell well, and as fate would have it, Laurel was in a car accident in 1978, which curtailed her activities (her jaw was wired shut for three months). She ultimately quit the group. The Manhattan Transfer re-located to California and began the search for a new soprano vocalist.

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In Pictures

Manhattan Transfer "Swings Christmas" in Cremona

Read "Manhattan Transfer "Swings Christmas" in Cremona" reviewed by Danilo Codazzi


Enjoy these photos from “The Manhattan Transfer Swings Christmas" concert. The world-famous vocal quartet of Cheryl Bentyne, Trist Curless, Alan Paul, and Janis Siegel performed at the Giovanni Arvedi auditorium in Cremona's Violin Museum on December 22, 2019 with pianist Yaron Gershovsky, bassist Boris Kozlov, and drummer Ross Pederson. ...

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Live Review

YstadSweden JazzFestival 2018

Read "YstadSweden JazzFestival 2018" reviewed by Wolfgang Konig


YstadSweden JazzFestival Ystad, Sweden August 1-6, 2018 Ystad on the Swedish South coast is known for two things: Henning Mankell's crime novels (and the tv movies) about his police detective Wallander, who investigates spectacular murder cases in the small town of just nearly 30,000 people; and since 2010 for the YstadSweden JazzFestival, one of the country's best jazz events. If one should describe it in one word it would be “friendly." It is totally ...

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Album Review

The Manhattan Transfer: The Chick Corea Songbook

Read "The Chick Corea Songbook" reviewed by Jerry D'Souza


The first edition of Manhattan Transfer was formed in 1969 by Gene Pistilli, Tim Hauser, Erin Dickins, Marty Nelson, and Pat Rosalia, splitting after one album. Hauser reformed the band in 1972 and, with Janis Siegel, Laurel Masse, and Alan Paul, established the group in New York, playing several club dates. The Manhattan Transfer (Atlantic, 1975), on which they used jazz musicians including Zoot Sims, was a success, but they moved away from jazz after that to seek a more ...

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Live Review

Manhattan Transfer: Live in Albany, NY

Read "Manhattan Transfer: Live in Albany, NY" reviewed by R.J. DeLuke


The Manhattan TransferThe EggAlbany, N.Y.Sept. 25, 2009

The Manhattan Transfer vocal group--they of the multiple Grammy awards (10) and strong allegiance to jazz--shows no signs of wear and tear after some 35 years performing and recording.

The group has just released The Chick Corea Songbook on Four Quarters Entertainment, and is on tour doing some of that music as well as an assortment of pieces from their prestigious history. After a week at ...

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Album Review

The Manhattan Transfer: Couldn

Read "Couldn" reviewed by Jim Santella


With a clear emphasis on swing, the Manhattan Transfer recorded this live session at Orchard Hall in Tokyo a few years back. The huge auditorium audience seems to light up this vocal quartet as they perform favorite songs from jazz’s early years—songs that rocked our grandparents, our parents, us, and our children.

Now over thirty years old, the Manhattan Transfer soaks up what its audience provides in appreciation and converts that energy into a brilliant performance, both ...

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Album Review

The Manhattan Transfer: Couldn

Read "Couldn" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


The ManhattanTransfer, collectively consisting of Alan Paul, Janis Siegel, Cheryl Bentyne, and Tim Hauser, has been performing as a unit for more than 30 years. As a vocal group, they offer a lighthearted foil to Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross. The Transfer has always been more pop-oriented than smiled upon by the jazz community. They were never afraid to include novelty tunes and rock influence in their fine performances. But still, the group has retained a smart hipster’s identity and has ...

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Album Review

Manhattan Transfer: Swing

Read "Swing" reviewed by Dave Hughes


time in my humble opinion) conquers another musical genre, I ask myself in between all the repeated listenings what musical territory they possibly have left to cover? They've already mastered doo-wop, pop music from several decades, jazz vocalese, Brasilian, and Christmas music, among others. In this case, they reach deep into the nostalgia bag - to the thirties, the beginning of the swing era. Not coincidentally, ballroom dancing to swing music is making a big comeback nationwide as a new ...

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Event

Manhattan Transfer to Headline Benefit Concert for Berkeley's Jazzschool, 10/1

Manhattan Transfer to Headline Benefit Concert for Berkeley's Jazzschool, 10/1

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity

The Jazzschool's annual fundraiser will be held Saturday, October 1 at Coventry Grove in Kensington, headlined by the fabulous Manhattan Transfer. The Jazzschool Advanced High School Jazz Workshop I opens the show, which will be emceed by radio host Clifford Brown Jr. “We are thrilled to present the Manhattan Transfer in this benefit concert supporting the Jazzschool's wide-ranging education programs," says Susan Muscarella, the school's Founder and Executive Director. “Proceeds from this event will be used to expand our community ...

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Radio

The Manhattan Transfer's Cheryl Bentyne To Host New Radio Show!

The Manhattan Transfer's Cheryl Bentyne To Host New Radio Show!

Source: Paul Goldstein

Grammy Winner Cheryl Bentyne of The Manhattan Transfer to Host New Weekly Radio Show LOS ANGELES, CA—Paul Goldstein, Founder of the new jazz radio station, The Jazz Groove announced today that acclaimed artist Cheryl Bentyne of The Manhattan Transfer will host “The Cheryl Bentyne Show" a weekly radio program airing Sundays from 7pm to 10pm PST, debuting this coming Sunday, June 12th. The three hour program will feature Bentyne's exclusive interviews with straight ahead jazz artists as well as her ...

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Festival

The Festival International de Jazz de Montreal Honours Smokey Robinson, the Manhattan Transfer, Sonny Rollins, Richard Bona, Herman Leonard, Don Thompson, and Presents a Special Award to Dave Brubeck

The Festival International de Jazz de Montreal Honours Smokey Robinson, the Manhattan Transfer, Sonny Rollins, Richard Bona, Herman Leonard, Don Thompson, and Presents a Special Award to Dave Brubeck

Source: Michael Ricci

Smokey Robinson will be the fifth artist to receive the Montreal Jazz Festival Spirit Award. Created especially on the occasion of the 27th edition of the Festival, in 2006, this special award underlines a popular artists extraordinary contribution to the musical world. His very first single accompanied by the Miracles, Got a Job, was released the day he turned 18. And 50 years later, Smokey Robinson-who Bob Dylan described as the worlds greatest poet!-is still going strong! Instantly recognizable: how ...

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Performance / Tour

Manhattan Transfer Presented by Jazz at Lincoln Center

Manhattan Transfer Presented by Jazz at Lincoln Center

Source: All About Jazz

40th anniversaries are no longer a rarity in popular music, but they're usually accompanied by some degree of acrimony -- manifested in public sniping, separate buses and the like.

But as they commemorate that milestone, the Manhattan Transfer haven't aired a shred of dirty laundry and -- as evidenced at the first night of their Gotham stand -- seem every bit as enthusiastic about their musical collaboration as they were decades ago. Playing a venue that often brings out the ...

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Performance / Tour

Manhattan Transfer to Perform in Boston February 17

Manhattan Transfer to Perform in Boston February 17

Source: Sue Auclair Promotions

The Manhattan Transfer celebrate their 40th Anniversary and the release of their new recording at the Wilbur Theatre Wednesday, February 17, 7:30 pm The Ambassadors of Harmony Grammy-winning jazz/pop vocal group, The Manhattan Transfer, widely renowned for broadening the musical landscape with their innovative, genre-defying sound, recently released: The Chick Corea Songbook Boston, MA -- HT Productions will present “An Evening With The Manhattan Transfer" celebrating their 40 years together and their new CD, The Chick Corea Songbook on Wednesday, ...

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Performance / Tour

Things That Go Jazz in the Night NY

Things That Go Jazz in the Night NY

Source: Michael Ricci

Weekend Jazz Haunts in Manhattan

AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE QUARTET Gerald Clayton on piano, Harish Raghavan on bass and Justin Brown on drums. Friday & Saturday At 9 and 10:30 p.m. Jazz Gallery 290 Hudson Street, at Spring Street, South Village (212) 242-1063, jazzgallery.org

CIRCLE DOWN/BENEFIT BAND The pianist Angelica Sanchez, the bassist Chris Lightcap and the drummer Chad Taylor share responsibility for the output of Circle Down. ...

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Recording

Manhattan Transfer's "The Chick Corea Songbook" Coming On September 29th

Manhattan Transfer's "The Chick Corea Songbook" Coming On September 29th

Source: Michael Ricci

In The Studio. MANHATTAN TRANSFER MAKE LONG-AWAITED RETURN TO THE STUDIO TO RECORD ALL, NEW ORIGINAL MATERIAL FOR “THE CHICK COREA SONGBOOK" IN CELEBRATION OF THEIR 40TH ANNIVERSARY GRAMMY-Award winning jazz vocal group, MANHATTAN TRANSFER, are currently in the studio finalizing their new release The Chick Corea Songbook, a record inspired by the classic work of jazz great Chick Corea. The CD features fresh and exciting vocal interpretations of many popular and brilliant Chick Corea compositions, and also includes a ...

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Recording

Manhattan Transfer Make Long-Awaited Returns to the Studio

Manhattan Transfer Make Long-Awaited Returns to the Studio

Source: Michael Ricci

Award winning jazz vocal group, Manhattan Transfer, are currently in the studio finalizing their new release - The Chick Corea Songbook, a record inspired by the classic work of jazz great Chick Corea. The CD features fresh and exciting vocal interpretations of many popular and brilliant Chick Corea compositions, and also includes a new Corea original entitled 'Free Samba' which was written specially for this album. The forthcoming release also features special guest appearances by some of the finest musicians ...

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Event

Manhattan Transfer to Perform Benefit Concert for the Society of Singers

Manhattan Transfer to Perform Benefit Concert for the Society of Singers

Source: Michael Ricci

The legendary vocal group Manhattan Transfer is performing a benefit concert for the Society of Singers, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The show will take place on the evening of September 11, at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood at 8:00 pm with premium tickets including a pre-concert reception. The Manhattan Transfer, which consists of Tim Hauser, Janis Siegel, Alan Paul and Cheryl Bentyne, was founded more than 35 years ago by Hauser, who dreamed of ...

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Performance / Tour

Manhattan Transfer Swing Night at the Bowl

Manhattan Transfer Swing Night at the Bowl

Source: All About Jazz

LA Philharmonic Presents Jazz at the Bowl (JZ2)

Tim Hauser, Janis Siegel, Alan Paul and Cheryl Bentyne, The Manhattan Transfer will Swing at the great outdoor setting of the Hollywood Bowl August 16th, along with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Manhattan Transfer is a study in the nature of swing. Multiple Grammy-winning mixed quartet Manhattan Transfer is known for their expertise in many styles of music, including doo-wop, cabaret and Brazilian music for example, but they have been best known for ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

The Chick Corea...

Four Quarters Entertainment
2009

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Couldn

Telarc Records
2004

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Couldn

Telarc Records
2003

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Swing

Atlantic Records
1998

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Swing

Atlantic
1997

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