ごとうたかひこ on Jazz of Japan | Brian McCrory https://www.jazzofjapan.com/tags/%E3%81%94%E3%81%A8%E3%81%86%E3%81%9F%E3%81%8B%E3%81%B2%E3%81%93/ Recent content in ごとうたかひこ on Jazz of Japan | Brian McCrory Hugo en-us Sun, 24 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Baby Brothers: Happy Christmas with Bb https://www.jazzofjapan.com/baby-brothers-happy-christmas-with-bb/ Sun, 24 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.jazzofjapan.com/baby-brothers-happy-christmas-with-bb/ <p>This special release from Baby Brothers, entitled <em>Happy Christmas with Bb (side b, the final live at plug and more)</em>, warmly celebrates the holidays and commemorates the vocal quintet’s final performance in 2007, layering bittersweet emotions with abundantly joyful singing and expression.</p> <figure><a href="L1200613x-1024.jpeg"> <img loading="lazy" src="L1200613x-1024.jpeg"/> </a> </figure> <p>The album starts with eight tracks performed and recorded in concert. This live portion features the a capella quintet using their voices in beautiful harmony with charming arrangements from their repertoire including the classic jazz standard “My Favorite Things”, some jazzy soul and pop selections, and three well-known Japanese songs.</p> This special release from Baby Brothers, entitled Happy Christmas with Bb (side b, the final live at plug and more), warmly celebrates the holidays and commemorates the vocal quintet’s final performance in 2007, layering bittersweet emotions with abundantly joyful singing and expression.

The album starts with eight tracks performed and recorded in concert. This live portion features the a capella quintet using their voices in beautiful harmony with charming arrangements from their repertoire including the classic jazz standard “My Favorite Things”, some jazzy soul and pop selections, and three well-known Japanese songs.

The three songs “Nada Sousou”, “Ookina Furudokei”, and “Furusato” are well known in Japan and are especially heartwarming album highlights. Despite any language barrier, the textured voices and words convey a sense of nostalgia, sadness, and memories, immersing listeners in steeping emotions.

Following the eight live tracks, four studio-recorded songs include two finely-tuned pop songs and two Christmas classics, ending the album sweetly with a lush “White Christmas” and a serene caroling of “Silent Night” sung in both Japanese and English.

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]]> Baby Brothers: Bb https://www.jazzofjapan.com/baby-brothers-bb/ Mon, 23 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.jazzofjapan.com/baby-brothers-bb/ <p>The living music from vocal a cappella groups can be inspiring and soothing in turbulent times, with voices layered in harmony and synchronized timing for direct connections with each other and the audience. The five-piece group Baby Brothers from Tokyo released their debut <em>Bb</em> in 2007 with their well-arranged jazz, R&amp;B, and hymn-like traditionals. With only their voices and no other instruments, the quality of vocal organic vibrations can powerfully connect with reassuring joy through a skillful, very human communal experience.</p> The living music from vocal a cappella groups can be inspiring and soothing in turbulent times, with voices layered in harmony and synchronized timing for direct connections with each other and the audience. The five-piece group Baby Brothers from Tokyo released their debut Bb in 2007 with their well-arranged jazz, R&B, and hymn-like traditionals. With only their voices and no other instruments, the quality of vocal organic vibrations can powerfully connect with reassuring joy through a skillful, very human communal experience.

Happy and hopeful, the album’s jazz numbers include swinging tunes “Over the Rainbow”, “Take Five”, “Almost Like Being in Love”, and “Night in Tunisia”, performed with lush arrangements and nice decorations like vocal bass lines, beats, and horn imitations, used tastefully and not overdone. One can imagine the members’ uplifting smiles and movements as they work together to resonate voices in position.

In addition to the jazz tunes, other genres perfectly suited to Baby Brothers include R&B, spiritual and traditional music, including Al Jarreau’s “Could You Believe”, the reverent “Lamb of God”, and the folk song “The Water is Wide”, working together to raise the inspirational quality of the album. All songs are performed in English, save the last tune “Furusato”, a wistfully beautiful reminiscence about home and the love remaining there.

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