Rare Silk - New Weave (Polydor, 1983)

 This post is by Dan

Gaile Gillaspie (vo); Marguerite Juenemann (vo); Marylynn Gillaspie (vo); Todd Buffa (vo); Eric Gunnison (kyb); Kim Stone (b); Michael Berry (b); Randy Brecker (tr); Michael Brecker (ts); Ronnie Cuber (bs); Lawrence Feldman (as); Dave Charles (perc, vib); Barry Wedgle (g); Gary Bartz (as); Bruce Forman (g)

Recorded 1983

I've always enjoyed the genre of vocalese, in which jazz singers execute lyrics and wordless vocals as part of a larger jazz group. Lambert, Hendricks and Ross made an early impression on me with their hip vocals and harmonic sophistication. They were preceeded by somewhat "squarer" vocal groups such as the Four Freshmen and The Hi-Los.  Probably the closest comparisons to Rare Silk's approach to vocalese would be Manhattan Transfer and New York Voices. The Transfer had the most commercial success with 28 album releases between 1971 and 2018, albeit in different incarnations. 

Rare Silk was formed in 1978 and released only three albums before disbanding in 1988. New Weave was their first, and a friend recommended it to me soon after its release. It remains my "go to" vocalese recording, notwithstanding my admiration for Lambert Hendricks and Ross. 

Rare Weave boasts a band of great jazz players, including the Brecker brothers, Bruce Forman, and Gary Bartz. It also introduces some songs that I've not heard played by anyone else. For instance, "Happying," penned by Joseph "Flip" Nuñez, is a joy all the way through. It appeared once before on Nuñez's 1976 album, My Own Time and Space. A couple of rare Richie Cole songs ("D.C. Farewell" and "New York Afternoon") also receive magnificent treatment by the Silk. More familiar songs are given unique arrangements, such as Stanley Turrentine's "Sugar," Chick Corea's "Spain," and Freddie Hubbard's "Red Clay." Even Billy Strayhorn's warhorse, "Lush Life," is given new life through the beautiful vocal arrangements.

This record always puts me in a good mood. The voices blend gorgeously and complement the band perfectly. There's not much more to say except "go find it!"