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in our own sweet time
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We know you'll enjoy the first CD release from !zing, titled 'in our own sweet time'. We create choral music that reflects the variety of musical styles in the air at the beginning of Century XXI, and to perform that material with originality, sass, and style. 'in our own sweet time' features material we have refined in rehearsals and performances since the founding of the group in Portland, Maine, in 2001. The musical arrangements are original, the work of director Charles R. Brown Jr., who is also featured as pianist on the recording. !zing performs with piano trio accompaniment and fourteen vocalists with the range to cover a cappella or classic small vocal group sounds, as well as fuller choral treatment of an interesting or forgotten or underappreciated song. This is music designed for people who enjoy careful listening of group singing.

'in our own sweet time' opens with a re-creation of the original recording of Neal Hefti's 1953 recording Li'l Darlin', which practically defines the swinging jazz chorus sound. This music demo'd a lot of early stereos, and served as background to many a suburban cocktail party. The next cut is a choral treatment of Bob Dorough's ode to Charlie Parker and the bop life from 1956, 'Up Jumped a Bird'. Dorough is composer of track five as well, the clever musical setting of the definition of the word 'Love' from Webster's Dictionary. There are few choruses in the world performing versions of these unusual songs. The original composition on the disc is track four, the Bad Attitude Song, musical director Charles Brown's theme music for the put upon. In typical !zing style this smart alecky swing is followed by an affectionate tribute to the classic hit Hey There Lonely Boy.

Track six is !zing's homage to the great Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, Down for Double. This arrangement is a copy of the 1956 original which set the standard for small group jazz singing. Let It Be Me is the a cappella number on the CD, and stretches the Everly Brothers song into a new shape. This is followed by a tribute to Brian Wilson, Surf's Up from the legendary lost Smile recording. This cut stands up to the full chorus treatment. The final cut is !zing's treatment of As Long As You're Living, a song associated with Oscar Brown Jr. Swinging 5/4, a great lyric and a unique performance. !zing sings!

Buy this CD now at CD Baby