James Morrison is arguably the most recognisable face in
Australian music, with an instrumental prowess that includes trumpet, trombone,
saxophone, tuba, piano and double bass.
With sweet, perfect voices and harmonies
that flow like molasses, The Idea Of North have performed at the AFL Grand Final
and on the highest-rating television show in recent history.
They've been
friends and musical collaborators for years, but until now James Morrison and
The Idea of North have never made an album together.
All that changed when
the legendary trumpeter and Australia's most popular jazz-vocal quartet joined
forces late in 2009 to record 'Feels Like Spring', a vibrant collection of standards
and original tunes that will blast away the autumn blues.
Recorded during
inspired sessions at Morrison's own studio on Sydney's Northern Beaches, 'Feels
Like Spring' has a nostalgic feel, like you're watching an episode of the hit
series 'Mad Men', but the music is undeniably fresh, even quirky. Songs like 'It
Might As Well Be Spring' and 'Le Belleclaire Blues' may conjure the Kennedy era
but the arrangements are cheerfully contemporary. The warm, lush interpretations
of 'Smile' and 'Over The Rainbow' manage to be both melancholy and uplifting while
the highly polished, Latin-driven tracks 'Bella Tina' and 'What a Fool Believes'
are reminiscent of soft 70's pop.
"James has written several really
cool arrangements for us over the years, so it was high time we recorded together"
says The Idea of North's Nick Begbie, whose group sang live before an audience
of 3.7 million viewers on the Hey Hey It's Saturday reunion show in late 2009.
For
James Morrison, the collaboration with the group that he first discovered and
mentored soon after their formation in Canberra a decade ago was a stimulating
experience. "One thing I learned from day one with these people is that they
won't settle for anything less than vocal perfection. They put so much work into
everything they do, and you can hear it when they sing." Morrison himself
plays many of the instruments on the album, and - for the first time in his recording
career - makes a cameo on one of his all-time favourite instruments, the double-bass.
For
a vocal group which normally performs a cappella, the presence of strings and
a big band was an unusual treat. "It was great having James playing so many
instruments as it really saved us on session musician costs!" jokes The Idea
of North's bass and 'mouth-percussionist' Andrew Piper.
With three albums
with ABC Music already under their belt, for alto Naomi Crellin the sessions with
James Morrison was a real departure from The Idea Of North's normal recording
style. "James believes in one-take wonders and will rarely do something twice
unless there's a real issue, whereas we're the exact opposite."
So
what to label this extraordinary adult contemporary fusion of jazz, pop and musical
virtuosity? Morrison smiles in response: 'It's just great music!'
"This
a cappella outfit can't put a foot wrong… Critic's rating: 10/10" -
The Sun Herald, Sydney
"…If there is a finer a cappella group in
Australia, I'm looking forward to hearing them." - The West Australian
"…measured
and absorbing. Like ABBA dipped in velvet." - The Sydney Morning Herald
"…an
impeccable standard of musicianship…" - The Melbourne Age
The
Idea of North is Sally Cameron (soprano), Naomi Crellin (alto), Nick Begbie (tenor)
and Andrew Piper (bass). They are Australia's foremost contemporary vocal ensemble
and rank very highly on the world stage. Equally at home performing at AFL Grand
Finals, on channel 9's 'Hey Hey, It's Saturday' and in the finest recital centres
in the world, the group started out studying at two of Australia's best music
schools -The Canberra School of Music and The Elder Conservatorium in Adelaide.
They have also studied and worked with some of the truly great singers, arrangers
and vocal groups including The New York Voices, Tuck and Patti, Gene Puerling
(The Hi-Lo's, Singers Unlimited), Mark Murphy and Cheryl Bentine (Manhattan Transfer).
They have also worked and performed with The Real Group (Sweden), Rajaton (Finland)
and M-Pact (USA), three of the finest a cappella ensembles in the world today.
Recognised in many major awards and recording successes including winners of The
Harmony Sweepstakes, the largest International a cappella competition in the world.
They have performed at major events in such arenas as The Lincoln Centre in New
York, The Kennedy Centre in Washington DC and similar venues both at home in Australia
and overseas in the US, Europe and Asia.
TRACKLISTING:
Dear John
The
Nearness Of You
It Might As Well Be Spring
Over The Rainbow
Le Belleclaire
Blues
Bella Tina
Smile
If I Were A Bell
Stella By Starlight
Since
I Fell For You
Enchanted
What A Fool Believes
James Morrison
and The Idea of North are touring nationally:
Thur, 3 June - The Factory,
Sydney www.factorytheatre.com.au
Fri, 4 June - City Hall, Newcastle www.civicprecinctnewcastle.com.au
Sat,
5 June - Civic Centre, Nambour www.nambourciviccentre.com.au
Sun, 6 June -
The Powerhouse, Brisbane www.brisbanepowerhouse.org
Wed, 16 June - The Basement,
Sydney www.thebasement.com.au
Thur, 17 June - The Canberra Theatre, ACT www.canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Tue,
29 June - Her Majesty's Ballarat www.hermaj.com.au
Wed, 30 June - The Forum
Theatre, Melbourne www.marrinertheatres.com.au
Thur, 1 July - The Theatre Royal,
Hobart www.theatreroyal.com.au
See venue websites and www.idea.com.au
and www.jamesmorrison.com
for more tour details.
'Feels Like Spring' is available now.
