The Manhattan Transfer is THRILLED to announce the release of their latest album, THE JUNCTION! Remembering Tim Hauser and welcoming Trist Curless, The Manhattan Transfer has embraced new dynamic and fresh possibilities for their legendary sound in this eclectic new recording produced by five-time Grammy winner Mervyn Warren.
“The concept behind THE JUNCTION is this special meeting place – a junction merging our four and a half decade musical legacy with something new,” says Alan Paul. “It wasn’t exactly a seamless transition because Tim is irreplaceable, he and Trist are very different singers. We weren’t looking to replace Tim’s unique personality, but found in Trist someone who could add a new element to the group, and take care of the bottom of the quartet with his true bass.”
“It’s a whole different ball game, but one we feel is still musically very viable and exciting,” Janis Siegel adds.
Curless reflects, “My personal desire was that the album would sound like The Manhattan Transfer, keeping with what they’ve done, but bringing a new energy that would come naturally with my strengths as an artist, becoming a part of theirs.”
The songs The Manhattan Transfer have chosen are rife with cool new musical twists and Warren’s sparkling vocal arrangements, perfectly reflect the band’s forward-thinking aesthetic.
Cheryl Bentyne penned sly lyrics to saxophonist Grace Kelly’s moody, film noir-ish “Blues for Harry Bosch” which reference numerous classic detective movies. Paul co-write “Swing Balboa (Down on Riverside)” mixing the classic Balboa swing sound with edgy, modern electro-swing. Siegel co-wrote and sings lead on the hip, uptempo Shake Your Boogie (Galactic Vocal Version), whose story cleverly incorporates a playful element of Star Wars. And Curless brings us to The Junction – an homage to the TMT classic Tuxedo Junction.
TMT finds new joy in harmonizing the classic rap of Us3’s early 90’s hip-hop/jazz hit “Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)” – based on Herbie Hancock’s soul-jazz treasure “Cantaloop Island” – which the quartet fashions into Cantaloop (Flip Out!). They also bring newfound pleasures and a party energy to the crowd pleaser, Tequila: The Way of the Booze, with lyrics by Paul. Balancing these optimistic bursts are more pointed social commentaries – XTC’s The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul and Rickie Lee Jones’ harmonically dissonant Ugly Man.
“As the work on this album reflects — democracy is the fabric of the group. It has been from the beginning,” says Bentyne. “We all have a different take on music and appreciate different styles, so each member brings something to the table that is unique. We have tremendous faith in that process. This album is completely us, a true snapshot of who we are right now, having survived so many hardships, but looking forward to exciting new chapters in the band’s story. We give great credit to Mervyn Warren, without whom this project would not have come together as beautifully as it did. His participation, oversight, brilliant arrangements and production helped us make one of our strongest musical statements ever.”
Get your copy of “The Junction” here!
The Manhattan Transfer 2018 ~ Photo by John Abbott
