The Art of Vocalese

My first project immediately after the retirement of The Manhattan Transfer, it's as much a tribute to The Manhattan Transfer and the work we did as anything else.
Janis Siegel

Few artists have done more to shape the modern language of vocal jazz than Janis Siegel. With her five remarkable decades with The Manhattan Transfer and the relationships with all the greats who defined the art, it only makes sense that her newest work would carry the title, The Art of Vocalese. More than a celebration of the uniquely demanding jazz tradition, the album is both a tribute to her mentor, Jon Hendricks, and a reflection on a lifetime devoted to inspired storytelling, beautiful vocal harmonies and joyous music-making. Joined by pianist/arranger John Di Martino, an exceptional band, and featured guests Raul Midón, Lea DeLaria, Laurel Massé, and Lauren Kinhan, Siegel presents an elegant, joyful and richly expressive set of music, topped with the unveiling of several previously unrecorded Hendricks lyrics. The Art of Vocalese is the next step in this master artist's life that further defines her extraordinary career while carrying one of jazz's most exciting traditions forward.

Production Info:

Produced by Janis Siegel
Recorded by Steven Sacco at Sear Sound, NYC
on January 16, 2024
Mixed & mastered by Dave Darlington at Bass Hit Recording, NYC
Vocal & instrumental overdubs by Dave Darlington
Background vocals (8,9) recorded at Baby Konehead Studios
Photography by John Abbott
Make-up artist: Kayla Berley
Studio photos by Benjamin Lehman
Liner notes by Ben Sidran
Cover design & layout by John Bishop

Reviews of The Art of Vocalese

Paris Move (Thierry De Clemensat)
Janis Siegel revisits the tradition of vocalese with elegance, experience and a voice shaped by decades of music, creating a moving bridge between The Manhattan Transfer's legacy and the present. 5-STARS There are album titles that can make a listener suspicious before the first note has even been played. The Art of Vocalese could easily have b ...

Era Jazzu (Poland) (Dionizy Piątkowski)
We first met in 2005, when Era Jazzu presented the legendary quartet The Manhattan Transfer in Warsaw and Zabrze . A cult band with a legendary lineup: Janis Siegel, Cheryl Bentyne, Tim Hauser, and Alan Paul. " It was my first project right after The Manhattan Transfer ended," says Janis Siegel about the new album, "The Art of Vocalese." It's a tri ...

Jazz Weekly (George W Harris)
*RINGER OF THE WEEK* There aren't many artists alive any more who can claim to actually have started a style of music, but Janis Siegel is definitely one of the chosen. Her work with Manhattan Transfer literally changed the style of group vocal music, taking the inspiration of Lambert, Hendricks and Ross to the next level. Her own solo albums have ...

The Toledo Blade (Tom Henry)
This album, which is scheduled for release on Friday, is one for Toledo-area jazz lovers to embrace. First, take note of the title. Vocalese pioneer Jon Hendricks grew up in Toledo, and that's only part of what makes this a cool album. Another reason is that the songs are expertly sung and produced by nine-time Grammy winner Janis Siegel. Sie ...

Something Else! (Ross Boissoneau)
With the 2023 retirement of the Manhattan Transfer, Siegel is concentrating on her solo career. As the title suggests, this recording finds her singing lyrics to what were instrumental jazz tunes. It's always a challenge to create lyrics that fit in the often-tricky melodies and solos, and it can get tiring. On Charlie Parker's "Back To Barbados," ...

Cultural Attache (Craig L. Byrd)
I've been a fan of vocalist Siegel's singing for quite some time. I have fond memories of listening to her 1987 album At Home . Which was where I most enjoyed hear it – at home. Siegel was, of course, a member of The Manhattan Transfer beginning in 1972. She remained with them until they retired in 2023. My favorite Transfer album was 1985' ...

The New York City Jazz Record (Tessa Souter)
Few artists have done more to shape the modern language of vocal jazz than former Manhattan Transfer member Janis Siegel, herself a fabulous—and always fun—live performer. Her new album, The Art of Vocalese (Origin), is both a tribute to her mentor, master vocalist-lyricist Jon Hendricks (featuring rediscovered Hendricks lyrics) and a reflectio ...

Modern Drummer (Mark Griffith)
As a longtime member of The Manhattan Transfer Janis Siegel helped spread the magic of vocalese to the masses. For those who don't know, vocalese is a style of singing where a vocalist writes and sings original words to match previously recorded instrumental solos or tunes. Vocalese recordings are often well and tightly arranged and require a drumm ...

Jersey Jazz Magazine (Joe Lang)
The Art of Vocalese by Janis Siegel is a delightful exploration of the vocal style that puts words to jazz tunes and solos. Ben Sidran's informative liner notes give a complete picture of the development of this vocal technique and its primary practitioners. Siegel was a charter member of the iconic group, Manhattan Transfer, a group known for t ...

The Arts Fuze (Boston) (Steve Provizer)
Janis Siegel's first project since the Manhattan Transfer's 2023 dissolution honors the lyric-driven jazz practice shaped by Eddie Jefferson and Lambert, Hendricks & Ross. If you don't know the word vocalese, it refers to writing and singing lyrics to jazz melodies and jazz solos. Don't confuse it with scat singing (scatting), which is the use o ...