Location:
C, Chambers Street
Time: 14.00
Price: £7.50 (£6.50)
Naked
Voices Is Astoundingly Brilliant. Right I’ve said it, no need to sit and
read through a whole review to get the general opinion, this is that good
that I have gone and said it at the beginning, so while you’re reading
this you may as well call the box office and wait on hold to try and book
tickets for this musically excellent show.
That
said I suppose I better go into some detail rather than just leave it
there! Naked Voices is made up of 16 utterly talented musicians, who when
mixed together like some vicious cocktail managing to create music and
sounds of pitch perfect precision. They blend their voices into
exceptional harmonies and create songs better than those with instruments,
they really show that the voice is the only instrument they need.
The
performance is smooth and co-ordinated, they move from song to song with
style and rhythm, and perform with some particularly brilliant creations
of horse and carriages, James Bond esq stylised montages and elegant
staging. It defiantly looks as good as it sound, and boy does it sound
good.
This
is spine tingling, awe-inspiring stuff. The voices make you sit there in
awe thinking, wow, if only I could sing like that. However the 1 hour 20
minute performance was probably just a tiny bit long, an hour would
suffice. Towards the middle I started to nod off almost due to the
relaxing atmosphere and the comforting music, not because I was board. The
only other noticeable problem was that the music although brilliant, could
have included a few more recognizable current numbers to show you the
performers slant on songs you know, and for you to have a little
sing-along in your head.
But
these are the only two minor criticisms of what is a near perfect show. It
is the stuff musical dreams are made of, and goes to show you how much
talent there is around. Each one of these performers is due a record
contract or two. The James Bond, 007 melody was brilliantly funny and
beautiful to listen to as the 16 voices make up at least a dozen different
parts of the music, and the chorography lets you watch, giggle and be
amazed.
This is
singing from the heart, the cast look like they are having a brilliant
time on stage, which translates to your feel as an audience member. They
say that music is the food of love, well if it is this is a banquet of all
the best meals you could ever imagine, truly exceptional, original and
blooming marvellous. Pavarotti would feel ashamed that he isn’t as good
as Naked Voices.
Book
now, you won’t hear any better music on the fringe.
5 OUT OF 5
Other
Dates
NAKED
VOICES are
coming to St Georges, Bristol
this October fresh from a completely sold out run at the Edinburgh
Festival Fringe 2002. This
stunning Bristol based acappella
group appeared on BBC 2’s “The Edinburgh Show” as a highlight of
the festival and were presented with a
“Lenny” award by compere Lenny Beige at The Pleasance’s
“Pick of the Fringe”.
NAKED
VOICES
are a fifteen piece vocal group. Using only the human voice they perform
original arrangements of a fantastically diverse range of songs – from
soulful Joni Mitchell and Nina Simone to the jagged grooves of Portishead
and David Bowie. Haunting Bulgarian folk music, big band James Bond tunes,
the Beatles, Barber’s Adagio and more.
Most
of the songs are arranged for the group by co-directors
Dee Jarlett and Ali Orbaum, who also run Bristol's hugely popular 120
strong Gasworks Choir and the
show is choregraphed by Gill
Malpass who also sings in the group.
In
addition to performing, NAKED
VOICES run harmony singing workshops for all ages and abilities. They
will be running an afternoon
harmony singing workshop on October 14th and promise an uplifting
afternoon singing songs that range from pop,folk and funk to gospel, blues
and world music in the beautiful acoustic of St George’s. No experience
is necessary and all the songs are taught by ear.
Highly
acclaimed performances at arts centres (Exeter Phoenix, Guildhall
Gloucester) around the country have established their reputation as one of
the best live acts in the West Country.
Venue:
St George’s, off Park St
Date: Sun 13th October 2002
Time:
w/shop 2-5pm concert 8pm
Box Office: 0119 923 0359
We also have a couple of gigs at the Rondo
in Bath on Dec 6th and 7th at
8pm, and a harmony singing
workshop on the Saturday 7th
afternoon from 2 - 4.30pm. Box office: 01225 463362
