That Old Mercer Magic! JALALA (Manhattan Transfer, NYV)

John Herndon Mercer, aka Johnny Mercer, was more than just a lyricist of popular song; he was a true American poet and That Old Mercer Magic! is an amazing new project from three equally amazing ladies called JaLaLa; Janis Siegel of The Manhattan Transfer, Laurel Masse´ (an original founding and former member of The Manhattan Transfer) and Lauren Kinhan of New York Voices fame.
Siegel, a nine-time Grammy winner, seventeen-time Grammy nominee and one of the founding members of the vocal group The Manhattan Transfer jumped at the chance to do a full project of Mercer songs. The most difficult challenge of the project, which is a testament to Mercer s true genius, was picking just 12 songs that would encompass a well-rounded representation of his popular compositions, said Siegel. Yet the easiest part for Janis was creating the vocal group JaLaLa in collaboration with two of her favorite singers Laurel Masse´ and Lauren Kinhan, both being acclaimed vocalists whether singing in harmony or showing off their solo chops.
Standout tracks are; Spring, Spring, Spring from the Tony Award winning Broadway musical Li l Abner and You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby, which starts off with an underutilized verse and then shifts into a funky party gear with a New Orleans feel featuring Lew Soloff on trumpet. Fans new and old will also enjoy the signature Dream, which was highlighted in the OSCAR nominated musical film Daddy Long Legs that featured Fred Astaire and Leslie Caron, one of the few songs that Mercer penned both music and lyric. Another Mercer classic, Moon River, written with Henry Mancini for the movie Breakfast at Tiffany s, is given a heartrending wistful treatment by Laurel Masse´ and Frank Vignola, then languidly glides into Moon Country a Mercer/Hoagy Carmichael collaboration. JaLaLa will certainly please the legion of Mercer fans while irresistibly enticing today s music listening generation with That Old Mercer Magic!

[@CarlHalling]

Great to know that Laurel and Janis are singing together again. Some good news at long last!

[@CONCHYA]

This is just unbelievable!! Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!! I have never missed a Manhattan Transfer Concert here in Seattle. I do know what I missed out on when they lost Laurel Masse' because I listen to many of the songs MT did when she was with them. It was such a sadness! Another sadness for me is that there is no more New York Voices but here is Lauren Kinhan and of course Janis Siegel is so wonderful... I would pay $100 for a seat at Jazz Alley in Seattle to see JaLaLa.

[@hipocampelofantocame]

This brings back so many great musical memories.

[@foolishfoolishheart]

I just love JaLaLa. Hope they come out with more albums.

[@ro141]

Love this, thanks for posting it as well as all your other clips by Janis, Laurel and the rest of Manhattan Transfer. Just one pedantic correction to your excellent notes: Spring Spring Spring was from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, not Lil Abner.