By Mary Ann Bourbeau
HOLMDEL – After half a century of worldwide success, The Manhattan Transfer is still going strong. The Grammy Award-winning group will be in town for one night only at the Theater at Bell Works Saturday, Nov. 20. It’s a rare opportunity to see the legendary jazz and vocal quartet in an intimate setting, presented by the Axelrod Performing Arts Center.
“We’re honored to have such an iconic group such as The Manhattan Transfer perform for our Jersey audience,” said Andrew DePrisco, artistic director of the Axelrod PAC. “They’re quite a first class act, and this is a nice opportunity to see them up close in a lovely setting.”
The New York City-based group has performed all over the world, but is always happy to be back near their home turf.
“I’m so thrilled that The Manhattan Transfer will be performing at Bell Works in Holmdel,” said Alan Paul, a founding member of the group. “New Jersey is my home state, where I was born and raised…so seeing family and old friends at our concert will be very special.”
The group was founded in 1972 by Tim Houser, a New York City cab driver who longed to form a vocal quartet. He recruited singers Laurel Masse and Janis Siegel, along with Paul, who at the time was appearing as Teen Angel in the original Broadway production of “Grease.” They gained popularity in Manhattan’s cabarets and jazz clubs and released their self-titled debut album in 1975, featuring “Operator,” their first national hit. The vocal remake of the classic song “Birdland” resulted in their first two Grammy Awards. In 1981 they became the first group to win Grammys in the same year in both the pop category, with “Boy from New York City,” and jazz category, with “Until I Met You (Corner Pocket.)”
Known for incorporating pop, rock, jazz, R&B, swing and a cappella music into their songs, the popularity of The Manhattan Transfer soared. Before long, they made appearances on talk shows and hosted a variety show featuring a diverse lineup of musicians such as Bob Marley and the Wailers. They have performed and recorded with the best of the best, including Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Bette Midler, Smokey Robinson, B.B. King and James Taylor.
In 1978, Masse left the group and was replaced with Cheryl Bentyne. When Hauser died in 2014, the remaining members struggled over whether to continue. They chose to move on, replacing Hauser with Trist Curless, who had performed with the group at times when Hauser was ill.
Through the years, The Manhattan Transfer has sold out world tours, sold millions of records and was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. In a nod to their friend Sheldon Vogel, a former executive at Atlantic Records and longtime supporter of the Axelrod, the performance at Bell Works is dedicated to Vogel’s wife, Anne, who died earlier this year.
“Anne and I loved the music of Manhattan Transfer since their first album in April 1975,” Vogel said in a statement. “We became good friends shortly thereafter and ever since.”
The feeling is mutual, said Siegel.
“The Manhattan Transfer is honored to be singing in tribute to our friend Sheldon Vogel and to the memory of his beloved wife Anne,” she said. “In our 50 years together, we have had many allies and supporters, but Sheldon Vogel has been our angel throughout our career and certainly during his tenure at Atlantic Records. Sheldon is “one of the good guys” and we are happy to be raising our voices in memory of his loving wife.”
The Manhattan Transfer will appear at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20 at the Theater at Bell Works, 101 Crawford’s Corner Road, Holmdel. Tickets are $50 and are available at axelrodartscenter.com.
The article originally appeared in the November 11 – 17, 2021 print edition of The Two River Times.
