THE ROYAL BOPSTERS CELEBRATE 10 YEARS WITH REISSUE OF THEIR LANDMARK DEBUT ALBUM
W/ BONUS TRACKS “JAZZ JUMP” + “AULD LANG SYNE” (INSPIRED BY THE BEACH BOYS 1966 TRACK)
The Royal Bopsters (10th Anniversary Edition) out 12/30/2022 on Motéma
“Extraordinary” — Allen Morrison, Downbeat (4.5 stars), Best Albums of 2015
“Priceless… [a] landmark” – Christopher Louden, Jazz Times
“A magnum opus of jazz and song” – Michael Bourne, WBGO Radio
The Royal Bopsters – recognized as one of the top jazz vocal groups of our times by Downbeat, JazzTimes, The Bistro Awards and Jazz Journalists Awards – will cap off their successful 10th Anniversary year with performances at Pangea (Dec 28) and Swing 46 (Jan 14), with a reissue of their sensational 2015 debut album The Royal Bopsters Project, reviewed by JazzTimes as ‘priceless’ and a ‘landmark.’
According to Allan Morrison’s 4.5 star Downbeat review: “No jazz vocal group in the 20th century cast a longer shadow than Lambert, Hendricks & Ross. But all their qualities are echoed in the work of The Royal Bopsters. Some of the most important figures in vocalese history appear as guests on the album: the pioneering Jon Hendricks and Annie Ross of Lambert, Hendricks & Ross; the legendary bop singer/songwriter and Schoolhouse Rock! creator Bob Dorough; their fellow NEA Master, Sheila Jordan; and six-time GRAMMY®-nominee Mark Murphy, who can be heard in fine form on four tracks.” Their 2015 debut sensationally launched the group to fame when it first came out, and now, as four of five special guests and Bopster co-founder Holli Ross are, sadly, no longer with us, this vocalese touchstone has become all the more precious.
The reissue titled The Royal Bopsters (Tenth Anniversary Edition) will feature revised cover art, 11 of the original tracks, a remix of track 12 (Amy London’s “Let’s Fly”), a bonus track of the Bopsters’ swinging version of the Lester Young/King Pleasure song “Jazz Jump” (initially released as a single in 2021), plus the world premiere of their sparkling new acapella arrangement of “Auld Lang Syne.” Inspired by The Beach Boys 1966, The Bopsters’ “Auld Lang Syne”is adapted by Dylan Pramak, and dedicated to the group’s five fallen compatriots and jazz heroes, Mark, Jon, Annie, Bob and Holli.
The reissue will be available world wide in digital format on December 30th. The CD version (which is the same program less the “Auld Lang Syne” bonus, will be available December 30th at Bandcamp, and available worldwide on February 24th.
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Recent Recognition for The Royal Bopsters:
“Outstanding Achievement: Jazz Artistry” winner – Bistro Awards, 2022 (Featured at Award Ceremony)
“Best Vocal Jazz Group”— winner, JazzTimes Outer Critics Poll 2021
“Vocal Group of the Year” – nominee, Jazz Journalist Awards 2021 & 2022
Also available: The Royal Bopsters: Party of Four (Motéma 2020)
See The Royal Bopsters in New York City:
12/28/2022 Pangea / 178 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003 / www.pangeanyc.com
1/14/2023 Swing 46 / 349 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036 / swing46.nyc
Private links: FULL ALBUM; Bonus Track: AULD LANG SYNE
LINK To Album Art: ALBUM ART & LINER NOTES
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Track Listing:
1. Music in the Air (‘Wildwood’ as an Instrumental) (4:36)
2. On the Red Clay (‘red Clay’ as an Instrumental) (5:33)
3. Peace The Royal Bopsters (4:57)
4. Basheer, The Snake and the Mirror (5:58)
5. Senor Blues (4:54)
6. Invitation (6:22)
7. Bird Chasin’ (‘Chasin’ the Bird’ as an Instrumental) (4:15)
8. Music is Forever (6:21)
9. Bebop Lives (‘Boplicity’ as an Instrumental) (4:59)
10. Just Step Right Up (6:12)
11. Nothing Like You Has Ever Been Seen Before (4:24)
12. Let’s Fly (10th Anniversary Remix) (3:44)
13. Jazz Jump (10th Anniversary Bonus Track) (4:29)
14. Auld Lang Syne (10th Anniversary Bonus Track – Acapella Version – Dedicated to Mark Murphy, Jon Hendricks, Annie Ross, Bob Dorough, and Holli Ross) (1:24)
Credits:
Vocalist on Tracks 1-12 (2015 line-up)
Amy London – Soprano
Holli Ross – Alto
Darmon Meader – Tenor
Dylan Pramuk – Bass
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Vocalists on Tracks 13 & 14 (2022 line-up)
Amy London – Soprano
Jeanne O’Connor – Alto
Pete McGuinness – Tenor
Dylan Pramuk – Bass
Piano: Steve Schmidt; Bass: Sean Smith, (Cameron Brown on #3); Drums: Steve Williams; Percussion: Steven Kroon