TRIBUTE: LIVE JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER

The internationally acclaimed, award-winning female African-American a cappella group Sweet Honey In The Rock has followed its adventurous spirit and undertaken the challenge of honoring some of the seminal songs that first inspired its unique blend of folk, blues, jazz, gospel and ethnic music in a concert presentation utilizing an instrumental backing trio for the first time in its career, now approaching its fourth decade. Upping the ante, the singers decided to perform this special program at New York s prestigious Jazz at Lincoln Center venue and to record their two-night appearance there.

In the opening moments of their new 2-CD 2013 release, A Tribute Live! Jazz at Lincoln Center, Sweet Honey member Ysaye Barnwell recites a roll-call of some of the great female African-American vocalists whose songs helped shape the group and comprise much of Tribute s repertoire, including Abbey Lincoln, Odetta, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Miriam Makeba, Carmen McRae, Bessie Smith, and Sarah Vaughan.

The songs on this recording, the band s first new release in six years and 22nd overall, are drawn from those two shows at Jazz at Lincoln Center s Rose Hall in April 2011. Adorned with new arrangements by Sweet Honey s members, there are jazz standards, gospel/civil rights anthems, Afro-centric songs, show tunes, blues, and a salsa-flavored original.

Sweet Honey In The Rock s distinctive swirl of a cappella vocals, encompassing waves of imaginative ensemble harmonies and occasional solo showcases, is heard unaccompanied, aside from the quintet s hand percussion, on about half of the songs. Interwoven throughout the presentation are the understated instrumental contributions of the trio nicknamed the Honey Men, who augment Sweet Honey s exhilarating, soulful voices and confident, genre-crossing dexterity.

Founded in 1973, Sweet Honey In The Rock has established itself as an inspiring, empowering musical force worldwide.