A New A-Choir'd Taste

On Tuesday this week, Scooter and I went to a concert in the evening at the Purcell Room in the South Bank Centre. It had been years since I'd been to that venue, but used to be a semi-regular visitor many years ago. I've seen Oscar Peterson, Diana Krall, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Manhattan Transfer, Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea and Philip Glass...to name more than a few!

This vist however was different. It was my first exposure to choral music! I love most forms of music, esecially jazz (see names above) and classical, but for some reason, never went to a concert given by a choir.

Well, that has now changed. A friend of mine (who also plays for the Steelers!) sings in a choir called 'Chantage'. Not just any choir either, but the current BBC Radio 3 Choir of the year.

I had no idea what to expect other than a wide range of music as my friend told me. He wasn't wrong. The show started with a tune by none other than Henry VIII and worked it's way through amazing arrangements of 'Under My Skin', 'Chile Con Carne', 'Let's Dance', 'Hit Me Baby One More Time', 'Tears in Heaven', 'Bridge Over Troubled Water', 'Clocks', and 'Cry Me A River' (the Justin Timberlake version.

Never mind the fact their director must have scanned my brain for some of my favourite tunes to perform but they were expertly arranged. I should add, this choir sang a cappella.

I was full of shivers and practically moved to tears on some of the songs and picking my jaw up off the floor on others.

It was also my first introduction to Beatboxing! The choir had the London beatboxing champion doing background vocals on Cry Me A River. He was amazing - I've never heard anything like that in my life. The next surprise was my friend doing the lead vocals on that song - I'd not heard him sing before and was very impressed indeed. Never mind the fact he looks great in a tux, he gave a fantastic performance. Mr. Timberlake would have been jealous.

So, all in all it was a wonderful evening, especially since I got to experience something new in the musical world, which for me, doesn't happen very often. I look forward to hearing more from Chantage and my mate's velvet tones in the future.