Vox One is an a capella quintet of great musical
sophistication and engaging, entertaining presence. The group's
richly complex original songs and arrangements bring a jazz touch
to a variety of musical styles, helping to define the leading
edge of a cappella for the '90s. At the same time, their soulful
and heartfelt singing cuts through to a broad audience.
Vox One's music combines elements of jazz, gospel, funk, blues
and folk. The group's principal arrangers, Paul Stiller, Paul
Pampinella and Yumiko Matsuoka-Young, conceive many pieces as if
for an instrumental band, using vocal drums, vocal bass lines,
textured backgrounds, and scat solos, reminiscent of a jazz
fusion or blues band. Other songs are composed in the more
traditional a cappella style, yet use tight, lush harmonies and
interesting reharmonizations which give familiar folk tunes and
jazz standards a new twist.
Members Jodi Jenkins (soprano), Yumiko Matsuoka-Young (alto),
Paul Stiller (tenor/vocal drums), Paul Pampinella (baritone) and
Benni Chawes (bass, replacing Tom Baskett who sings on the CD),
met at Berklee College of Music in Boston, which they all
attended. Stiller and Matsuoka are currently on the faculty of
Berklee.
"Out There" was given a limited, non-commercial
release in late 1995, and won three awards from the Contemporary
A Cappella Society of America (CASA): Album of the Year, Best
Jazz Song, and Best R&B song. Vox One's discography also
includes the debut self-titled CD, released in 1993 on the
Melville Park label, which won "Best Album" and
"Best Song" from CASA, and "Say You Love Me",
1995, on VAP, a major Japanese label.
Personnel: Paul Stiller, tenor, dms; Jodi Jenkins, soprano;
Paul Pampinella, baritone; Tom Baskett, bass.; Yumiko Matsuoka,
alto
Songs; 1.Searching for You; 2.Whisper when I Speak; 3.The Eyes
of a Jungle; 4.Gone By; 5.Save Me; 6.The Sky is Crying; 7.Say
You'll Always Be; 8.That Which you Love; 9.Morning; 10.Out There
