Series gives voice to diverse lineup

POTSDAM — Community Performance Series is bringing a slew of celebrated singers to Potsdam this season. But besides sharing a common "instrument" — their voices — the six vocal acts for the 2009-10 Guest Artist Series couldn't be more different.

From crooners to choristers, accompanied by a band or a cappella, the performers will bring jazz, pop, opera, gospel and everything in between to the stage this year.

CPS is calling the season a "Celebration of the Voice." And celebrate they will, because the lineup includes multiple Grammy-winning groups and some Potsdam favorites.

"The voice is a very personal way of communicating. You don't need any special training to appreciate it," CPS Executive Director Kathy A. Olsen said. "We were lucky to have some wonderful vocalists start to line up with availability."

R. Bernard Mulvaney, the series's education outreach and marketing coordinator, called the vocal season "a celebration of all different kinds of music."

Jazz giantsThe Manhattan Transferwill kick off the Guest Artist Series season tonight. The quartet just celebrated its 37th anniversary performing and recording together, after founder Tim Hauser began recruiting the other singers out of his New York City taxi cab in 1972.

In 1981, The Manhattan Transfer was the first group to win Grammy Awards in both the pop and jazz categories in the same year, for its performances of "Boy From New York City" and "Until I Met You." The quartet received 12 Grammy nominations in 1985 for its album, "Vocalese," a record for the most nominations per album in one year.

"They've been on our wish list for a long time," Mrs. Olsen said. "I've been bumping into a lot of people who are excited to see them, because when they were in college, they couldn't get tickets and now they're coming here."

CPS is considering adding extra seating in case the concert sells out. Tickets were selling fast as of Thursday, so call the box office at 267-2277 to see if seats are still available.

The show, like every one in the series, begins at 7:30 p.m. in Helen M. Hosmer Hall at SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music. There will be a pre-concert talk at 6:30 p.m. led by jazz vocalist Carol H. "Kickie" Britt, Crane's executive director for music business.

"We like to open with something big," Mrs. Olsen said.

Soprano Christine Brewer, also a Grammy winner, will perform a range of arias and art songs at her Oct. 29 concert.

Mrs. Brewer, who was recently named to the BBC's list of the top 20 sopranos of the 20th century, made her Metropolitan Opera debut in the title role of Richard Strauss's "Ariadne auf Naxos" in 2003.

Mr. Mulvaney said Mrs. Brewer plans a program including everything from Wagnerian operatic arias to Benjamin Britten art pieces. She also plans to present a signature medley of tunes called "Echoes of Past Nightingales," which is a selection of her favorite singers' songs.

"The great thing about Christine Brewer is that she's a singer's singer. Whenever people ask people like Renee Fleming or Stephanie Blythe who they listen to, they all say they love Christine Brewer because she's a great woman, she's easy to work with and she's a talent like no other," Mr. Mulvaney said.

Mrs. Brewer will lead a master class for select Crane students before her performance.

Sweet Honey in the Rockreturns to Potsdam on Nov. 7 to share its infectious sound and spirit. The female ensemble performed to a full house for CPS in 2007.

"People were on their feet for the whole second half of the concert last time. I was calling friends, telling them, 'You've got to get down here,'" Mrs. Olsen said. "They prayed together before they performed, and they invited all of the people backstage to join, which is rare."

Mr. Mulvaney, a 2008 Crane graduate, said that students of the music school who attended the Potsdam concert were in awe of how Sweet Honey stays perfectly in tune.

"They're so blended. Musically, they're perfect. I think that's because of their close relationship with each other," he said. "They're so passionate in everything they do that their energy kind of engulfs the audience."

The Grammy-winning sextet performs African-American sacred music, jazz, blues, gospel and more to a light percussion accompaniment. Bernice Johnson Reagan founded the group in 1973 at the Washington, D.C., Black Repertory Theatre Company.

Sweet Honey in the Rock, named for a verse in Psalm 81, was invited by First Lady Michelle Obama to perform at the White House in Februaryin honor of Black History Month.

Community Performance Series will host a special event, in addition to the Guest Artist Series, with another accomplished group of singers to celebrate the holidays.

TheVienna Boys' Choirwill perform a family-friendly Christmas concert on Dec. 10.

"A true boys choir — it really doesn't get much more traditional than that," Mr. Mulvaney said. "I don't think there will be anything else quite like it this holiday season in this area. They're one of the best boys' choirs in the world."

The group is a predecessor of the boys' choirs of the Viennese court, which date back to the Middle Ages. Over the centuries, the choir worked with composers including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The modern choir consists of 100 boys between the ages of 10 and 14, who are divided into four traveling groups. They are well-known for their blue and white sailor costumes.

The world-famousCount Basie Orchestrawill bring its big band swing sound to Potsdam on March 18. The group will accompany a vocalist who has yet to be announced, Mrs. Olsen said.

"It'll be that '40s-era big band sound, but I expect we'll be surprised with some very current material," Mrs. Olsen said.

The 17-time Grammy Award-winning group is now directed by Bill Hughes.

CPS will wrap up its "Celebration of the Voice" on April 9 with one of its favorite groups —Rockapella.

This will be the fourth time that the a cappella all-stars have performed in Potsdam. That probably has something to do with groupmember Jeff Thacher, who graduated from Potsdam Central School, Mrs. Olsen said. His parents, Eric and Susan Thacher, still live here.

"I think we could have Rockapella here every year and still sell out," Mrs. Olsen said. "The last time there were so many people we added an extra show, so they've got no lack of followers in Potsdam."

Rockapella formed in 1986 and is well-known for their Folger's coffee commercials and performances on the "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?" TV show. Mr. Thacher joined the five-member group in 1983; he provides the vocal "percussion" sounds, which are akin to beatboxing.

All five members will lead a master class for Crane's three student a cappella groups, some of which will perform as the opening act.

"It's nice to do a vocal season here, with Crane's long tradition of singing and choirs," Mr. Mulvaney said.

To reserve tickets, visit the CPS Web site or call the box office at 267-2277.