Hammer and Tongues

Debonair and dapper, two of Australia’s top male vocal groups perform together before proudly representing Australia at the world’s largest a capella singing contest.

The main problem with Vocal Evolution, from the point of view of Perth audiences, is that we so rarely get to see them perform in their hometown. Luckily, our National Champions will be competing in the Barbershop Harmony Society’s International Chorus Contest in Kansas City soon, and so two audiences were privileged to see them perfect their entry in an intimate venue here in Perth. Also competing in Kansas City will be Alliance, the current AAMBS (Australian Association of Men Barbershop Singers) National Quartet Champions.

Vocal Evolution and Alliance looked more than ready for World Domination!

If ever any art form were more than a sum of its parts, it would be close harmony singing. Vocal Evolution take tight sounds and complement them with close choreography and creative tableaux between songs, to create a dynamic performance where a passion for music is evident in every singer, and which provides the audience a glimpse of devotion to an art form which, done well, verges on the sublime.

Vocal Evolution delivered a totally assured performance covering a wide variety of styles, from ‘Rawhide!’ to my favourite Vocal Evolution party piece, Richard Strauss’ ‘Also Sprach Zarathustra’, which reveals the human voice as a wonderfully versatile instrument. Their daring presentation of Elton John’s ‘Circle of Life’ was a delightfully unexpected and fresh treatment of the Disney favourite, avoiding the ever-present risk of a descent into muzak.

Alliance demonstrated their consistent championship form with consummate showmanship and engagingly witty performance techniques that went further than the usual flashing of eyes and teeth. Well-crafted arrangements allowed each member to showcase his outstanding individual vocal skills with deft returns to the harmonies that had the audience spellbound. Good humoured banter and slapstick turns between songs moved us to groans as much as laughter, and the comic turns were just the ticket for keeping the pace of proceedings up without exhausting the singers or the audience.

Both groups were solidly entertaining and look set to be seriously competitive when representing Australia next month.

After a convivial intermission, singers mingling with fans and supporters in the foyer, Libby Hammer and her quartet presented a dazzling set. While her professional performance was overshadowed by the enthusiasm and showmanship of the unaccompanied groups of the first half, her jazz stylings smoothly completed an enjoyable evening.

Four stars

Vocal Evolution
Music Director: Alex Morris
Alliance: Ian Mullholland (Tenor), Adrian Gimpel (Lead), Dan Millgate (Bass) and Richard Reeve (Baritone)
The Libby Hammer Quartet: Libby Hammer (vocals), Alistair McEvoy (saxophone), Chris Foster (piano), Karl Florisson (bass) and Michael Perkins (drums)

John Inverarity Music & Drama Centre, Wembley Downs June 18

www.vocalevolution.com
www.alliancequartet.com