1996 Bay Area Regional Winners:New OriginalsFormer members of Quintessence, Table For Five, In The Buff, The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, and one aspiration have Banded together to form one unique sound. Their balance of humor, energy, and heart can be habit forming. 1996 Bay Area Regional: Second Place SoVoSoSoVoSo is a highly visual and imaginative a cappella ensemble which sings a compelling and rhythmic mix of jazz, gospel, rhythm and blues, world and improvisational music. Culturally diverse, each member of SoVoSo is a skilled soloist and composer in his or her own right, trained in widely varying musical genres that equally enrich and strengthen the group. SoVoSo is a living study in how gifted musicians can come together to make a wholly original sound without compromising any member's individual approach to music. 1996 Bay Area Regional: Third PlaceTalk Of Da' TownThe Bay Area's premier R&B/Motown/Doo-Woppers, capped off 195 with a 15 day tour of Spain, a gig with Patti Labelle, and the release of their debut album, after spending much of the year singing all over California (a four day gig in Chattanooga); and opening for Ray Charles, James Brown, Take 6, The Temptations, Tower Of Power and many others…I guess you could say they were busy. 1996 promises tours to Africa, Europe, a new all-Gospel CD (as The Mighty Prince Singers)…I guess you could say they'll be busy! Group members are: Paul Carrington, Carl Douglas, Stan Lockwood, Rayfield Ragler, and Doug Stepney. Other 1996 Bay Area Regional CompetitorsApexApex is a harmony based vocal group, with the funky addition of vocal percussion. Influences included r&b, funk, and jazz. Don't be deceived - this is not your ordinary a cappella. Apex has performed at the San Jose Convention Center, Filipino American Music Tribute, Filipino American Collegiate Conference, Live & Direct, or many other venues in Northern California. They have also been on Pinoy Pa Rin and the Bruce Latimer Show. As Asian Americans, with their energetic style and charismatic stage presence, they offer a unique change to the mainstream audience. G-NotesThe G Notes, 3 brothers and one sister, have been performing in various community events, fair festivals and etceteras for the last five years. They have recorded their first album consisting of 8 original self-produced songs. InspiracyInspiracy was conceived in December 1993 as a lesbian and gay chamber vocal ensemble focusing on excellence in vocal production, expertise in musical ability, and depth of performance. Emphasis has been placed upon the spiritual values of the material performed. In the spirit of this vision, Inspiracy has performed for the San Francisco City/County Fair, John Sims Center for the Performing Arts, Kairos Support for Caregivers, the Source Center For Spiritual Growth and Development, the First Unitarian Church of San Francisco, and St. John's United Church Of Christ. Mama SezMama Sez is an a cappella vocal ensemble dedicated to experimenting with a variety of vocal styles and skills including vocal instrumentation and orchestration. All vocal arrangements are original with an emphasis on Jazz, gospel, and R&B. Their repertoire also includes rock, pop, folk, and blues. Their music is described as eclectic. They love a good rhythm, a memorable phrase, and music that transcend time and culture. Mama Sez group members believe that, like the spirit, the voice was meant to soar. When the spirits and voices of four friends get together, the sound produced is limited only by the margins of their voices and their combined imaginations. Mary SchmaryFour renegade Valkyrie on the road to a cappella ruin. The schmaries perform regularly, at the Sweetwater in Mill Valley, the Hotel Utah, the Noc Noc Club, the Palms In Davis, Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, the Mad Dog in the Fog, and live on KPFA, singing funky, original tunes whose caustic lyrics and cool harmonies are known to drive strong men to distraction. The Schmaries have just completed mastering of their first CD release, "Flex Your Estrogen." Ro Sham BoA New Berkeley-based group of three men and three women, brings together and eclectic mix of tastes and talents. Members hail from a variety of musical backgrounds - gospel, jazz, folk, country, pop and classical - resulting in a name, which reflects the group's "rock-paper-scissors", approach to decision making. Tight harmonies, a rhythmic bass, and complicated chords characterize the group's original arrangements and overall musical style. The members are: Anna Prozinski, Audrey Kauffman, Arsinoe Bacogiannis, Will Flash, and Tim Lukaszewski, and Paul Kim. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
