VAN WERT — For more than half a century, The Swingles have pushed the
boundaries of vocal music. The seven young singers that make up today’s
London-based group are driven by the same innovative spirit that has
defined the five-time Grammy® winners since they first made waves in the
1960s. At a time when a cappella music is more popular than ever, The
Swingles are recognized as masters of their craft.
In 1963,
American-born Ward Swingle first assembled a group of Parisian session
singers to sing Bach’s keyboard music. The resulting album, Jazz
Sebastian Bach, launched the Swingle Singers to fame. Since then, they
have won five Grammy® awards and made more than 50 recordings, with a
repertoire that has grown to include a huge variety of music, including
new original songs. They have also appeared on numerous film and TV
soundtracks, including Sex and the City, Milk, Grey’s Anatomy and Glee.
In 2017, they co-wrote and performed a song for the end credits of
Alexander Payne’s film Downsizing.
Released in March 2017, The
Swingles’ latest project is Folklore, a diverse collection of folk music
from around the world, inspired by their international travels and
featuring collaborations with traditional artists. With creative
arrangements that transport these well-loved songs into the group’s
unique and rich sound world, the results are powerful and surprising.
The
group’s versatility has led to collaborations with artists as diverse
as the Modern Jazz Quartet, Jamie Cullum and Labrinth. Luciano Berio was
one of the first composers to explore the sound of the Swingles’
amplified voices in an orchestral setting with his groundbreaking
Sinfonia. The group continue to perform the piece to great acclaim
around the world, with recent performances at San Francisco’s Davies
Symphony Hall, London’s Royal Festival Hall and Milan’s La Scala; they
look forward to bringing it to new audiences for its 50th anniversary in
2018-19.
In addition to a busy touring schedule that regularly
takes them to North and South America, Europe and Asia, The Swingles
present their own London A Cappella Festival at Kings Place each January
in partnership with Ikon Arts Management. The festival is the first of
its kind in the capital, welcoming the finest vocal talent from around
the world.
For tickets or more information, visit the Niswonger webpage at NPACVW.ORG or call the box office at 419-238-6722.