Artist Background:
Fresh from the Polyfollia Vocal Music Festival in Normadie, France, the Korea International A Cappella Music Festival in Seoul and their first ARIA Award for Best Jazz Album 2010, The Idea of North has been mesmerising audiences for over 16 years with their dextrous and distinctive style which is both astonishingly precise and impossibly beautiful.
Undoubtedly Australia’s most acclaimed vocal ensemble TION is in excellent form with a new repertoire and their ever-wry, self-effacing wit. The multi award-winning group has been ABC Jazz & Classics highest selling artist for several years and continues to successfully reinvent their often-misrepresented style, creating a very real freshness and relevance for a cappella singing.
They have studied and worked with some of the truly great singers, arrangers and vocal groups including The New York Voices, Tuck and Patti, Gene Puerling (The Hi-Lo’s, Singers Unlimited), Mark Murphy and Cheryl Bentine (Manhattan Transfer). They have also worked and performed with The Real Group (Sweden), Rajaton (Finland) and M-Pact (USA), three of the finest a cappella ensembles in the world today. They have been recognised in many major awards and recording successes including winners of The Harmony Sweepstakes, the largest international a cappella competition in the world – the first non-US group ever to have done so.
A testament to their development of technique (and commitment to their instrument) is their extraordinary vocal blend. These four extravagantly talented singers, charming and urbane, have a fast humour and a quick-witted patter. Sophisticated interpretations of classics and original songs feature alongside unique arrangements of contemporary and traditional tunes. They breathe new life into a time-honoured art form and remain a mellifluous modern voice in music today.
Their current album, their 7th, the ARIA Award winning Feels Like Spring is a collaboration with great James Morrison and is out now through ABC Music/Universal.
Media Quotes:
“Strong polished voices with a blend to envy – a welcome addition to the tradition of great vocal jazz.”
- Peter Eldridge, New York Voices
“In terms of quality of ensemble and elegance of arrangements, this group’s work is in the same league as that of the Swingle Singers in their heyday.”
- Sydney Morning Herald
“This a cappella outfit can’t put a foot wrong… Critic’s rating: 10/10”
- Sun Herald, Sydney
“Impeccable a cappella… they have class stamped over everything they do. Catch them and marvel.”
- The Adelaide Review
“… a truly outstanding vocal quartet…a wonderful group to watch in performance…truly a sight and sound experience of the highest calibre.”
- Don Burrows
“A vocal quartet of wit, charm and breathtaking musical virtuosity.”
- The Adelaide Advertiser
“…an impeccable standard of musicianship…”
- The Melbourne Age
“…measured and absorbing. Like ABBA dipped in velvet.”
- Sydney Morning Herald
“Smooth, sophisticated close-harmony arrangements… A pitch-perfect ensemble.”
- The Courier-Mail, Brisbane
“An hour and 15 minutes of nearly flawless, energetic and inventive performing that remakes and honours home-style sing-fests and begs superlatives.”
- Hobart Mercury
“…If there is a finer a cappella group in Australia, I’m looking forward to hearing them.”
- The West Australian
“…every performance brims with the sheer joy of singing and your spirit will find itself lifting and at least one toe will find itself tapping.”
- Carl Vine, Musica Viva Australia
