As a big band / early jazz aficionado, it is all too easy to get trapped in a nostalgic time warp. Although jazzy performances by big bands and star vocalists had their heyday many decades ago, it would be inexcusable to celebrate only the original performers, while ignoring the many talented artists who continue to explore and enhance this timeless style of music.
It is, (once again), a new world, where streaming and video are now the major distribution mechanisms for popular music. Musicians are still performing live and making (digital) recordings, however ‘music videos’ are the choice of many new artists wishing to share their talents with the world, (for a fee, or free). Sadly, YouTube, (links below), and most other platforms offer less than CD, (a.k.a high resolution), audio, however the quality of some emerging talent is outstanding – and the artists are getting paid ! – either via platform advertising or patronage funding schemes.
Accent exemplifies all of the above. Six guys from 5 countries, all individual internet vocal stars in their own right, organize as an a capella group and draw on their mutual strengths to create spectacular vocal harmonies. Even better, they enlist a big band of studio session pros, to do an amazing cover of a classic tune that became a 1946 hit for Peggy Lee and husband (at the time) Lee Barbour. The Accent quartet featured here conveys the same class and sass as Ms. Lee's original. I think Peggy would approve. Music this good will be around for a long time yet.
Peggy Lee and Lee Barbour performing in the 1950 Snader TELEscription (original music video)
ACCENT quartet with Andrew Kesler's big band arrangement (2019)
