Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Throughout nearly five decades, The Manhattan Transfer covered extensive musical terrain, including seasons of jazz, a cappella, vocalese, swing, standards, R&B and pop.

Aspects of each flavor are apparent across its latest recording “The Junction,” which were paired with several prior Grammy-winners to fill up the sophisticated City Winery twice in one night.

These days, the line-up consists of longtimers Cheryl Bentyne, Alan Paul and Janis Siegel, along with Trist Curless (who joined after the death of founder Tim Hauser).

During the late show, everyone honored each tradition with the agile harmonies, spontaneous scatting and ingenious arrangements that can only be described as The Manhattan Transfer.

Backed by a three-piece band, the troupe settled snuggly into “Swing Balboa (Down On Riverside),” took a ride down the Nat King Cole popularized “Route 66,” saluted “The Duke Of Dubuque” and fine-tined its one-of-a-kind rapport during Erskine Hawkins’ “Tuxedo Junction.”

A stunning surprise came at the hands of XTC’s completely re-configured “The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul,” plus additionally personalized flavors burst out of Lee Morgan’s “The Sidewinder.”

The audience got in on the snapping and clapping for the superbly sequenced bounces of “Trickle Trickle,” The Ad Libs’ “The Boy From New York City” and Weather Report’s “Birdland,” leading to an immense reception for an encore.

Upon returning, “Cantaloop (Flip Out!),” based on Us3’s similarly titled Herbie Hancock sample, was as clever as they come, while “Tequila/The Way Of The Booze” put The Champs’ instrumental to newly composed lyrics as the quartet locked into a collective bond that didn’t only gratify the City Winery, but remains a basis for the entire vocal group genre.

Click here for more photos of The Manhattan Transfer at City Winery.

For additional information on The Manhattan Transfer, visit ManhattanTransfer.net.

Upcoming concert highlights at City Winery include Chi-Town Sings: British Invasion (Feb. 10); Miki Howard (Feb. 11 & 15); Patrizio Buanne (Feb. 12); 10,000 Maniacs (Feb. 13-15); Adam Weiner  (Feb. 16); Chicago Philharmonic Brunch Series (Feb. 16); Donavon Frankenreiter (Feb. 17); The Four C Notes (Feb. 19); Ryan Montbleau (Feb. 20); Keith Washington (Feb. 21); Mardi Gras Bash (Feb. 22); Andrea Gibson (Feb. 23-24); Fatoumata Diawara (Feb. 25); Raul Midón & Lionel Loueke (Feb. 26); Freddy Jones Band (Feb. 27) and Drew Emmitt & Vince Herman (Feb. 29). For additional details, visit CityWinery.com/Chicago.

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