Album Notes

The John Link Vocal Quintet performs wordless vocal arrangements of instrumental jazz and classical compositions.

"Live at Saint Peter's" documents the ensemble's debut performance in March of 1998. Composers featured include Chick Corea, Miles Davis, Claude Debussy, Bill Evans, John Link, Ennio & Andrea Morricone, Modeste Mussorgsky, Erik Satie, and Earl Zindars.

The performers on "Live at Saint Peter's" are Raïssa Dorff (soprano), Kelly Ellenwood (soprano), Alex Greenshields (tenor), Christopher Renquist (baritone), and John Link (baritone and guitarist).

Each of the singers performs as a soloist and as a member of the ensemble. Many of the arrangements feature improvisation.

LINER NOTES by Earl Zindars:

"It was such a pleasure to receive a notice that a concert of voices and jazz instrumentalists was going to be held in Saint Peter's Church in March of '98. Little had been done with the concept of orchestrating famous jazz compositions and classical compositions with a cappella voices, in the pure sense of the term, in concert.

"The concert was fresh and outstanding. John Link led a vocal quintet in which he performed as both guitarist and vocalist. Many jazz performers and composers would have been surprised to hear their compositions performed in such an original style, just as I was when I heard my 'Lullaby For Helene'.

"The original compositions of John Link show creative accomplishments which have developed with each performance. This is worthwhile listening, and the original inventiveness of the soloists, which is done with positive and strong conviction, gives the listener an added sense of joy."

REVIEWS:

"...what better compliment can I give than that...I longed for more? ...I very VERY much approve of the basic premise of the disk: using the human voice as a musical instrument. ...there are no words recognizable in any spoken language; rather, the voices are used to form musical syllables. ...John, the spirit of music is with you." -John A. deLaubenfels

"This is not the usual scat thing." -Delilah

"The inspired works of the John Link Vocal Quintet captivate an audience from the very first note. The mastery of the combined classical/jazz influence, rendered by guitar and voice, makes its presence felt in their release of Live at Saint Peter's." -eSoundz Reporter