Music / Opus Two – The Vocal Group. At the Q, Queanbeyan, November 25. Reviewed by SARAH BYRNE.

Canberra music aficionadi with long memories will fondly recall the ANU School of Music’s ensemble The Vocal Group, formed and directed by the redoubtable late Gery Scott.

Scott’s protege Leisa Keen, probably Canberra’s foremost jazz chanteuse, has recently revived the concept with her own Vocal Group, and this showcase of their repertoire featured 15 singers and the fabulous seven-piece backing band that is Leisa and the Keen Cats.

The program started with a bracket of arrangements by Kirby Shaw, originally for the Manhattan Transfer, opening with the Tommy Dorsey classic Opus One, and followed by Tuxedo Junction, Boy from New York City and Birdland.

A number of these featured scat solos for various members of the group; Keen told us that for most it was their first performance of improvisational vocals – at times this showed, but we don’t hear enough scat these days, and I, for one, am here for it. There is a lot of promise here and baritone Cal Clugston performed especially well, with Shennia Spillane also showing some innovative work.

It’s as an ensemble, however, that Opus Two – The Vocal Group really shines. Despite her location behind them, on keyboard, Keen has directed the group very thoroughly, with tight harmony, precise timing, effective dynamics and excellent diction, with opportunities scattered throughout for individuals to show their chops.

Mention must also be made of the truly excellent backing group, which never drew focus from the vocalists but gave us some absolutely blistering solos in the musical breaks. Band arrangements were, unsurprisingly, by the indefatigable Andrew Hackwill, here on bari sax, with sons Josh and Adam on alto sax and bass respectively, some gorgeous trumpet from Zach Raffan.

The next bracket consisted of gospel numbers, which Opus Two –The Vocal Group has now gained a reputation for performing at the annual ecumenical service at the Merimbula Jazz Festival – these included a medley of well-known spirituals and Keen’s own arrangement of Just A Closer Walk With Thee, a hymn much favoured by that other great off-shoot of the 1990s Vocal Group, the Idea of North.

Another moving Keen arrangement, It Is Well With My Soul, followed, and the first act closed with Andrew Hackwill’s arrangement of Revelation.

Despite the air-conditioning being on the fritz on an especially warm evening, the substantial audience entered the interval uplifted and refreshed.

The second act brought a series of great jazz classics, several arranged by Keen (C Jam Blues, Blue Moon, Bye Bye Blackbird), including a very lovely version of the White Cliffs of Dover sung in three-part harmony by the ensemble’s female voices. Other arrangements were provided by another 90s Vocal Group alumnus, Craig Schneider – an absolutely cracking iteration of I Could Write A Book, and an ambitious and interesting Green Dolphin Street.

Amongst these was also a lesser-known Jobim number, Brasilia, featuring Kylie Becvarik in the stand-out solo performance of the evening. After a solid Agua de Beber, the backing musicians were featured in the Aaberg arrangement of Jumping At the Woodside, supported by the vocalists in instrumental style, a nice touch.

The final piece for the evening was another Hackwill arrangement, of Minder theme song. I Could Be So Good For You, featuring a strong solo from baritone Stephen Hunter (whom I was startled to recognise from a former life in the APS – how very Canberra).

A fine playout from the Keen Cats capped off a successful evening, with many audience members waiting in the foyer to meet and congratulate the performers. Under Keen’s direction I have no doubt this group will continue to improve and flourish.