The Boy From New York City: Choral Instrumental Pak
By John Taylor / By George Davis / As performed by Manhattan Transfer / Arranged by Greg Jasperse
Item: 35-PK00181029
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Description
This 1981 hit for The Manhattan Transfer is now a hot new choral arrangement from Greg Jasperse. A driving beat leads this chart of fresh new chord changes and rhythmic surprises. Terrific for show, jazz or concert choirs and the SSA voicing will thrill your women's groups! Duration: ca. 3:10.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00181029
More about this title
Why we love this
Greg Jasperse strips away any nostalgia and rebuilds this 1981 hit with modern harmonic sophistication. The SSA voicing opens the door to groups that rarely get energetic, rhythmically driven material with real teeth.
What to expect
Propulsive and shimmering, this arrangement captures the infectious swagger of the original while reshaping it through Jasperse's harmonic lens. The rhythmic surprises keep the groove fresh rather than letting the familiarity of the song settle into predictability.
Who it's for
Show choirs and jazz ensembles looking for contemporary, groove-heavy material that plays to women's voices without sacrificing sophistication. Concert choirs seeking energy and a crowd-pleasing number that doesn't retreat into obvious arrangements will find real value here.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the tempo early in rehearsals. The driving beat is the spine of this chart, and once your ensemble feels it in their bodies, the rhythmic surprises will land with precision instead of confusion.
- Balance the vocals against the instrumental parts carefully. The rhythm section needs clarity without drowning out your singers, especially during the fresh chord changes that Jasperse introduces.
- Mark the breath points explicitly on every singer's part. A three-minute chart with this much momentum can leave singers gasping if you don't map out strategic moments to breathe together.
- Rehearse the instrumental pak separately from voices at first. Let your musicians establish their groove independently so they become the secure foundation your singers can lean on.
How to use it
Slot this into a concert that mixes standards with contemporary pop reinterpretations, or build an entire set around songs from the 1970s and 1980s that have held up. The three-minute-ten duration makes it ideal for opening a show or landing strategically in the second half when energy needs a jolt.
Skills your students will build
- Syncopated rhythmic reading and execution
- Phrasing over a strong beat without losing musicality
- Blend and balance between independent vocal lines and instrumental textures
- Harmonic understanding of seventh chords and extended progressions