The Novi Singers were one of the most successful groups in Polish Jazz. Spanning a career of some 20 years, the group achieved international fame, playing clubs and festivals throughout Europe. In 1978 they were listed in Downbeat as “best international vocal group”. In the last few years the group has gained a cult following of new listeners. The group shies away from the lyrics, as these “vocal instruments”, concentrate on sophisticated harmonies, and scat solos. A topflight international rhythm section along with trumpet and sax accompany the singers. Novi starts off with the relaxed original blues The Second Side –there’s an impressive scat vocal solo and Idrees Sulieman’s down-home trumpet solo. Beautiful lilting vocal harmonies adorn the classic standard made famous in the jazz world by Bill Evans, Alice in Wonderland. On A Foggy Day, the trumpet leads off the solos with Novi as backup before adding a flashy scat solo. Nil Hefti’s popular Lil’ Darlin’ takes the appropriate slow stroll through the melody, and then there’s Kulfon, a hip blues with smoking trumpet and alto solos, as the Novi Singers blow the background lines. The beautiful ballad I Don’t Know precedes a blistering alto solo on Apartment Under the Rood, and the hard-swinging Secret Life scats the album home. Lambert Hendricks & Ross, the Double Six, the Four Freshmen, the Swingle Singers, Manhattan Transfer – the Novi Singers hold their own and more – vocal jazz at its best!
