The Manhattan Transfer Vocalese received 12 Grammy nominations, making it second only to Michael Jackson's Thriller as the most nominated individual album. The album title refers to a style of music that sets lyrics to previously recorded jazz instrumental pieces and replaces many instruments with vocalists reproducing the sound and feel of the original instrumentation.

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The Manhattan Transfer's most critically acclaimed album. It received 12 Grammy nominations, making it second only to Michael Jackson's "Thriller" as the most nominated individual album. The album's title Vocalese refers to a style of music that sets lyrics to previously recorded jazz instrumental pieces and replaces many instruments with vocalists (such as the big band arrangements of Duke Ellington and Count Basie). The vocals reproduce the sound and feel of the original instrumentation. Jon Hendricks, proficient in this art, composed all of the lyrics for this album. Grammy Awards for "Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Duo or Group" and "Best Vocal Arrangements for Voices" for Cheryl Bentyne and Bobby McFerrin for their arrangement of "Another Night In Tunisia."

"Many of the Manhattan Transfer's recordings up to the point of Vocalese showed off their diversity and covered a wide variety of music, including jazz. This set was quite a bit different, for it is dedicated to the vocalese of the great Jon Hendricks. the Manhattan Transfer (singers Cheryl Bentyne, Tim Hauser, Alan Paul and Janis Siegel) perform a dozen songs using Hendricks' lyrics, including "That's Killer Joe," "Rambo," "Ray's Rockhouse" and "Sing Joy Spring." Utilizing their regular band of the period (which includes guitarist Wayne Johnson), the Count Basie Orchestra (directed at the time by Thad Jones), the Four Freshmen (on "To You"), tenorman James Moody, Bobby McFerrin (guesting on "Night in Tunisia"), McCoy Tyner, Dizzy Gillespie (on "Sing Joy Spring"), altoist Richie Cole, and Hendricks himself, among many others, the Transfer give these boppish tunes definitive vocal treatments. This is one of their finest jazz recordings and a classic of its kind." - Scott Yanow, All Music

Musicians:

Manhattan Transfer
Count Basie Orchestra:
Ray Brown, bass
Ron Carter, bass
Richie Cole, alto saxophone
The Four Freshmen, vocals
Dizzy Gillespie, trumpet
Marshall Hawkins, bass
Jon Hendricks, vocals
Ralph Humphrey, drums
Wayne Johnson, banjo, guitar
Philly Joe Jones, drums
Bobby McFerrin, bass, guitar, bass guitar, percussion, vocals
James Moody, tenor saxophone
John Patitucci, bass
Grady Tate, drums
McCoy Tyner, piano
Snooky Young, trumpet

Track Listing:

Side A
1. That's Killer Joe
2. Rambo
3. Airegin
4. To You
5. Meet Benny Bailey
6. Another Night in Tunisia

Side B
1. Ray's Rockhouse
2. Blee Blop Blues
3. Oh Yes, I Remember Clifford
4. Sing Joy Spring
5. Move

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