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Ward Swingle conducting 50% of all Swingle Singers ever

by Florian Städtler

Last Tuesday I caught a glimpse of a cappella history. After more than ten years of being the high tenor (and business director) of the London based Swingle Singers, Richard James “Willy” Eteson had his leaving do: He said farewell and goodbye with an extraordinary concert and an after-show party that was both a Swingles family meeting and a summit of UK and EU a cappella luminaries. Ward Swingle himself was attending the event and conducted an amazing encore: 35 (!) Swingle and Ex-Swingle Singers sang his arrangement of “Country Dances” – the crowd went wild and will never forget this special night in a small theatre in Holborn/London.

For many people this was a night of mixed emotions: For Willy himself, who is going to run a British deli shop after the end of his pro singing career. For Jo Goldsmith-Eteson, his wife and Swingles soprano, who had her last concert with her husband and the first with his successor, new Swingles tenor Oliver Griffiths. For the six other members of the group, who will miss Willy’s experience both as a performer and as business advisor. And of course for all the people who love this wonderful chap, his wit, his humour and his friendship. Willy, we all will miss you and you are one more reason to come to London on a regular basis (even if I will never get used to lukewarm beer without bubbles).

Thinking about it from the business side of things, changes in professional a cappella groups (and in amateur groups as well) are both a natural process and maybe the biggest challenge for a musical project. How to keep the spirit, the uniqueness alive, how to follow a long-term artistic strategy, how to keep the everyday business going when long-time members say goodbye? Ask Rockapella, where Kevin Wright left after almost a decade. Ask The King’s Singers who had to replace Stephen Connolly. Ask the a cappella miracle Naturally 7, where Jamal Reed called it a day. Or what about the icon of Scandinavian a cappella, The Real Group, who will say goodbye to Peder Karlsson after 25 (!!) years?

Costa Peristianis (Swingles Agent Worldwide), Alex Godfree (Voices Festival UK), FSt

Life will go on. Because the outstanding groups have such strength and spirit (and professional organisation), that the core of what makes them unique will remain. New, talented singers will come and replace their predecessors, bringing the freshness and excitement that every running system needs from time to time. And if leaving means such fantastic events as last Tuesday’s in London, saying goodbye becomes a bit easier. By the way: I will test this kind of experience again next Sunday, flights are booked to Stockholm. For a double concert of Rajaton and The Real Group plus what seems to be a Nordic A Cappella Summit Party. I looking forward to meeting my yet virtual a cappella friends Joakim Skog, Jussi Chydenius (Rajaton) and Sebastian Rilton (Ex-Rilton’s Vänner) together with Emma, Katarina, Anders, Jalkan and (of course) Peder of the one and only Real Group. Peder Karlsson, a living legend of a cappella and a role model in music education will celebrate his career…and his birthday!

Roxorloops (Beatbox Vice World Champion, BEL), FSt (Vocal Blog, GER), Jes Sadler (Ex-Swingles baritone, UK), Michele Manzotti (Swingles biographer, ITA)

I will certainly post a little ditty about my first trip to Sweden, but before that send you some of the snapshots from Willy Eteson’s Leaving Do. Feel free to post your comments and let me know what you think about line-up changes in a cappella groups.

Last Woman Standing: Wendy Nieper (Ex-Swingles alto)

You can leave your hat on...Tobias Hug and Kevin Fox (The Swingles rhythm section)

A time (and party) to remember: FSt (Vocal Blog), Jo Eteson (Swingles soprano), CJ Neale (Swingles tenor), Kevin Fox (Swingles bass), Joanna Forbes-L'Estrange (Ex-Swingles soprano), Sara Brimer (Swingles soprano), Lucy Bailey (Swingles alto)

Florian Städtler (Vocal Blog/SpielPlanVier) with DaSwinglesBoss #goodtimes

Sara Brimer (Swingles soprano) - Happy Birthday!! (with Swiss Chocolate powered by Vocal Blog)

My favourite pic: Oliver Griffiths (new wingles tenor), Willy Eteson (Ex-Swingles tenor), Jo Eteson (Swingles soprano)

Passing on the (Chorizo) sausage: From Willy (Ex-tenor) to Oli (Oliver Griffiths, new tenor)

Tobias Hug (Swingles Bass, MC with a whig) and Julie Kench (Ex-Swingles soprano) reading a self-written poem for Willy

Clare Wheeler, Twitter Princess aka @dinkyswingle and Swingles alto & arranger

Melancholy Willy

She's got the look(s)! Lucy Bailey aka @pottylean, Swingles alto

by Joanna Goldsmith-Eteson, The Swingle Singers

When we heard that the amazing Naturally 7 would be in good ol’ London town supporting Michael Bublé at the O2 (May 23) – we thought it was too good an opportunity to miss.

Having seen them twice before at the Royal Festival Hall on the South Bank and Fairfield Halls in Croydon we can safely say that you will have a night to remember.

Going to the O2 itself was an experience as none of us had actually been there before. It turned out to be a little like Disneyland for adults! Little ‘streets’ lined with planted trees and too many bars and restaurants to count. We even joked that we felt a little bit smug and important being in there for free as the lovely N7 guys had given us complimentary tickets! As we found our seats (in prime position no less!) we noticed the incredible range of ages around us from the young children behind us to the elderly couple in front of us. I personally don’t know Mr Bublé as well as I could so it was lovely to see the variety of audience he attracts.

When N7 came out they were of course as fantastic as ever. The sound was crystal clear – something we had wondered about as the venue was so huge. But they were completely at home in front of so many thousands of people. They were so humble and gracious and just a pleasure to watch. They even managed to get EVERYONE on their feet and dancing along – I have never seen warm-up/support group ever manage to get more than just polite clapping out of the crowds let alone people up out of their seats and grooving (young children and elderly couple included!).

The most wonderful moment for me was when they sang The Beatles classic ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’. I am still in shock about Jamal’s incredible range and very jealous that he can sing a good 5th higher than I can! (When you’re a soprano it hurts that a man can beat you at what you supposedly do best!)

As for Mr. Bublé, he was very entertaining; a real showman who could probably be a stand-up comedian if he tried! His Michael Jackson impression and Ferris Buller moments were particular highlights. We were very impressed by his banter with the audience, very charming! And of course his chocolatey voice isn’t half bad…

Since the show, Naturally 7′s latest album Vocal Play has been given a good few runs on all our iPods – if you haven’t heard N7 yet you should definitely make it your mission to catch them as soon as you can. These guys are GOOD. VERY GOOD! ’nuff said.

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