Jazz Police - The Manhattan Transfer at the Dakota February 23-24

The widely acclaimed vocal quartet, The Manhattan Transfer, will bring its infectious brand of jazz, big band and pop to the Dakota Jazz Club in downtown Minneapolis for a rare club appearance, February 23-24. Performing throughout the world for over 30 years with only one personnel change, TMT has released over two dozen recordings and garnered Grammy nominations along the way. TMT includes founding members Tim Hauser, Alan Paul and Janis Siegel, along with Cheryl Bentyne.

Tim Hauser has been singing professionally since he was fifteen and founded a doowop quintet, The Criterions. They recorded two singles for the Cecilia Label—“I Remain Truly Yours,” and “Don't Say Goodbye.” At Villanova University, Hauser pursued music, and with two fellow Criterions formed the folk trio, Troubadours Three. With a degree in economics, he launched a marketing career in the mid 60s, but continued his interest in music and formed an early version of The Manhattan Transfer in 1969, with a country/R&B bent. Seeking a fulltime career in music, he met future singing partner Laurel Massé and then Janis Siegel, and soon formed the revised version of the Manhattan Transfer, adding Alan Paul to make it a quartet in 1972.

Brooklyn native Janis Siegel has forged a successful solo career in tandem with her 36 years with MT. Like Hauser, she started singing early and sang with a pop band in her teens, recording several singles. She was heavily influenced by the pop and Broadway music of the 60s, as well as the Beatles and John Coltrane. Her teen pop band moved into folk territory as Laurel Canyon. Through their conga player, she met Tim Hauser, and helped form Manhattan Transfer. Not only is Siegel renowned as a lead singer for MT, she has also received recognition as an arranger, winning her own Grammy for her 1980 arrrangement of “Birdland.” Her solo career covers two decades, a Grammy nomination, New York Music Award, and collaborations with Fred Hersch, the Beaux Arts String Quartet and Bobby McFerrin.

Alan Paul began singing at age 7 with the Boy’s Club of his native Newark and shortly thereafter began studying theater. As a young teen he won roles in the original production of Oliver and The King and I. He sang in high school productions, earned a degree in music education, and won the role of Teen Angel/ Johnny Casino in Grease. At about that time, he met Tim Hauser, Laurel Massé and Janis Siegel, and Manhattan Transfer was complete. Paul is an accomplished songwriter as well as singer, and has penned many hits for MT. He’s released a solo album and also works as a personal development and performance coach.

Cheryl Bentyne has been a member of MT since replacing Laurel Massé in 1979. A native of the Seattle area, she began singing with her father’s jazz band at an early age. She performed in area coffee houses after high school and joined the New Deal Rhythm Band. A talent agent convinced her to move to LA where she sang at major clubs before landing an audition for MT. Over the years with MT she has been a featured soloist on many of the group’s most popular hits, as well as building her own solo career. Over the past few years she has released a series of sparkling recordings for Telarc.

This is a rare opportunity to hear The Manhattan Transfer in the intimate surroundings of a jazz club. Two sets each night, February 23-24.

The Dakota is located at 1010 Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis; www.dakotacooks.com