The first "edition” of legendary vocal group The Manhattan Transfer was formed back in 1969. Without the late Tim Hauser determinedly seeking out the right partners to fulfil his dream while holding down a job as a taxi driver, the world's most successful a cappella ensemble would never have come into being. In the next line-up of the group, Hauser was joined by Laurel Massé, Janis Siegel and Alan Paul, and they were the talk of New York at a stroke. It did not take long for their fame to spread across the country, before the 1975 album Coming Out (featuring Chanson d'Amour) and 1976's Pastiche brought them chart hits in Europe as well. Due to an accident, Massé had to be replaced as a permanent member by Cheryl Bentyne, after which the group went on to its greatest success. The ensuing decades would see thousands worldwide anticipate performances of their vocal cover version of Weather Report's Birdland, as well as Twilight Zone/Twilight Tone, Route 66 and other hits. Beyond jazz, they made regular excursions into the worlds of pop and R'n'B, while always maintaining a sense of proportion. Their 1985 album Vocalese boasted a total of 12 Grammy nominations, second only to Michael Jackson's Thriller.
The Manhattan Transfer's run of success remained unbroken until the death of Tim Hauser in October 2014, but gained a fresh burst of energy when Trist Curless made the quartet complete once more. This closing concert of Jazz Spring also rounds out a series of concerts of the world's leading vocal ensembles at Müpa Budapest: in 2014 we welcomed The Swingle Singers and Take 6, and in 2015 the New York Voices. In 2016, we have the chance to applaud the latest incarnation of The Manhattan Transfer with a set of familiar hits and new a cappella pieces.

Presented by: Müpa Budapest