Wow what a group of talented; gifted musicians. This from one who played a trumpet and what I see here is no small feat. To have a mastery of the instruments along with an excellent pairing of voices. Throughly enjoyed this. Thank you.
I'll be 87 next month, so I'm closing in on you. The Four Freshmen were my favorite (still are) group back in the 50's when I attended university at Iowa U. Saw the latest version and met them afterward at a concert in Ft Myers FL not long ago. Terrific!
Four Freshmen were our friends for years. They stayed in Wiesbaden at the Hotel Nass. Hof. We had a Sextett and playing the Nato clubs in Europa. We lived in Wiesbaden and spent a lot of time Bill . Our daughter was in the same age as Bill his son. He missed him and his wife very much. I love their sound forever ...I am 88 ❤❤❤😂😂😂😊😊
Bob Sparling In 1948 I was 11 and discovered the FF and started buying their records. I got reacquainted with the FF when Iterations 23 started performing at the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. I really enjoyed this performance at the Blue Note in Toyko ... really enjoyable.
Great stuff. I live in Clinton Twp mi and was in Grosse point last week. Tough finding people of my age 87 and the great music we grew up with. What would we do without RU-vid to bring it all back.
Kevin Stout, Greg Stegeman, Bob Ferreira, Mike Beisner who ARE the Four Freshmen in 1994. All very talented gentlemen. Thank you for posting this great performance. (Stegeman is far better on the horn than CC, a later member of TFF.)
I too love the softness of group 22 with Brian, Bob, Curtis and Vince but for pure Jazz value this 90s group is nonpareil. I bought my first Freshmen album -Five Trombones in the mid 50s. I'm 82 now and still tune into them weekly thanks to great vids on RU-vid.
Can we just appreciate the amount of talent these musicians display. I've never in my life seen someone trade bars with themselves. That's just one observation. Wow.
I don't think I've heard any better 4-part harmony -- those chords I've played on the piano, but there was some great arranging done here for the four guys, the Fabulous Four Freshmen! I know the practice that is involved to get 4 part notes and lyrics all in precision with all four artists, bravo, guys, very, very good! I am ambidextrous and play several instruments but NOT ONE IN EACH HAND! That's got to be a real rarity! What a champ! (I never got to see them in person because I was either in school or was working as a musician also, but the Four have been a touring group since the 50's and they manage to keep the same superb style they've been known for all these years even though the performers change from time to time and it just gets better and better!) And these great old standards evoke some poignant memories, thank you guys! I think adding the instruments has broadened the spectrum of their sound and it is better than ever, if that's at all possible! Thank you for a great concert at the Blue Note in Tokyo! This group is a great combination, one of the better in TFF's long history!
Always love there music but padt year really enjoy playing there music daily now and it relaxes me at the end of the day with a good Glass of wine love to hear them Moore on the Radio hope in concert soon
I agree ; I wasn't expecting much, but now, I'm totally surprised, & very pleased. These guys had it ------that sound & class of The 4 Freshmen. -------------------------WolfSky9
I interviewed the boys for my school paper in ‘56 following a concert at the Prom Ballroom in St Paul....Central High School....I think Bob, Ross, Don and Ken would approve of this incarnation.
This group...not sure what number it is...is absolutely excellent!!! they are all talented musicians and do a fantastic job with the many roles and changes they have to do individually. The fact that they also compose their own backup music in its entirety makes them stand out. The idiot who said this group is awful and not good needs to have his head examined as he certainly has no appreciation of great music.
Listen to "Polka dots and moonbeams" again and look for the 1st tenor's many mistakes. The group is not awful but does not come close to the standard set by the original group. Ross Barbour told me that he did not like the groups that came later mainly because they refused to listen to him when he tried to correct their mistakes. Ross quit when members like that came in.
This must be either Group-18 or 19. It appears to me the best so far has been Group-22. And not even the present Group-26 -- though Bob Ferreira is still around and leading, and he's the only one left from Group-22. The little "annoying" portion of this Group in Tokyo is their bassline -- alternating from the two keyboards, sounding too "mechanical", "metallic", and far too punchy in pieces when the electric bass-guitar is not used. But luckily their 4-part brasses do compensate quite a bit. Both the three horns and, especially the trombone, are extremely well controlled and silky smooth. I particularly like Vince Johnson's [G-22] versatility and unpretentious mastery with both the standup acoustic and electric-bass, as well as his guitar bass. In fact, all four in Group-22 have been exceptionally smooth & tight, humbly unpretentious, and masterfully versatile. (As Bob Flanigan himself did once mention at the start of a concert that he had found his Group-22 outstandingly and supremely excellent in their singing, musicianship, and "soft" showmanship --- here ---> ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0o-yEBuAfmw.html ).
This was surprisingly super neat to read. Do you think Group-22 is the closest to the magic of the magic of Bob, Ross, Don and Ken Albers? Or do you just mean over the last few decades? Also can you follow me around and just casually eloquently analyse things as I go about my day?
Pieces of this video have been posted a number of times and have been taken down because of ownership or the like. I met the group five years ago and told Bob Ferreira this was my favorite vocal version of On Green Dolphin Street, at 30:00. I wish I knew how to capture this, because I know this video will disappear.
I find it pointless trying to compare the differences between various FF groups They all had something slightly different to say This group was heavier on brass instruments which gives a warmer and assertive feel As I was unable to get to any of the FF live gigs it is nice the see and hear this excellent video
" Polka Dota & Moonbeams " is an incredibly difficult song to do ---------------I'm really surprised the guys did it. Even the 50's group was hesitant to do it in person. -------------------Wolfsky9, 74 yo
Twenty years ago Ross Barbour (4 Freshmen baritone) cohosted a 4 hour audio/video internet show with me. His wife Sue, my daughter Eryn, and station owner George Seymour were the only others in studio. We played 4 hours of 4 Freshmen music, with one exception. There was a doo wop group that copied one of their intros with only a lyric change. listen to this intro. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE--o_baYRMd0c.html Lonnie Cook facebook.com/lonnie.cook.731
How many units were there? I heard them in the '90s at George's in Chicago. Totally different personnel. Flanigan was making his last tour with them. Included Auti Goodman and the trumpeter who appears in recent videos.
@@xthatghomiex2939 sure. It works. I wasnt born yesterday. It isn't important, but be nice to see them with the full orchestra, grand piano, strings and horns done by string and horn section. That takes money though. A keyboard is certainly more economical but there's nothing like the real thing. Keyboard is a good, and economical substitute, but for myself, I am willing to pay more to see a show with the real thing.
It's so brutal there's two Four Freshmen live shows on RU-vid, one from '57 and this one, and somehow this is the one that has dated worse. Rough harmonies and super cheesy chinsy-sounding pianos, keyboard and bass from a bunch of guys who look like they sold insurance the week before. Listen to that hideous MIDI, it sounds like a Nokia ringtone. The 'frontman' enunciates so poorly, probably from eating 6 ham sandwiches before going on stage. The 50's Freshmen is heavenly; this is the cringeworthy music that plays as you lay on the floor 25 years ago watching your vision go dark after suffering a stroke.
You are a miserable douchebag. The band sounds great. The only thing cheesy about this is your attempt of a hatched job review. Listen again to the first tune and tell me what the problem is with the ensemble playing? Oh, wait, you wouldn't know the difference. Moron.
