m-pact

Artist Information

Biography

Hailed "one of the best pop-jazz vocal groups in the world" by the San Francisco Chronicle, m-pact is respected worldwide as a cutting edge trailblazer in the realm of vocal music. Emerging from an age of auto-tune and overproduction, this Los Angeles-based sextet has cultivated a new generation of ears hungry for the fresh, raw power of nature's "first instrument" - the human voice.

From the beginning, the "pact" of these well-studied masters has been to stay true to Music, regardless of style or genre. Their sophisticated sound and accessible appeal have garnered vast accolades, including "Vocal Group of the Year" from the LA Music Awards, an Indie nomination (the Independent GrammyTM), "Artist of the Year" (Seattle Music Awards), and Grand National Champs of the Harmony Sweepstakes competition.

Touring renowned fine arts halls and jazz festivals across four continents, m-pact has performed with pop superstars Sheryl Crow, Boyz II Men, Kenny G, Liza Minnelli, Babyface, Rick Springfield and Jackson Browne to name a few, as well as with jazz legends from Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Bobby McFerrin, Take 6, and the New York Voices to the Woody Herman Orchestra and the Maynard Ferguson Big Band. Over the last dozen years, their signature sound has been used in both TV themes and animated Disney feature films, and is enjoyed on syndicated radio worldwide.

Around the globe, mesmerized audiences buzz from the thrill of m-pact's vocal acrobatics, innovative orchestrations, and commanding yet authentic stage presence. Unknowing ears of all ages come expecting entertainment but leave enriched from an indescribable experience: the musical journey across Technicolor soundscapes produced by this "Cirque du Soleil of Song".

Each of m-pact's five original studio recordings has received rave reviews and multiple awards, including Best Jazz Album, Best Pop/R&B Song, Best Male Vocalist, and Best Vocal Arrangement (the CARA Awards), Best Seasonal Album ("Indie" nomination), and Best Unsigned Band (Billboard Magazine). Pristine production, creativity, and solid songwriting are among the many strengths showcased on every m-pact recording. With national distribution by City Hall (USA) and int'l distribution by Feel Music (Korea), m-pact's music continues to reach the ears of new fans around the world.

Instrumentation

Fletcher Sheridan
Jarrett Johnson
Marco Cassone
Jeff Smith
Morten Kier
Trist Curless

Discography

'It's All About Harmony' - 1996
'2' - 1998
'The Carol Commission' - 1999
'Live at the Triple Door' - 2004
'm-pact' - 2006

Official Website

http://www.m-pact.com

Links

• Facebook
• MySpace
• YouTube
• Twitter

Audio

• My Favorite Things
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• Thought You Cared For Me
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• Night and Day
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• Found a Love in You
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• This Masquerade
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• Have a Talk With God
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• Northwest Passage
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Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• New m-pact CD (Press Release) [+ Show ]
  

  Winners of BillBoard's prestigious "Best Unsigned Band" contest, Los Angeles-based vocal group m-pac...Winners of BillBoard's prestigious "Best Unsigned Band" contest, Los Angeles-based vocal group m-pact has signed with indie specialty label Primarily A Cappella to release it's first, self-titled album for national distribution. Crowned Best Vocal Group at the 2005 LA Music Awards, this "vocal Cirque du Solei" infuses technicolor fantasy into their sophisticated sound. A truly kaleidoscopic mix of groove, soul, and funk crossed with human big band makes this all-voice sextet "one of the best jazz-pop vocal ensembles in the world" (San Francisco Chronicle). Drawing fans of every demographic, m-pact has been touring festivals and prestigious performing arts centers for over 10 years developing a large following and selling over 50,000 earlier recordings from the stage. Pristine production, solid song-writing, and Stomp-like creativity are among the many strengths showcased in this much-anticipated, all-new studio release.
  

• M-Pact Has Impact [+ Show ]
  

  Contemporary pop jazz vocal groups don't get any better than m-pact, hailed as one of the best in th...Contemporary pop jazz vocal groups don't get any better than m-pact, hailed as one of the best in the world...

• Ska, swing and now the national breakthrough of a cappella? [+ Show ]
  

  Combining elements of R&B, jazz and pop, the band-released '2' is a mesmerizing collection of nine o...Combining elements of R&B, jazz and pop, the band-released '2' is a mesmerizing collection of nine original treasures, covering roof-raising funk, finger-snapping gospel-ese and graceful ballads that you'd swear gained their momentum from a cascade of strings...

• Plenty of nothing goes a long way... [+ Show ]
  

  In spite of the rave reviews which preceded m-pact's electrifying performance to a full house at Art...In spite of the rave reviews which preceded m-pact's electrifying performance to a full house at ArtSpring on Friday night, I was bowled over by the sheer musicianship and attention to detail of both acoustic and visual space demonstrated by these mesmerizing young men...the gift is in the integrity of their original lyrics, sophistication of arrangements, the richness of the harmonies, immaculate timing and control of dynamics, the joy of the presentation and the sheer inventiveness and vocal magic...

• Professionals leave 'm-pact' at a cappella competition [+ Show ]
  

  Ever wonder where all the good bands are? Ever been bothered that major headliners show up at the St...Ever wonder where all the good bands are? Ever been bothered that major headliners show up at the Staples Center or (gasp) UCLA instead of filling the Coliseum or at least Bovard Auditorium? Well, one incredible music act just hit campus on Saturday.
  
  Professional jazz-pop sensation m-pact donated their show-stopping vocal chords to the cause of collegiate a cappella, serving notice that Billboard's Best Unsigned Band of 1999 is now based in Los Angeles. Only the sound of these six men's voices can adequately praise them, as the 1,000 folks who crammed into Bovard Auditorium Saturday night can attest to.
  
  While m-pact was the highlight, the purpose was to see which of seven collegiate groups would move on to the regional competitions for the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella.
  
  As the judges deliberated, m-pact gave a lengthy, divine set, cranking up the volume and energy for nearly another hour of the best that a cappella can deliver.
  

Setlist

Sample Song List

Pop cover tunes:

I Wish - Stevie Wonder
Have a Talk With God - Stevie Wonder
Signed, Sealed, Delivered - Stevie Wonder
On Broadway - George Benson/The Drifters
Ain't Nobody - Chaka Khan
Fantasy - Earth, Wind, & Fire
Let's Groove - Earth, Wind, & Fire
Shining Star - Earth, Wind, & Fire
That's the Way I Like It - KC & The Sunshine Band
Boogie Oogie Oogie - A Taste of Honey
Higher and Higher - Jackie Wilson
Don't Know Why I Didn't Come - Norah Jones
Love the One You're With - Steven Stills
Somethin' About You - Level 42
What if We Was Cool - Eric Benet
Still the One - Orleans
Come Together - The Beatles

Jazz standards / blues / American songbook:

Somewhere Over The Rainbow - Arlen/Harburg
My Funny Valentine - Rogers/Hart
My Favorite Things - Rodgers/Hammerstein
Night & Day - Cole Porter
All Blues - Miles Davis
Northeast Wind - Nando Lauria
Bluesette - Toots Thielemans
Northwest Passage - Woody Herman
What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life - Bergman/Legrand
Joy Spring - Clifford Brown
Almost Like Being In Love - Lerner & Loewe / Michael Johnson
This Masquerade - Leon Russell
29 Ways - Willie Dixon
Won't You Be My Neighbor? - Fred Rogers

Originals:

Suddenly You (Up/Pop)
If We Try (Med/Up/R&B)
If I Lost You (Ballad/ Pop)
A Mile in My Shoes (Inspirational/Pop/Ballad)
Hold On My Heart (Ballad/Pop)
You Need To Know (Up/R&B)
Human Song (Up/R&B/Funk)
I Found A Love In You (Up/R&B/Jazz)
Somebody Love Me (Med/Pop/R&B)
Simples Of The Moon (Ballad/Classical)
Why Can't We All (Slow/Jazz/Inspirational)
Destiny (Med/Latin/Jazz)
Got a Friend? (pop/funk)
Thought You Cared For Me (Up/Pop/R&B)

Holiday, patriotic, and/or customized music available.

Basic Requirements

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