Vote For Pedro

In reading reviews over the past few years, a comment I’ve seen a lot has been that “groups generally can't sing everything.” The idea here is that tackling too many styles at once can overwhelm a group and result in a mediocre sound. If you happen to be in a group that has received this comment at some point in your career, I strongly urge you to pick up a copy of Vote For Pedro’s EP debut “Cocktail Napkin” to find out how to do it right.

This CD has 5 tracks, and each one is vastly different, but they all come together to create a really impressive final product. The key ingredients here are a tight, jazzy, contemporary approach with a quirky sense of humor thrown in for good measure. The result is a great CD that showcases a confident group with a defined sound that’s fun to listen to.

First up: the sound, it’s really, really good. Production is first rate from the start, allowing for vocals that are sleek and electronic without being soulless. Both the leads and backgrounds are great throughout, with Taunia Soderquist deserving special kudos for her numerous power packed solos that just about took the roof right off my car. Brace yourself for "Summertime", a creative electronic jazz cover of the "Porgy and Bess" tune, that features her belting in top form. Also listen up for the scat section—it’s just plain cool.

Second up: the sense of humor. At times a bit dorky ("Cool Kidz"), and at times a bit raunchy ("Tall, Dark and Handsome"); it takes you by surprise in a good way. I’ll admit that I found it a bit jarring at first to shift back and forth between the songs that were more obviously funny and the ones that seemed to be more “serious,” but then I realized that just because not all the songs were outright jokes didn’t mean that the sense of humor and fun was lost. It’s there, and it’s a common thread that positively defines this group and their music.

I’m really impressed by this debut, and I’d recommend it for just about anyone who wants to sit back and have a good time listening to some fun music. Whether you’re interested in how a defined group sound can be the glue that holds a CD of multiple styles together or not, I think it’s safe to say you’ll enjoy this disc. It’s good music, so come on grab your ballots and join me in casting your Vote For Pedro!

Sorry, I couldn’t resist. - Robert N. Dietz / CASA.ORG

October 30, 2006

When the four-member a cappella group Vote for Pedro decided on their band name Napoleon Dynamite’s sidekick was their inspiration. The quirky, talented a cappella outfit formed in 2005 and has since won numerous titles including the 2006 Boston Regional Harmony Sweepstakes for Audience Favorites.

Perhaps Vote for Pedro took a cue from Pedro’s geeky moon boot dancing friend, Napoleon Dynamite, and shed their inhibitions, when they started to focus on writing their own a cappella songs. While most a cappella groups arrange covers, the members of Vote for Pedro focus on writing original jazz-influenced a cappella tunes. It’s only fitting that the four members collaborate on the arrangements. All of Vote for Pedro members have been in previous a cappella groups and have extensive music backgrounds.

Taunia Soderquist, the only female member in Vote for Pedro, graduated from Berklee College of Music and teaches private voice lessons, and Tenor Shah Salmi also graduated from Berklee College of Music with a Music Education degree. Dan Lennon has been in numerous a cappella groups including Boston-based Five OClock Shadow and percussionist Ben Jackson, former member of the Harvard Callbacks, graduated from Harvard University with a music minor.

Their hilarious hit "Tall Dark and Handsome," is about a woman searching for love, only to realize all of the men she is interested in are gay! While Vote for Pedro combines comedy and a cappella, the group shows a more serious side on the remaining tracks on their 2006 release "Cocktail Napkins." Live in the studio, Vote for Pedro harmonized on the Bossa-nova influenced title track and sang a playful, jazzy new song titled "Birdland," which showcased Soderquist’s scatting skills.

Vote for Pedro will return to the studio in the upcoming months, and plans to release an album in 2007. Check out their website for more information on upcoming performances and to hear their original songs.

www.pedroband.com

Written by: Amy Farnsworth

- WERS 88.9