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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
A cappella carollers spread cheer on Corydon
By: The Insider by Maureen Scurfield
Posted: 22/12/2010 1:00 AM | Comments: 5
Print E–mail Report Error AT first, diners at Kristina's kept right on gabbing, thinking somebody must have cranked the background music. Then table by table, they dropped their forks, as a cappella group the SnowTones let fly with four-part harmony Christmas tunes and voice percussion. By the time they were singing Winter Wonderland, customers were in the groove, applauding enthusiastically.
And then the carollers were gone in the night -- off to the next restaurant on the Corydon strip. "It's been a great night so far," said Bill Quinn, formerly of recording artists the Easy T's. "And the restaurants here are quite full, which makes it more fun," said soprano Sara Clefstad, who harmonized with jazz singer Jodie Borlé, bass singer Quinn, and tenor Conrad Siebert Monday night.
The group was hired by the Corydon BIZ, but grateful café owners pressed gifts of cookies, hot chocolate and french fries on them en route. You can catch the SnowTones for the last time tonight, singing in spots from Harrow to Confusion Corner from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Winnipeg Free Press
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The SnowTones formed in August of 2010 when Quinn wanted to form a new vocal band. The idea was to borrow harmonies from the Manhattan Transfer and the Mamas and Papas, but added a doo wop and jazz pop spin to create an urban folk jazz sound. The group debuted with a jazz choral version of the national anthem and the Weaver's Solidarity Song used in the labour movement of the 60s. The group then parlayed their approach to holiday music. A 2 song demo recorded on an I-Phone scored some local restaurant gigs that caught the attention of local media. The group is working on their first release and on some sweet versions of classics by Van Morrison, the Beatles, the Turtles and an array of gospel and folk melodies.
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