If you were a jazz aficionado during the 1980s, you’ve probably heard of Rare Silk, although they only released three albums between 1983 and 1986. Along with Manhattan Transfer, they were considered one of the best jazz vocal groups at the time.
I only recently learned the history of the group when I ran across an article on what one of the founding members, MaryLynn Gillaspie, has been doing recently. Rare Silk started out as a trio of women who sang jazz standards with Benny Goodman, but eventually they added a male member, changed their style, and landed their first record contract with Polygram. The album, the Grammy-nominated New Weave, was my introduction to the group, and it is to my great sorrow that Polygram hasn’t seen fit to rerelease it. New Weave is their most traditional album, and there’s not a bad song on it. Their take on Freddie Hubbard’s “Red Clay,” which earned them one of their two 1984 Grammy nominations, is one of my favorites, but they also do wonderful interpretations of jazz standards like “Lush Life” and “Spain.” I also love their bubbly version of “Joy,” an instrumental work to which group member Todd Buffa added lyrics.
The group became more adventurous with American Eyes, also nominated for a Grammy. Perhaps the most impressive song is “Watch What Happens,” originally from The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. They start the song with a wordless note, moving through seemingly random sounds into a percussion-like rhythm before the melody comes in and the group starts singing. It ends almost as it began, becoming percussive again and coming to a close with the same wordless note. Their interpretation of “Round Midnight” is also beautifully done.
One year later, they came out with their final album, Black & Blue. While they didn’t avoid using synthesizers in previous albums, this one is so synth-heavy that it sounds dated. It takes less than 10 seconds of the first song to know you’re listening to an album from the ’80s. The song “Argot” is particularly disappointing; the vocals take a back seat to the music, and the song ends much like “Watch What Happens.” The album isn’t horrible. I like “Playback” a lot, and the short and aptly named final song, “Over,” is excellent. But Black & Blue doesn’t live up to the quality of their first two albums, and I haven’t bothered to buy it.
The band broke up a couple of years after the third album was released — a huge loss to the jazz world. Manhattan Transfer has been around decades longer than Rare Silk, and they are a prolific group, but I’m not convinced that any of their output, wonderful as it may be, can best the first two Rare Silk albums.
If you want New Weave, you’ll have to get a used copy on CD or vinyl, but you can get American Eyes and, if you wish, Black & Blue, digitally. If you are a jazz lover (or even if you aren’t!) and you don’t know Rare Silk, you owe it to yourself to get acquainted.