The “Holiday Pops with Manhattan Transfer” will bring a celebrated vocal group to Costa Mesa for what the group says will be its final tour. Manhattan Transfer just turned 50, and has sold millions of records and won 10 Grammys since first getting together in 1972. Tim Hauser organized the vocal quartet with himself as the founder, along with alto Janis Siegel, tenor Alan Paul, and soprano Laurel Masse. In 1979, Masse was replaced by soprano Cheryl Bentyne, and bass Trist Curless took over the lead spot after Hauser passed away in 2014.
Paul and Siegel both say they are amazed and grateful that the group has not only survived but thrived, despite the changes over the years.
Categorizing Manhattan Transfer has long been a challenge for critics, as illustrated by the fact that they won two Grammys in the same year in entirely different categories: “Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group” and “Best Jazz Performance by a Duo or Group.”
A performance review says:
“This was all we could hope for in their 50th and final year. . . . Enjoyed it immensely. Thank you for the memories Manhattan Transfer.”
Manhattan Transfer will be at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts on December 16 and 17 at 8:00 pm. When concerts like these are scheduled, organizers can use brochure printing to create programs, which can serve as souvenirs for fans.