The Lascivious Biddies April 24, 2007

The Lascivious Biddies' unconventional arrangements of original compositions and standards-to-be often include four-part harmonies and blur the line between jazz, pop and cabaret styles. Four-part harmony groups aren't exactly the current trend in jazz circles, but The Lascivious Biddies update the formula with an approach that blends the vocal interaction of doo-wop with the precise articulation and harmonizing of jazz. John Munson of Trip Shakespeare/Semisonic fame; Chan Poling, founder of the haute-punk new-wave group The Suburbs; and Steve Roehm, vibraphonist extraordinaire, got together with a plan to play and sing their favorite songs - naked. Well, the musicians are clothed, but the aesthetic is raw simplicity: communication and soul. The song selections span the twentieth century. Each song must be someone's favorite and each arrangement must bring something new to the song. In an age of digital overkill, The New Standards keep the instrumentation simple.