Meet Sweden's The Real Group

Formed in 1984, the Real Group is a Swedish vocal harmony ensemble that specializes in jazz. The group has taken on other types of music, including Scandinavian folk and classical. And over the years, the group has seen many different members pass through its ranks. The Real Group is still going strong today, touring in Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia. If you're unfamiliar, let me share with you a bunch of videos [photo above of the Real Group today, from left, Johannes Rückert Becker, Axel Berntzon, Joanné Nugas, Daniele Dees and Clara Fornander]. A special thanks to Don Rice for reminding me of the group's terrific approach to jazz vocal harmonies:

Here's a Count Basie medley from 2005...



Here's Monica's Vals (Waltz for Debby) in 2011...



By the way, here's the original arranged by Bill Evans and sung by Swedish singing star Monica Zetterlund during a rehearsal in Copenhagen in 1966, with Eddie Gomez on bass and Alex Riel on drums. I've always loved the ending, with Zetterlund rubbing her ear and Evans rubbing his eye at the same time, almost out of discomfort anticipating how the other is going to react...



Once more, with the Real Group from 2018...



Here's Misty in 2011...



And here's Sleigh Ride in 2010...