"I think Up in the Air is phenomenal. It’s great to see young people who are talented in such a sophisticated way.
They work with some pretty complex harmonic arrangements, and they do it really well. They’re obviously very serious.”
Michael McDonald
Legendary Vocalist, Five-time Grammy-winner, Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan
"To experience this group in concert is pure joy. Their musicality, attitude and heart
will take you 'up in the air' -- and you'll enjoy every minute up there!”
Katarina Henryson
Founding member of the world-renowned a cappella ensemble, The Real Group
They work with some pretty complex harmonic arrangements, and they do it really well. They’re obviously very serious.”
Michael McDonald
Legendary Vocalist, Five-time Grammy-winner, Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan
"To experience this group in concert is pure joy. Their musicality, attitude and heart
will take you 'up in the air' -- and you'll enjoy every minute up there!”
Katarina Henryson
Founding member of the world-renowned a cappella ensemble, The Real Group
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ABOUT UP IN THE AIR...
Leading the way in contemporary a cappella for more than two decades, Up in the Air’s complex arrangements and exciting performances have entertained audiences around the Midwest and around the world since 1995. Up in the Air was among the first vocal groups of its kind in the Midwest, performing high-energy commercial music one-on-a-part and one-on-a-mic with vocal bass and beatbox -- a generation before it was the norm for collegiate a cappella groups. Up in the Air has inspired the founding of dozens of collegiate and high school ensembles, and boasts a number of successful professional singers, producers and songwriters as alums. Deke Sharon, music director of NBC’s The Sing Off, says of Up in the Air, “ReDUNKulous! This group can – and does – sing music so difficult that it shouldn’t be done, and then they have the audacity to make it sound easy! Up in the Air is on cutting edge of the collegiate a cappella movement, uniquely combining the excitement of a student driven group with the experience of a top-notch music educator.” Up in the Air performs 50-70 shows each year on the road around the region, with an eclectic repertoire of a cappella pop, soul, jazz, funk, r&b, rock and world music. Up in the Air has closely collaborated with noted producers including The Dualists (Adam Levine, PJ Morton), Nick Chahwala of Swarm Logic (Katy Perry, Tricky Stewart, Mariah Carey, Nikki Minaj), and indie recording artists from across the nation. Up in the Air has shared the stage with Rockapella, The Real Group, Accent, Cluster, ONAIR, The Filharmonic, Afro Blue, M-PACT, The House Jacks, New York Voices, Naturally Seven, Rockapella's Sean Altman, rocker Ben Folds, and many others. The group has recorded four CDs, and has performed at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (Cleveland OH), Soho House (London), hClub (London), Eddie's Attic (Decatur GA), Blues Sklep (Prague, Czech Rep), Schlot Jazz Club (Berlin, Germany), Northside Tavern (Atlanta GA), Fat Fish Blue (Cleveland OH), Tuckerman Hall (Worcester MA), the Toledo Museum of Art (OH), Club Akord (Prague, Czech Rep), Rusty's Jazz Cafe (Toledo OH), Smetana Hall (Prague, Czech Rep), and on college campuses around the midwest. Up in the Air is produced and directed by Brad Rees, who serves as principal arranger. The group is based out of the Commercial Music program and TiffinMusic Studios at Tiffin University in Ohio. |
UP IN THE AIR FEATURED ON EP WITH ADAM LEVINE & PJ MORTON
Up in the Air's recording of "Heavy" has been featured on "Two for the Money," a new EP released by the international pop music production team, The Dualists. The album also features Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine and r&b artist P.J. Morton, who co-wrote the song along with The Dualists, Australian producer Tushar Apte, and British producer Manon Dave. Dave heard the below live YouTube recording of Up in the Air's a cappella version and offered to include it as a bonus track on the EP. (Check it out here) WHAT THEY'RE SAYING... "I think Up in the Air is phenomenal. It’s great to see young people who are talented in such a sophisticated way. They work with some pretty complex harmonic arrangements, and they do it really well. They’re obviously very serious.” -- Michael McDonald (Legendary Vocalist, Doobie Brothers, multiple Grammy winner) "ReDUNKulous! Up in the Air can -- and does -- sing music so difficult that it shouldn't be done, and then they have the audacity to make it sound easy! Up in the Air is on cutting edge of the collegiate a cappella movement, uniquely combining the excitement of a student driven group with the experience of a top-notch music educator.” -- Deke Sharon, NBC-TV's The Sing-Off "To experience this group in concert is pure joy. Their musicality, attitude and heart will take you 'up in the air' -- and you'll enjoy every minute up there!" -- Katarina Henryson, The Real Group "A really great group of young people -- keep doing what you're doing!!" -- Claude McKnight, Take 6 “Great soloists, a superb blend, impressive arrangements and perfect execution. Surely one of the best collegiate groups around!” -- Sean Altman, Rockapella founder "Up in the Air is taking collegiate a cappella professional. Melding pop, jazz, soul and Gospel, all with rock solid vocal percussion, it's nice to know that the future of a cappella is in such good hands!" -- Jake Moulton, vocal drums & beatbox (mo5aic, m-pact, House Jacks) "Up In the Air is outstanding. They are super-cool and wonderfully engaging in a live setting. They were our heroes from the moment they sang in our choir room... This is who we wanted to be." -- Brody McDonald, vocal educator "If you liked 'The Sing-Off,' you'll love Up In The Air!!" -- Laura Rice - NBC TV “Up in the Air puts on a fantastic show -- tight harmonies, wonderful soloists, complex arrangements -- they handle pop, r&b, and vocal jazz with equally accomplished aplomb. Up in the Air has a *lot* of fun up there, and the audience does too.” -- Kid Beyond, a cappella recording artist “This group is great! I'm thoroughly impressed with Up in the Air's dedication and performance... There's not a weak link in this chain!” -- Eliot Sloan of Blessid Union of Souls “I absolutely loved this group... It's 'Urban Jazz'! Elements of everything fused together to make... MUSIC! The level of musicality is very high, and the concept and sound are better than anything I've heard in a long time.” -- Sunny Wilkinson, jazz recording artist “Too cool... great musicianship... I like the group lots!” -- the late Frank Mantooth, jazz legend |
UP IN THE AIR 2021-22...
Aliyah Brown Jaycee Vincent Jessica Briney Ny Nuby-Williams Jordan West Spencer Solberg Tristen Johnson Aaron Carmack Brad Rees, director & arranger PERFORMING CREDITS INCLUDE...
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (Cleveland OH) Vocalmente Festival (Fossano Italy) Soho House (London UK) hClub (London UK) Eddie's Attic (Decatur GA) Brothers Lounge (Cleveland OH) Fat Fish Blue (Cleveland OH) Blind Bob's (Dayton OH) Club Akord (Prague, Czech Republic) Double Door Inn (Charlotte NC) Northside Tavern (Atlanta) Fat Matt's Rib Shack (Atlanta) Schlot Jazz Club (Berlin, Germany) Blues Sklep (Prague, Czech Republic) Kingston Mines (Chicago) Jacobs Field (Cleveland Indians) The Gund Arena (Cleveland Cavs) Tuckerman Hall (Worcester MA) Smetana Hall (Prague, Czech Republic) The Ritz Theatre (Tiffin OH) Fifth Third Field (Toledo Mud Hens) Toledo Museum of Art Huntington Field (Columbis OH) Taste of Douglasville (Douglasville GA) Rusty's Jazz Cafe (Toledo OH) Riff Raff Tavern (Dayton OH) Kaldi's (Cincinnati OH) Roosevelt Coffeehouse (Columbus OH) Coffee Amici (Findlay OH) Green Nature Cafe (Clayton OH) Open Air am Hafen (Potsdam Germany) DePaul University (Chicago IL) Hartwick College (Oneonta NY) University of Dayton (OH) Bowling Green State University (OH) College of Wooster (OH) ...plus hundreds of other venues... APPEARING WITH... A CAPPELLA GROUPS Accent Rockapella The Filharmonic Street Corner Symphony Cluster Afro Blue Urban Method Groove For Thought M-PACT The House Jacks Naturally Seven Breath of Soul Voice Trek InPulse ...and many more SOLO ARTISTS Ben Folds (rocker & The Sing Off judge) Sean Altman (Rockapella founder) Prisca (Atlanta singer-songwriter) Ulrika (pop recording artist) Kid Beyond (Beatboxer/Live-Looper) VLADA (Swiss Soul Singer) Sunny Wilkinson (Jazz vocalist) Janice Borla (Jazz vocalist) BLUES LEGENDS Robert Lockwood Jr. Eddie Tigner ROCK, BLUES & INDIE BANDS Blessid Union of Souls The Right Now Sidewalk Chalk Down the Line The Breeze Kings Frankie’s Blues Mission GRAMMY WINNERS Michael McDonald (5x winner, Legend) Dee Dee Bridgewater New York Voices |