The Jivin' Belles: perfect three-part harmonies

The Jivin’ Belles are new to St. Albert, but their lush three-part harmonies are a throwback to the swing era’s rich music.

Three MacEwan University graduates, The Jivin’ Belles are Emily Guthrie, Kate Blechinger and Mallory Chipman.

The Edmonton-based singers bring their seamless blend to St. Albert Community Hall on Tuesday, June 27 as the Arden Theatre’s closing act of the 2016-2017 professional series.

Inspired in large part by The Andrews Sisters – Laverne, Maxene and Patty – the Jivin’ Belles evoke the easily recognizable nostalgic sounds of the raucous jitterbug coupled with sentimental ballads such as I’ll Be With You in Apple Blossom Time.

For anyone unfamiliar with The Andrews Sisters, the trio produced one hit after another from the late 1930s straight through to the 1940s.

Ranging from the rollicking hit Boogie Woogie Boy of Company B and the more sentimental, I Can Dream Can’t I, The Andrews Sisters silky harmonies fit smoothly into the big band era’s music and captured the home-front spirit of the Second World War.

While The Jivin’ Belles sing standard classics, spokesperson Mallory Chipman explains they rewrite original arrangements.

“We even take modern day pop songs with a retro vibe and write our own arrangements. For instance, you could hear a Christiana Aguilera song spun as if it comes out of the 1940s.”

Some of the more modern pop pieces the Belles have arranged into a swing vibe range from the Eurhythmic’s Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) to Meghan Trainor’s All About That Bass.

Formed in 2013, the threesome bonded at MacEwan over their love of music, admiration of Joni Mitchell, Starbucks runs and all things vintage.

Like most 18-year-olds, they hit the bars with friends and when cash was low, they’d meet at a friend’s house and start jammin’ in the basement. The joy of singing together triggered the urge to share their charts.

“There’s almost this special magic when there’s a three-part harmony. Our three voices are so close together, the listener has trouble defining the melody,” said Chipman.

“With the three parts we hit the high and the low notes which create a nice balance of varied frequency. It adds to the depth and complements the melody.”

Although committed to The Jivin’ Belles, each vocalist enjoys a variety of solo projects.

Chipman teaches vocal specific classes at MacEwan and released her debut jazz album Nocturnalize in 2016. She is also planning a jazz tribute to Leonard Cohen with a tentative release date in Nov. 2017.

Instead Joni Mitchell inspired Kate Blechinger’s with a fusion project of folk and jazz cover songs that was presented in the United Kingdom at a Joni Mitchell symposium.

Emily Guthrie is heading to the University of British Columbia in the fall to complete a two-year master’s degree in archival studies.

While the Capital Region will see less of the Belles in the next few years, the trio plans to expand their fan base with mini-tours in British Columbia and Regina, where Guthrie is from originally.

“This is our last Edmonton show that we know of. Because Emily is moving, this may be the last chance to see us for a while. You’ll hear a lot of new arrangements and it’s a great way to spend the afternoon.”