Elie Landau's RARB bio

If it's anyone's fault, it's the King's Singers' fault. They're the a cappella bug that bit me early in life (my mother reps them in North America) and I've been hooked ever since. Truth be told, music is in my genes but it was the KS singing I'm A Train that truly opened the floodgates. College work includes time with the all-male Pennchants, The Penn Singers (light opera), and The Penn Glee Club (a bit of everything), and reviewing performing arts for The Daily Pennsylvanian. Out of college and back in New York (born and raised in the Big Apple - woo hoo!), I joined the a cappella sextet Beat'achon with whom I spent 6 years and recorded 2 albums, including some original material written and/or arranged by yours truly.

For a living, I've spent most of my time since college managing Broadway shows -- what exactly that means is a bit long to go into here, but it keeps me darn busy. Right now, I'm blessed with a hit (for a change!): the Tony-winning Best Musical "Spamalot" (musical based on Monty Python and the Holy Grail) which has since spawned a National Tour, a production in London's West End and upcoming versions in Vegas (opening at the Wynn in March) and in Australia. Past productions include "Sixteen Wounded" with Judd Hirsch, "Anna in the Tropics" starring Jimmy Smits, the infamous "Dance of the Vampires" starring Michael Crawford, "The Elephant Man" starring Billy Crudup, "Hedda Gabler", "Kiss Me, Kate", "The Civil War", "Big" (based on the Tom Hanks film) and "Fool Moon".

I'm also one of 3 partners in an independent film and theatrical production company called Ergo Entertainment. Our theatre credits include the Tony-winning "Long Day's Journey Into Night" (Vanessa Redgrave, Brian Dennehy, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robert Sean Leonard), and the recent Broadway revivals of "Steel Magnolias" starring Delta Burke, and Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park" starring Amanda Peet and Patrick Wilson, as well as multiple off-Broadway productions. Recent film credits include the award-winning and Emmy-nominated documentary film "Paper Clips" (shameless plug: avaiable at Blockbuster and via NetFlix!).

In my spare time (guffaw), I moonlight as a conductor for regional theatre productions - favorites include West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof and my all-time fave (to conduct) City of Angels - and help out as an emergency fill-in for a few local choruses.

And now I have the chance to share my a cappella opinions with the world. Oh, the pressure! Well, whether you agree or disagree with me, thanks for "listening".

Reviews by Elie Landau

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	Sympathetic Vibrations (Georgia Tech) - AfterShock [12 Oct 2008]
	Stanford Counterpoint (Stanford University) - Belladonna [10 Oct 2008]
	Neri Per Caso - Angoli Diversi [08 Oct 2008]
	UNC Loreleis (University of North Carolina) - On The Record [16 Aug 2008]
	Awaken A Cappella (UCLA) - Life's a Beach [07 Aug 2008]
	Grains of Time (North Carolina State University) - Goin' Down Singin' [03 Aug 2008]
	Akafist - The Russian Male Chamber Choir - Masterpieces of Orthodox Spirituality III [01 Aug 2008]
	Kaskeset (Binghamton University) - The Teal Album [21 Jul 2008]
	Starving Artists (Brandeis University) - Midnight Snack [15 Jul 2008]
	On the Rocks (University of Oregon) - The Green Room [08 Jul 2008]
	A Completely Different Note (University of Connecticut) - Mixed Nuts [18 Jun 2008]
	Rajaton - Maa [29 Dec 2007]
	T Minus 5 - Road Trip [01 Dec 2007]
	Kol Sasson (University of Maryland) - U-Phonius [21 Nov 2007]
	Xtension Chords (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) - Creative Outlet [12 Oct 2007]
	Vote For Pedro - Cocktail Napkin [10 Oct 2007]
	Jackson Jills (Tufts University) - Don't Try This In Heels [04 Oct 2007]
	Tar Heel Voices (University of North Carolina) - Would You? [22 Sep 2007]
	Basix - Star People [11 Sep 2007]
	Juxtaposition (Virginia Tech) - Anomaly [21 Aug 2007]
	Clef Hangers (University of North Carolina) - Time Out [12 Aug 2007]
	The Chordials (Cornell University) - Arrival [08 Aug 2007]
	2PRAISE - Join 2 Sing [15 Jul 2007]
	Mosaic Whispers (Washington University) - Behind Bars [03 Jul 2007]
	Transit - Transit [27 Jun 2007]
	Shircago - Shircago [21 Jun 2007]
	Rajaton - Out Of Bounds [03 Jun 2007]
	Logarhythms (MIT) - Natural [19 May 2007]
	Mixed Company (Stanford University) - Shades of Red [15 Apr 2007]
	Realtime - Ain't That A Kick [31 Mar 2007]
	Vocal Six - International [05 Mar 2007]
	Reverse Osmosis (University of Southern California) - Reverse Osmosis [01 Mar 2007]
	The Ramifications (Suffolk University) - Voices in the Attic [23 Feb 2007]
	Manginah (Brandeis University) - Yo Backwards [04 Feb 2007]
	The Zumbyes (Amherst College) - Feed the Puma [01 Feb 2007]
	The Achordants (University of North Carolina) - Polluted with Style [30 Jan 2007]
	Bathtub Dogs (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) - Outloud [16 Jan 2007]
	The Octaves (The University of Richmond) - Shotgun [31 Dec 2006]
	InToneNation (Montgomery Blair High School) - Will Sing For Pants [30 Nov 2006]
	UNC Loreleis (University of North Carolina) - Downstairs [18 Nov 2006]
	Rhythm & Blue (Duke University) - With the Windows Down [02 Nov 2006]
	The Stanford Mendicants (Stanford University) - Beggar's Dozen [21 Oct 2006]
	The Davidson Generals - Alpha Kappa Pella [13 Oct 2006]
	Mighty Echoes - A Cappella Cool [05 Oct 2006]
	The Midnight Ramblers (University of Rochester) - Transistor Radio [23 Sep 2006]
	The Doo-Wop Shop - Black Friday [11 Aug 2006]
	Navi Redd - Voices [15 Jul 2006]
	Voice Of Praise - Deliverance [18 Jun 2006]
	Kaskeset (Binghamton University) - Drop It Like It's Treif [07 Jun 2006]
	Cosmos - Ticu un viss/ I believe and that`s it [28 May 2006]
	Dicks & Janes (University of Michigan) - See Dick. See Jane. CD. [26 May 2006]
	Counterparts (University of Pennsylvania) - takeoff [22 May 2006]
	The Dear Abbeys (Boston University) - Abbeys Road [20 May 2006]
	Twisted Measure (Elon University) (Elon University) - Lawful Piracy [09 May 2006]
	Rajaton - Kevät [02 May 2006]
	Resonance (MIT) - Left on Red [24 Apr 2006]
	The BluesTones (James Madison University) - On the Rocks [08 Apr 2006]
	AACI - Sing 2: Eclectic Boogaloo [01 Mar 2006]
	The New Blue (Yale University) - Since 1969 [31 Dec 2005]
	The Big Bing Theory (Gonzaga University) - Your Mom [29 Dec 2005]
	The Yale Spizzwinks(?) (Yale University) - Simply Put [28 Dec 2005]
	Cosmos - Pa un par (On And About) [09 Dec 2005]
	Cadence - Twenty For One [14 Nov 2005]
	Hyannis Sound - Route 6 [02 Nov 2005]
	The Earth Tones (University at Albany) - Maybe We Shouldn't [28 Oct 2005]
	The Chordials (Cornell University) - The Third Chapter [21 Oct 2005]
	Michigan Jake - How Rhythm Was Born [07 Oct 2005]
	Clef Hangers (University of North Carolina) - Facing Clarence [29 Sep 2005]
	Chord On Blues (University of Pennsylvania) - Afterdark [24 Sep 2005]
	Basix - Christmastime [31 Aug 2005]
	The Octaves (The University of Richmond) - Corner Pocket [19 Jul 2005]
	Four Shadow - Four [09 Jul 2005]
	maennerquartett schnittpunktvokal & Kvartet Vita - Weihnacht in Österreich (Christmas in Austria) - a cappella [27 Jun 2005]
	Voice Of Praise - Resting In His Grace [25 Jun 2005]
	Banana Boat - Banana Boat ... Swiatecznie [21 Jun 2005]
	4:2:Five - Unstoppable [17 Jun 2005]
	Fleet Street Singers (Stanford University) - Fleet Street [14 Jun 2005]
	Flying Pickets - Everyday [23 May 2005]
	Realtime - Four Brothers [14 Mar 2005]
	Rock4 - Crazy English Summer [06 Mar 2005]
	Jackson Jills (Tufts University) - Headcase [13 Feb 2005]
	Martin Carbow - A Cappella & More [11 Feb 2005]
	Counterparts (University of Pennsylvania) - Counterparts [04 Feb 2005]
	UNC Loreleis (University of North Carolina) - Take a Big Whiff! [25 Jan 2005]
	T Minus 5 - Purity [22 Nov 2004]
	Twisted Measure (Elon University) (Elon University) - Barefoot & Beautiful [16 Nov 2004]
	Juxtaposition (Virginia Tech) - Me Put On Show [18 Oct 2004]
	The Stanford Mendicants (Stanford University) - Mendication [11 Oct 2004]
	The Class Notes (Cornell University) - Unfolded [07 Oct 2004]
	Logarhythms (MIT) - Soundproof [24 Sep 2004]
	The Big Bing Theory (Gonzaga University) - Songs from the Green Room [24 Aug 2004]
	AACI - Sing - A Vocal Explosion [05 Jun 2004]
	Mosaic Whispers (Washington University) - Defrosted [05 May 2004]
	Rajaton - Joulu [20 Mar 2004]
	Mass Transit (New York University) - Mass Transit [14 Mar 2004]
	Awaken A Cappella (UCLA) - Dysfunktional Family Album [26 Dec 2003]
	NINE - Miles To Go [14 Dec 2003]
	No Strings Attached (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) - One Night Stand [10 Nov 2003]
	Fourth Avenue - Scrapbook [07 Nov 2003]
	The Dear Abbeys (Boston University) - Not Too ShAbbey [19 Oct 2003]
	Wolfgang - Tailgate Special [13 Sep 2003]
	Ithacappella (Ithaca College) - Left On Gravel [11 Sep 2003]
	The House Jacks - Unbroken [16 Aug 2003]
	Juxtaposition (Virginia Tech) - Homespun [26 Jun 2003]
	On the Rocks (University of Oregon) - OTR [07 Jun 2003]
	Basix - Embodiment [28 May 2003]
	Xtension Chords (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) - Rollin' Up the Sleeves [26 Apr 2003]
	Rajaton - Sanat [12 Mar 2003]
	Coco's Lunch - A Whole New Way of Getting Dressed [02 Mar 2003]
	Chicago A Cappella - Holidays A Cappella Live [22 Feb 2003]
	The Sil'hooettes (University of Virginia) - After Shock [24 Dec 2002]
	The Stanford Mendicants (Stanford University) - Best Laid Plans [23 Dec 2002]
	The Conn Artists - First Offense [05 Dec 2002]
	Blue Jupiter - Ear Candy [22 Nov 2002]
	Urban Voices - The Gang [29 Oct 2002]
	Kaskeset (Binghamton University) - Made From The Best Jews on Earth [24 Sep 2002]
	Fourth Avenue - 100% [21 Sep 2002]
	Logarhythms (MIT) - Superlogs [22 Aug 2002]
	The Virginia Gentlemen (University of Virginia) - Turning [07 Aug 2002]
	The 18 Wheelers (The Wheeler School) - Here We Go [05 Aug 2002]
	Brown'sTones (Brown University) - Femme Vox [03 Aug 2002]
	Dicks & Janes (University of Michigan) - Show-N-Tell [29 Jun 2002]
	Yellowjackets (University of Rochester) - Darwin's Gambit [23 Jun 2002]
	Rajaton - Boundless [17 Jun 2002]
	Awaken A Cappella (UCLA) - Pitch-Slapped [07 Jun 2002]
	No Limit - No Limit [04 May 2002]
	SoVoSó - Bridges [23 Apr 2002]
	Mosaic Whispers (Washington University) - Against The Grain [14 Mar 2002]
	Aural Pleasure (Emory University) - Lend an Ear [29 Dec 2001]
	The Sil'hooettes (University of Virginia) - Flair [25 Dec 2001]
	Basix - The Grass [11 Dec 2001]
	Tonic Sol-Fa - Style [29 Nov 2001]
	Cadence - Frost-Free [22 Sep 2001]
	Academical Village People (University of Virginia) - Gracias, Por Favor! [22 Aug 2001]
	Melodious Thunk (Northwestern University) - Ye Olde THUNKe CDe [05 Aug 2001]
	The House Jacks - Drive [13 Jul 2001]
	VoiceMale (Brandeis University) - VoiceMale [25 Jun 2001]
	The Harvard Din & Tonics (Harvard University) - Freshly Squeezed [27 May 2001]
	The Amateurs (Washington University) - Tonic Fifth [13 May 2001]
	Dweelja Doobap - We Did It! [16 Apr 2001]
	Fourth Avenue - Why2K? [24 Mar 2001]
	The Stanford Mendicants (Stanford University) - Room To Grow [23 Mar 2001]
	The Virginia Gentlemen (University of Virginia) - Bizarro World [22 Mar 2001]
	Mary Schmary - Hidden Agenda Items [07 Mar 2001]
	The Hullabahoos (University of Virginia) - 8ch [20 Feb 2001]
	Voice Male - Hooked [29 Jan 2001]
	Tuxedo Junction - Tuxedo Junction [30 Dec 2000]
	The Douglas Frank Chorale - The A Cappella Singer [30 Dec 2000]
	Various Artists - Barbershop's Best [30 Dec 2000]
	Four Shadow - Where Have You Been [30 Dec 2000]
	The Bostonians (Boston College) - Quarter Past Nine [30 Dec 2000]
	Kaskeset (Binghamton University) - Shir Pleasure [07 Dec 2000]
	Mixed Company (Stanford University) - The Other Side of Blue [03 Dec 2000]
	A Cappella Angels - An A Cappella Christmas [30 Nov 2000]
	Troy State University Stallmen (Troy University) - The Stallmen [22 Nov 2000]
	Mosaic Whispers (Washington University) - Throw Your Pennies at Someone Else [19 Nov 2000]
	Gregorian Chant Schola of St. Meinrad Archabbey - Gregorian Chant for Advent & Christmas [17 Oct 2000]
	Talisman (Stanford University) - Shine [02 Oct 2000]
	Various Artists - Voices Only Christmas [18 Sep 2000]
	SoVoSó - Truth and Other Stories [05 Aug 2000]
	SoVoSó - World Jazz A Cappella [25 Jun 2000]
	Now & Then - Starlight Serenade presents Now & Then [25 May 2000]
	From the Edge - Pub Night in South Central Czechoslovakia [07 Apr 2000]

163 total reviews