It’s always great to hear a group that’s excellent at what it does try something new.

Saturday night at Mason United Methodist Church, the Northwest Repertory Singers launched into jazz and, accompanied by the always-cool Kareem Kandi Band, they did a fine job, complementing perfectly their opening half of past choir favorites sung with gusto and finesse.

For the first half, the choir celebrated the last seven years of its existence, singing favorites of both choir and audience. Mostly American, the program was heartfelt but not sentimental, and conducted with his usual thoughtful expressiveness (and no music, either) by Dr. Paul Schultz (with guest item by assistant conductor Kyle Haugen).

Of the nine pieces, highlights were Z. Randall Stroope’s “The Pasture,” whose dreamy harmonies and serene Robert Frost words were sung in a hushed, well-shaded timbre; and “Dirait-on” by Northwesterner Morten Lauridsen, the choir’s soft, direct tone perfect for Lauridsen’s restful, murmuring tenderness. “Cindy” could have used more cheekiness (especially from the otherwise sensitive accompanist Marjorie Skreen), and the pattering “Neighbors Chorus” of Offenbach needed much more clarity of enunciation.

Yet most pieces showed off this choir’s excellently round, deep sound and balanced voicing: the warm arrangement of “My Heart’s in the Highlands” (with a rather too-vibratoe’d Marcia Ott on violin), and the gorgeously arching arrangement of the camp meeting song “No Time.” Finally, “Elijah Rock” overcame a complete lack of swing to hit a spine-tingling finale.

After intermission, though, the swing took over. A set by the Kareem Kandi band highlighted each member: drummer Jacques Willis endlessly creative, rocking bassist Osama Afifi, a very mellow Mason Hargrove on guitar and Kandi himself effortless and bronze-toned on tenor sax.

When the choir came in, the combination was unfortunately dominated by the drums. Microphones for the choir or less volume from Willis would have meant much more of the NRS’ fine singing could have been heard. Because it was indeed fine: a good sound (though lacking a jazz edge,) a good groove, and obvious enjoyment from everyone.

“Time After Time,” a rather weirdly jazzed-up version of the Cyndi Lauper ballad, featured a honey-voiced Teresa Nickel as soloist, while Sharon Stearnes sang a clear alto in the Joni Mitchell “Both Sides Now,” with excellent a cappella backing and doo-wops. Antonio Carlos Jobim’s bossa “Meditation” wove seamlessly with fine solos from Kandi, and the evening wound up with “Cheek to Cheek,” where—despite being sometimes drowned by the drums—the NRS sang with strong focus, excellent pitch and a toe-tapping rhythm for an upbeat version Fred Astaire would have loved.

The next concert by the Northwest Repertory Singers is on May 2 at Mason United Methodist Church.

Rosemary Ponnekanti: 253-597-8568

GOArts: blogs.thenewstribune.com/arts