Noticed that the guys formerly known as ChoZen have indeed become the new Crystal River. They’ve updated their Myspace accordingly (which seems to be serving as their website for now), and they’ve uploaded clips of their re-recorded versions of the former Crystal River’s songs. I was pleasantly surprised by their rendition of Mercy River; it misses Jeremy Lile’s solid bass, but the chorus reveals that this group has a good blend. I’ll be waiting for this new recording to come out.

A guy with the moniker of insider at averyfineline.com is saying that a local, formerly acappella group from Georgia called ChoZen has been chosen (pun intended) to be the new Crystal River. If this is true, they will definitely have an interesting sound.

As far as insider’s comments on the group going under, I’m of the opinion that after Jeremy Lile left to join Brian Free & Assurance, they lost some of their punch. Yes, they were pretty good as a trio, but the double turnover (Jeremy Lile and baritone Jeff Snyder leaving) was a hard blow, I imagine. Now that they have disbanded, Jeremy is with BFA, tenor Dusty Barrett is with Soul’d Out, and former baritone Jeff Snyder is with Mike & Kelly Bowling. Lead Zack McGill and Chris Whitaker are no longer in groups.

From what I gather from insider’s comments, McGill may have actually sold the name to ChoZen. Whether that is the case or not, I don’t know, but I would be thrilled to see Zack take the lead position of the group and make it a quartet once again. Stay tuned on this story.