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Theo Bleckmann and Dominique Eade are both vocalists with vocal technique, compositional sense, harmonic and melodic vocabulary and range of any instrumentalist. Considered modern, they are both pushing the boundries and solid in the core of the vocal traditions. Improvisers of the highest order. Also have to say I love Mark Murphy, Jill Seifers and Rebecca Martin
David
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11-19-2014 09:03 AM
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Originally Posted by TruthHertz
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I'm more old school, so :
Sinatra (the Capitol records era, preferably), Nat 'King' Cole, Tony Bennett, Johnny Hartman (well worth seeking out his material !), Mel Torme, Joe Williams (Count Basie), Al Hibbler, Billy Eckstine, Arthur Prysock and Brook Benton, the latter made quite a few LP's of standards and his phrasing and control are exceptional.
Sarah Vaughan, Ella, Dinah, Billy, Julie London, early Jubilee recordings of Della Reese (Yes, that Della Reese !), Esther Phillips, Carmen McCrae, Nancy Wilson and Aretha Franklin's commercially unsuccessful, but artistically good early Columbia recordings that featured many covers of standards.
Many of these artist's material can be heard on You tube and it's a great way to peruse, listen and separate the wheat from the chaff, if you will !
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You missed One! "Beverly Kenney" A vocal talent gone too soon.
wiz
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The godfather of Vocalese: Mr. Jon Hendricks - 90+ and still performing!!!
I like Curtis Stigers too - he's also a fine tenor player.
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Surprised to see no mention so far of Fred Astaire. Great understated singing that really swings.
Apparently, he could dance a bit as well!
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Gregory Porter Kurt Elling Joe Williams George Benson are my favorites.
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New t o the list:
Diane Schur
Madeleine Peyroux
A big second or third to:
Kevin Mahogany
Nancy Wilson
Nina Simone
And the top of my list:
Patti Cathcart (Tuck and Patti)
Yeah, mostly females. Oh well....
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There are lots of great singers, but Nina Simone is the one I love the most. And she's a fantastic jazz pianist as well.
Last edited by teok; 12-08-2014 at 06:16 PM.
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The great Carmen McCrae and Nina Simone. The underappreciated Abbey Lincoln.
Diana Krall. Really? Can I even mention her as a footnote to these greats? She sold more records, sure. Jazz singer? She is like Gerry Cooney, The Great White Hope, back when Muhammed Ali, George Foremen, Joe Frazier were Kings. And the great Sonny Liston whose brilliant December 1963 cover for Esquire in a Father Christmas cap "scared America because he is the last man on earth America wants to find sliding down your chimney". Anybody remembers Joe Bugner?Last edited by Jabberwocky; 12-09-2014 at 12:13 AM.
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I don't begrudge any musician their success. I wish Diana Krall all the best, but I don't enjoy her music.
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Nat Cole!!!!!
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Couple of more singers---admittedly not middle of the road but inspiring
If you're an instrumentalist, you should check out Eddie Jefferson. Manhattan Transfer dedicated their early albums to him and it's interesting to see how he takes classic instrumental versions of jazz tunes and vocalizes them...tells you something about the original (instrumental) line and the human voice...with him, maybe jazz has come full circle---instrumentalists emulating the human voice, and now the circle is completed.
Also Ursula Dudziak---Polish female singer with amazing range (4.5 octaves, maybe more ?!) who played in 70's with her husband Michael Urbaniak and Adam Mackovicz....very pure voice.
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Originally Posted by jdazey
Michael Bublé sits a lot better with me because Bublé does not pretend to be jazz. Krall does and that offends me with her "jazz" affectations. Tits over Talent. Average singer. Average pianist. Blonde and not too shabby-looking. Marketing execs' dream.
Caveat: The sound and fury represents my own rancour and does not impinge on nor impugn your right to feel otherwise about Krall. Krall gets my craw.Last edited by Jabberwocky; 12-10-2014 at 01:46 AM. Reason: My gramma's missing.
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'Jazz singer' is an oxymoron.
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Originally Posted by fep
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Johnny Hartman has been mentioned but i will second that and recommend a particular CD - John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman. I read an article years ago that called it the greatest jazz album of all time. anyway, it's a must.
http://www.amazon.com/John-Coltrane-.../dp/B0018RWD6S
i also liked big Joe Williams from the Basie band. He was always great when he came on the Carson show. Now and then I'll hear him in a restaurant or other commercial location and think how great he sounds compared to so many of the contemporary "jazz singers".
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i saw Cecile Mclorin Salvant this fall. pretty darned good.
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Hi,
Al jarreau, Youn Sun Nah, Kurt Elling, Dee Dee Bridgewater, David Linx, Stacey Kent, Bobby McFerrin...
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Lambert, hendricks and ross, wonderful trio with awesome musicians in their recordings.
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Has Betty Carter been mentioned?
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Originally Posted by Jabberwocky
I think to sing the song simply as Sinatra and Ella while swinging is much, much harder than it sounds, which is of course why pop singers fall down when they try it.
At the moment, Billie Holiday is completely rocking my world. I know it's obvious, but the precision of her timing and phrasing and the way it links to the words is just unique.Last edited by christianm77; 12-24-2014 at 01:35 PM.
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I prefer Frank Sinatra. His phrasing is impeccable. Don't forget Sarah Vaughan as well as
Ella Fitzgerald....scat singing....also Anita O'day.
Earl
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Originally Posted by TruthHertz
Last edited by OldGuitarPlayer; 02-02-2015 at 11:47 AM.
Another Recording of my TK Smith Special
Yesterday, 05:45 PM in Guitar, Amps & Gizmos