Don’t forget another Jazz instrument, the human voice. The Jazz vocalists are important members of the Jazz family.
Start, of course, with Louis Armstrong. He set the standard for which all others are judged. Armstrong sang the Music with his heart & soul, infused with warmth & humor.
Bessie Smith, Jimmy Rushing were great Blues stylists. Billie Holiday did wonderful interpretations of pop songs. Nat Cole another great stylist. Grand Jazz divas, Ella & Sarah, I was fortunate to hear live & they were swinging & elegant. I did hear Carmen McRae live & she was great. I seldom hear her name mentioned.
Jon Hendricks, Eddie Jefferson & others developed interesting vocal approaches to the idiom. I loved to hear Mose Allison. He was an eccentric singer, homespun country Blues philosopher. Clark Terry had a unique “mumbling “ scat style. Jumping back to the Art Ensemble of Chicago, they did a track with Lester Bowie’s wife, R&B singer, Fontella Bass, Theme de Yo-Yo. Outstanding.
My favorite Jazz singer, is Chicago’s own Joe Williams. (Not Delta Blues singer, Big Joe Williams). He could sing Blues, ballads, swingers, & scat. He could ad lib talk thru songs. His breakthrough was with Count Basie. You can check out his interpretations of Blues & Standards on a 2fer collection Count Basie Swings/Joe Williams sings & Sings Standards. Check it out. Another Big Band recording Joe did, was a session with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orch. It is a master work. There is a set at a Newport Jazz fest with Coleman Hawkins & Clark Terry. Good stuff. All kinds of recordings of Joe are available. One of my favorite versions of Green Dolphin Street is Joe singing it with the Adderley brothers. I saw him many times in Chicago, usually a Trio. Though hearing Joe doing a reunion with Count Basie in New York at Lincoln center was a highlight.
Of course, Frankie is a singer of note. There are two live recordings (Paris & Australia) of him with a small 6 piece group (both contain vibes). They are swinging sets. Mr. Bennett is still going strong.
Cassandra Wilson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Kurt Elling are on the scene & worth checking out.
If there is a tune you want to learn, try & find a good vocal version.
Joe B
P.S. talking about Lou Donaldson, he’s 92 & I think is still playing, saw him again just a couple years ago.
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