Best Jazz Vocalist

Early B.
Early B. Posts: 7,900
edited February 2012 in Music & Movies
OK, who's the best jazz vocalist of all time -- Ella? Sarah? Diana? Frank? Norah?

C'mon -- who's your favorite?
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  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited May 2005
    it has to be Ella for me. She hooked me up to bebop and scating 25 years ago....
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
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  • Roy Munson
    Roy Munson Posts: 886
    edited May 2005
    The late Joe Williams!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He could sing Jazz and the Blues better than anybody!!

    Honorable mention goes to Charles Brown! Brown wrote "Driftin Blues" when he was just 13!
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited May 2005
    another vote for Ella

    and I'd say Ella/Luis is the best duet of all time in that genre
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited May 2005
    I like the "classical" jazz female vocalists like Ella and Sarah, too, but one of my favorites would have to be Dianne Reeves. A tough choice, but I looked at my CD collection and I have 5 or 6 of her CDs compared to one or two of the other ones. Male singer would have to be Kevin Mahogany, a relative unknown compared to the more popular artists today.
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    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • woodyjacobs
    woodyjacobs Posts: 706
    edited June 2005
    My two all-time favorites were Chet Baker and Billie Holliday. Two junkies, neither with particularly great voices, but they both had something in their unpolished deliveries that really makes you feel their pain.
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  • cubdog
    cubdog Posts: 835
    edited June 2005
    Ella. I saw her late in her career before all the health problem. Pure magic.

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  • Toxis
    Toxis Posts: 5,116
    edited June 2005
    Etta James was pretty damn impressive back in the day as well. But I'm in love with Diana Kroll's voice right now. So soothing yet sexy.
    Never kick a fresh **** on a hot day.

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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited June 2005
    That's Krall...and yes, I do love her voice as well. The Live in Paris DVD has an excellent DTS track...
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  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited June 2005
    I'm kinda leaning towards Norah right now, and I think her voice will only keep maturing. She's just a baby, with a silky, sexy tone.
    Etta is incredible, but I would classify her more blues.
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited June 2005
    Norah is doing well for herself, I'll say that, and she's an obvious choice right now. But I'm just not sold on her yet. I guess we'll see where she's at in five years...

    I think she has a great voice, but there's just something missing to me. She sounds awesome compared to the other choices we have in music today, but there's still something 'produced' about her sound...something you don't hear in the old school stuff.

    I don't know...maybe I'm just retarded...
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  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited June 2005
    Most people don't even classify Norah as jazz, but pop because she gets played on top 40 stations. I've been calling her style jazzy from the get go. I will agree that she's not been around a long time, but usually the sophomore effort tells alot about the future with recording artists and she's done very well. As for her sounding produced, I'll have to attribute that to modern recording techniques and technology. Just think what Billie, a young Ella, etc... would have sounded like if they would have had the same.
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
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  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited June 2005
    I definitely wouldn't put Norah in the jazz category, especially with her second album. There are so many others, that would go in front of Norah, before I consider her in the same league as the rest.
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,203
    edited June 2005
    For old-school I'd go with Ella. Today I'd have to say Norah only because she has a very unique voice. Krall is up there as well. Dammit I can't just pick one:rolleyes:

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited June 2005
    Jazz aint really my thing, but I like Sting's. Dream of the Blue Turtles. It is very jazzy (hell, his entire band is made up of jazz musicians). However that was the last of his jazz CD's tho. All the rest have been in a different direction.
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  • Toxis
    Toxis Posts: 5,116
    edited June 2005
    I'd have to say Sting is my favorite male vocalist right now.
    Never kick a fresh **** on a hot day.

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  • woodyjacobs
    woodyjacobs Posts: 706
    edited June 2005
    Hey MacLeod...have you ever heard Sting's live CD from the "Blue Turtles" tour..."Bring on the Night"? Great stuff, with that same band from the album (the late great Kenny Kirkland on keyboards, Daryl Jones on bass, Brandford Marsalis on sax and the AWESOME Omar Hakim drummin'). A great CD...one of my favorites for the past 18 or so years. There was also a film made chronicling them getting ready for the first gig on that tour (also called "Bring on The Night")...excellent video, if you can find it. Unfortunately it has never been released on DVD, which is a real shame.

    I do however, think Sting would not even put himself in contention as a jazz singer. In the liner notes on Bring on the Night he says he was embarrassed that the song "The Dream of the Blue Turtles" was nominated for a jazz grammy and was relieved when he didn't win.
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  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited June 2005
    Originally posted by woodyjacobs
    There was also a film made chronicling them getting ready for the first gig on that tour (also called "Bring on The Night")...excellent video, if you can find it. Unfortunately it has never been released on DVD, which is a real shame.

    Well, your wish just came thru this past March 29th, 2005. The DVD was released, and I have to say it was interesting to watch him grew up. It was indeed a great chronicle DVD of him from back then. I enjoyed mine, that's for sure, along with his several others.

    http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0007VCZ50/ref=pd_ecs_d_m_a/104-1873853-3913503?v=glance&s=dvd&n=
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
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  • Frank Z
    Frank Z Posts: 5,860
    edited June 2005
    Ella Fitzgerald & Sarah Vaughn (sp?) for old school. Norah Jones came out very solid on her first album but the second was nothing short of sad. A duet with Dolly Parton on a jazz album?!?

    Male jazz singers...can't come up with any stand-outs other than Louie Armstrong. He's in a class by himself, love him or hate him...you've got to respect the man for what he did for Jazz and american music in general.

    Agree with Sting's jazz-sounding Dream of the Blue Turtles and really get into Nothing Like the Sun, which is a completly different sound all together.

    I've mention the 10 DVD boxed Set of the Ken Burns PBS series titled "Jazz" before and I can't recommend it enough to anyone that wants a better understanding of this truly amazing form of music. My 12 year son is rewatching it because he just auditioned for (and was selected) for the Jazz Band at his school in the fall.
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  • Toxis
    Toxis Posts: 5,116
    edited June 2005
    I think of armstrong as more blues... don't remember him being much jazz.
    Never kick a fresh **** on a hot day.

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  • Frank Z
    Frank Z Posts: 5,860
    edited June 2005
    Get the box set...
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  • dragon1952
    dragon1952 Posts: 4,907
    edited June 2005
    For those that enjoy the aforementioned female jazz vocalists , I've got to mention (again) this latest Regina Belle CD Lazy Afternoon. She very well could blow these others away (IMHO). You can find it on Ebay at bargain prices if you don't want to pay full price. I'm tellin' ya, it's freakin' awesome and a wonderfully recorded CD. It will really show off a great system.
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited June 2005
    Yep. Regina is awesome. Always has been.

    Right now I'm really enjoying Niki Haris Live in Switzerland. She is utterly delighful. BTW, she's the daughter of the great blues pianist Gene Harris and a former backup singer for Madonna. But don't expect to find her CDs at retail stores. She's off the grid.
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    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited June 2005
    Sounds like a great recommendations, guys!

    I placed the order on Regina Belle and Niki Harris. Thanks for the heads up, Early! Gene Harris is just phenomenal, not until you mentioned about his daughter, I have no idea. Btw, "Listen Here" by Gene on 2ch SACD sounds absolutely outstanding.
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited January 2012
    Odd to see Billie Holiday go unmentioned...

    Female:
    1. Ruth Brown - My personal fav... There's a reason that Atlantic Records was originally known as "the house that Ruth built."
    2. Nina Simone - Known for more than just jazz, but has a strong jazz resume.

    Male:
    1. Nat "King" Cole - Maybe the best male voice ever recorded. Got his start in jazz. Hell of a jazz pianist to boot. Check out his early trio work...
    2. Mel Torme - AKA "The Velvet Fog". A Night Court favorite...
    More later,
    Tour...
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  • pietro944
    pietro944 Posts: 720
    edited January 2012
    Denise Donatelli...yum
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  • PSOVLSK
    PSOVLSK Posts: 5,216
    edited January 2012
    AsSiMiLaTeD wrote: »
    Norah is doing well for herself, I'll say that, and she's an obvious choice right now. But I'm just not sold on her yet. I guess we'll see where she's at in five years...

    I think she has a great voice, but there's just something missing to me. She sounds awesome compared to the other choices we have in music today, but there's still something 'produced' about her sound...something you don't hear in the old school stuff.

    I don't know...maybe I'm just retarded...

    It's been almost 7 years now, where does Norah rank for you?

    Interested to know because I don't have a clue. The only people that have been mentioned that ever really listen to are Diana Krall and Norah Jones.
    Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.-John Wooden
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  • drumminman
    drumminman Posts: 3,396
    edited January 2012
    Female has got to be Ella Fitzgerald IMHO. Never heard anyone who could reach so low, go so high with such pure tone and never a hint of strain in any part of her considerable range. Phrasing to die for, and man could she scat!

    Love listening to her sing anything by Cole Porter.

    Male, IDK.

    I like Norah Jones, but some refer to her as Snorah Jones :cheesygrin: She does sound like she's falling asleep at times.
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited February 2012
    drumminman wrote: »
    I like Norah Jones, but some refer to her as Snorah Jones :cheesygrin: She does sound like she's falling asleep at times.
    LOL... I know she puts me to sleep...
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • thesurfer
    thesurfer Posts: 574
    edited February 2012
    Old thread, ill say, Slim Whitman????
    Not an Audiophile, just a dude who loves music, and decent gear to hear it with.
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  • morantheman
    morantheman Posts: 12
    edited February 2012
    great thread. thanks
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