Re: Jazz style --

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 00:21:29 12/08/02 Sun
Author: jackie
Subject:

Re: Jazz style
In reply to: June 's message, "Jazz style" on 20:47:53 12/06/02 Fri

Louis Armstrong did show his talent all the way in his rhythmic root performance, both as vocalist and trumpeter. In fact people quote Pop to be the first scat singer.
Vocal performance is quite different from that of instruments. It's generally more a separated portion rather than accompanied part in evolution of jazz, at least to me(many will scream at me...).From the bluish style early on...Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith...to superstar as Armstrong who shine on the bright road of rhythm variation. Followed by Billy Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan(the "big 3" to many), Ruth Brown, Carman McRae, Abbey Lincoln, Nina Simone...or some big name like Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, Bing Crosby...

You may probably spot something. Yes. You do. So much so that so people even believe jazz singer itself is a misnomer! I personally disagree the claim mostly. I think the turning point lied in around 60's during which the whole world(almost ?) was driven to mad by Elvis Presley, Beatles...the Rock n' Roll wind.

I think it is almost impossible to claim someone to be a jazz singer or not (if it is at all a necessity) simply by just identifing the way, the style of interpretation of a music sheet at all. I would rather say it in a broader sense: jazz style. What I mean is a more personal involvement in singing, like the gentle yet sexy vocal of Frank Sinatra, or relax but penetrating sound of Lady Day. That's individualized style. So unique that the classification using style is almost no meaning. Rather in common, however, is the great sense in rhythm (variation, lay back etc.), frequent use of blue notes, scat (for some). For a more practical sense, the jazz accompanishment is a key point.

The 60's in the jazz history is mentioned as hard bop or post bop period. But for vocalist, 60's means variation, in terms of performers, musical style(popular, Rock, R&B...not blues/ jazz only), accompanishment(eg. big band).

If you force me to define the 60's style, the word "oldies" probably help me a bit. I would recommend the radio program by Uncle Ray, in every weekday night(see the reference page of my website), to everyone who like the taste of vocal music in the past. Enjoyable!

Well, just forget one of my favorite. Peggy Lee. So nice the sound and atmosphere generated. Of course the single " Fever" is an unforgetable piece. I find no other interpretation of the piece so nicely performed as by her.With critics by some as tendency to be a pop song singer, Nat King Cole's voice is wonderful to me.

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

[> [>

Re: Jazz style -- June, 02:44:34 12/08/02 Sun

Thank you very much for your reply. It's very useful.
Yes, I totally agree with you. There was many new things like rock & roll, R&B, big band...What I mean is that the singing style and voice/ tone in 1960's vocal jazz. For example, in late 1950's, Frank Sinatra sang "I've got you under my skin" with swinging style and romantic tone in order to imbue lyrics with deep emotion. However, I not really know the mainstream of vocal jazz in 1960's. Can I quote Armstrong, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme and Joe Williams be the most famous vocalist? Can you suggest some disc that can include all of them (have voice, not instrumental one). Thanks again.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> Re: Jazz style -- jackie, 21:56:48 12/09/02 Mon

May be I should quote this one...though it is not totally correct if you think 60's as a whole:

The Girl From Ipanema/ Astrud Gilberto, Joao Gilberto, Stan Getz/ Antonio Cartos Jobim; style: Bossa Nova (Brazil)

Surely, Bossa Nova diffused to jazz scene earlier than 1964. Yet it was well known that Getz/ Gilberto was assumed to be the starter of the wave.

And the upstroke still continues to take effect today.

Armstrong, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme and Joe Williams ? Well, I'm not sure if there's one stage performance with them all. But I think Pop is not an good example to reflect the 60's. Frank Sinatra is one of my favorite. In fact you can combine my suggestions....Sinatra sings Girl from Ipanema.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]