The Jazz Vocals Thread

[Allen H]

I didn't find any thread on this subject that's been started on the new board, so here we go - I'm going to kick it off with the following list of new and upcoming jazz vocal releases - the list is of course by no means complete:


NEW MATERIAL

DEBORAH BROWN – INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT (33 Jazz) – out now.....1994 recording, just released. Vocal versions of compositions by Silver, Metheny, Griffin and other, backed by a crew of international musicians.

DEBORAH BROWN - SONGBIRD (Jazz 'n' Pulze) - April 8

CHRIS CONNOR - DOUBLE EXPOSURE (Collector’s Choice) – April 8.....With Maynard Ferguson. I think this is new rather than a reissue, but I’m not sure.

KURT ELLING - MAN IN THE AIR (Blue Note) – July 22......With guests Stefon Harris and Charlie Hunter. Includes songs by Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, Joe Zawinul and others.

NANCY HARROW – WINTER DREAMS: THE LIVES & PASSIONS OF F. SCOTT FITZGERALD (Artists House) – out now.......Original song cycle based on Fitzgerald’s life. Nancy was kind enough to let me preview the cycle about a year ago, and I’m a big fan of these literary song cycles she’s doing (following on her Willa Cather and Nathaniel Hawthorne-inspired cycles).

NANCY HARROW – LIVE AT JUDY’S (Baldwin Street Music) – later this year.......Live dates from 1995-96 with Roland Hanna & Paul West.

LISA HINDMARSH - LOST IN A SUMMER NIGHT (First Light) – out now......The second album by a really first-rate and highly recommended Pittsburgh-area singer.

DIANE HUBKA - YOU INSPIRE ME (VSOJaz Records) – out now....... Accompanied by 7 guest guitarists, including Gene Bertoncini, Paul Bollenback, Romero Lubambo, John Hart, Bucky Pizzzrelli, Frank Vignola and Jack Wilkins

SHEILA JORDAN - LITTLE SONG (High Note) – out now.......... Including an “Autumn in New York” backed by Tom Harrell with the verse.

RENE MARIE - LIVE AT JAZZ STANDARD (MaxJazz) – April 22

TINA MAY – I’LL TAKE ROMANCE (Linn) – out now.......Featuring Scott Hamilton. Also on the way: a new album featuring Ray Bryant, with Bryant’s compositions and May’s lyrics.

DIANNE REEVES - A LITTLE MOONLIGHT (Blue Note) – Aug. 19

JANIS SIEGEL - FRIDAY NIGHT SPECIAL (Telarc) – April 22

JUDI SILVANO - RIDING A ZEPHYR - with Mal Waldron (Soul Note) – out now........ This one got past me - recorded in 2000; mostly Waldron compositions.

DENZAL SINCLAIRE – new album, details unknown – from Verve Canada in May.........The extremely talented Canadian vocalist Sinclaire was formerly known as Densil Pinnock.

NORMA WINSTONE - SONGS & LULLABIES – with Fred Hersch, who is actually the leader (Sunnyside) - out now.........Speaking of literary projects - as I understand it, this is Fred Hersch compositions based on the poetry of Walt Whitman. Don’t know if they are straight settings or Winstone adaptations. They are currently touring the U.S. (or the New York / Washington / Boston portion of it, anyway) in support of the album..... Her website indicates she has the following other projects on the burner, of which I particularly look forward to 1, 2 and 5: 1) Concerts this summer with Richard Rodney Bennett in which she plans to do movie songs. Back to the standards. I have to admit that I like her way with standards even better than I like her originals (which are no slouches either). 2) Recent recording with Italian pianist Glauco Venier and German saxophonist Klaus Gesing of new originals called "Poems and Miniatures". 3) Recording with Ralph Towner for ECM. 4) Recording with German NDR big band, arrangements by Mike Gibbs. 5) Tour later this year with group of younger English musicians in a project devoted to Wayne Shorter’s music.


REISSUES & COMPILATIONS

TONY BENNETT - TONY BENNETT / BILL EVANS ALBUM (Fantasy) – out now......... 20-bit remastering.

ROSEMARY CLOONEY - COMPLETE 1950-52 COLUMBIA MASTER TAKES (Jazz Factory) – April

BILLY ECKSTINE - ONCE MORE WITH FEELING (Blue Note / Roulette) – June 24

DUKE ELLINGTON - NEVER NO LAMENT; THE BLANTON-WEBSTER BAND (RCA) - out now.......... The remastered version of this jazz cornerstone is out at last, apparently! With vocalists Ivie Anderson & Herb Jeffries on many of the cuts.

ELLA FITZGERALD - 1951-52 DECCA RECORDINGS (Jazz Factory) – April

BEVERLEY KENNEY - COME SWING WITH ME (Toshiba / Japan) – March 31

IRENE KRAL - THE BAND AND I (with Herb Pomeroy) - limited edition import – out now........ Costs $40 or so, but it doesn’t look like we’re ever going to get a domestic CD release. This release can be had more cheaply secondhand, hint hint, but grab it while you can.

IRENE KRAL - Where Is Love (Candid/Choice) – April 22....... A rare domestic release of this masterpiece. Again, grab it while you can.

ANITA O’DAY - TOKYO 1974 (Emily) – April

ANITA O’DAY - COMPLETE 1952 VERVE SESSIONS (Jazz Factory) – April

JIMMY RUSHING - FIVE FEET OF SOUL (Blue Note / Colpix) – June 24

NINA SIMONE - FOUR WOMEN; THE NINA SIMONE PHILLIPS RECORDINGS (Verve) – May 20

JERI SOUTHERN - MEETS JOHNNY SMITH (Toshiba / Japan) – March 31

JO STAFFORD - COLUMBIA SINGLES COLLECTION VOL. 1 – April 29

SARAH VAUGHAN - SASSY SWINGS THE TIVOLI (Verve Masters Edition) – July 15

DINAH WASHINGTON - DINAH ’62 (BLUE NOTE / ROULETTE) – JUNE 24

DINAH WASHINGTON - AFTER HOURS WITH MISS D (Verve Masters Edition) – July 15

LEE WILEY - COMPLETISTS’ ULTIMATE COLLECTION VOLUME 3 (Devil’s Music) – April 25..........Has 1936-1940 material including her seminal Gershwin and Rodgers & Hart “songbooks,” and producer Ted Ono promises much better sound quality than on previous releases. Volume 4, also upcoming, will include the Cole Porter songbook but a release date has not been announced yet.

CASSANDRA WILSON - JUMPWORLD (Winter & Winter) – April 8

[Pete C]

Originally posted by Allen H
I didn't find any thread on this subject that's been started on the new board, so here we go

We were waiting for you, Allen.

[gnhrtg]

John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman
Jewlia Eisenberg - Trilectic
Dee Dee Bridgewater - Love and Peace and Live at Yoshi's
Bobby McFerrin & Chick Corea - Play
Max Nagl - The Evil Garden (there are about 4 tracks with vocals)

These are some vocal albums that I enjoy. I'm not a fan of jazz vocals in general because of the lyrics. I do have various songbooks by Ella since they were useful in learning the heads of standards (and doesn't hurt that she has a very appealing voice).
This thread might be handy for exchanging general views on both vocal jazz in general and specific albums. Like, given that I like the albums above but am not very fond of the jazz vocal tradition?

[Allen H]

Fair enough, and here are a couple of quick responses. One, Hartman-Coltrane is kind of an odd one to hold dear if you don’t much like the jazz vocal tradition, it seems to me, but maybe that’s just a one-off. The larger point concerns your phrase “the jazz vocal tradition.” There isn’t one tradition – there are a bunch of them (in fact, your list illustrates that). You say you don’t like the lyrics, but jazz lyrics encompass everything from Tin Pan Alley standards and blues standards to contemporary lyrics coming out of rock or world music, literary settings, scat, and original lyrics fit to classic jazz compositions. That’s a pretty large world of lyrics to dismiss.

I should also say that I could have made much the same statement as yours about 15 years ago. Our tastes change. Even back then, there were a few vocal albums similar to Hartman-Coltrane that I did love, and eventually it didn’t make much sense to keep trying to draw an artificial line between them and other vocal albums which I regarded with such suspicion.

I don’t know of the Eisenberg and Nagl albums, but would like to hear more about them.

[Nate Dorward]

CHRIS CONNOR - DOUBLE EXPOSURE (Collector’s Choice) – April 8.....With Maynard Ferguson. I think this is new rather than a reissue, but I’m not sure.

New? You mean previously unreleased older material, or a recent date? (The latter's possible, I suppose, given that Connor's still been recording the occasional album. But I'd probably be more interested if it were older material, given how her voice has changed as she's gotten older.)

[Allen H]

On further review, it looks like the Chris Connor album is an early 1960s Atlantic date.

[gnhrtg]

I don't like much of the jazz tradition but I do like Coltrane & Hartman, there might be other classic albums that I'm overlooking but I cannot imagine myself collecting jazz vocals as I collect quartets, trios etc. That, obviously, has to do with what I aesthetically value.

The point on the lyrics is well taken. Notwithstanding, from what little I've heard (but that includes tunes from almost all of the great songbook tradition, Barber, Elling, Mitchell) I feel that what impresses me with a vocal tune is much more the melody, feel etc. than the lyrics. Most of the tunes I really like, I cannot recall the lyrics but can hum the melody and "hear" the chord changes. That's not to say lyrics in jazz tunes are bland, that is just to say that I haven't heard enough - and there are some lyrics that do fit in really well with the mood of the songs (e.g., I'm in the Mood for Love)

Eisenberg album is an (mostly) a capella album. The lyrics are based on real (from diaries) and imagined instances with Walter Benjamin and his beloved as the main actors. The album also includes four traditional tunes. I do like the singing and the album is kind of uplifting and mostly fun. It does not swing in the traditional sense and neither, do I think, in the modern sense. I would not give it to someone who wants a jazz vocal album but I've made almost a random choice that has really paid off for me.
Teh Nagl album has Julie Tippett singing and that was the only reason I picked that up, and honestly, I mostly skip the instrumental tracks on that one. The lyrics on that are quite pessimistic but the singing (also with Lol Coxhill) is really good; or I guess those lyrics sang this way are really good. Once again, it is not swing, but it's rather singing over drones to keep the ambiance in place. I know this paragraph doesn't convey much, let me see if I can do later next time in describing music with words.

That does mean, although, that you know 3 out of the 5 albums on that list. I also understand that you do like, and are knowledgeable about, vocal jazz. I have also liked what I've heard from Kurt Elling's "Live in Chicago" (but not his more recent all ballads album) and mildly enjoyed Patricia Barber's "Nightclub."

So, what shall I get on my next visit to Paris? A couple would be appreciated so that I can see which ones they have. Thank you.

P.S. I've also liked some spoken word that I've heard over the years (I don't know if that's what it's called, it's mostly vocals over drones or the like. Some of the vocal tracks in Caine's Goldberg Variations would serve as examplars of what I have in mind).

[Allen H]

A Walter Benjamin song cycle??!! Now I’ve heard everything. I need this so I can have something to listen to as I delve into my copy of the Arcades Project. I bet there are some snappy tune titles like "The Work of Art in an Age of Mechanical Reproduction." I’ve heard of some weird song settings before, but this goes to the top of the list. Permanently. I have GOT to get it.

Julie Tippett is somewhat familiar to me, so I kinda know what you mean on that one. You might like Norma Winstone.

You say “…what impresses me with a vocal tune is much more the melody, feel etc. than the lyrics. Most of the tunes I really like, I cannot recall the lyrics but can hum the melody and "hear" the chord changes.” Surprisingly, perhaps, I completely agree. I respond to the music a lot more viscerally than to lyrics, as a rule. But for some reason, I’m nevertheless more interested in vocal jazz.

As far as making recommendations, I think I’ll let others do that for now. Maybe I’ll chime in with more later, but I will say that I’m a big Patricia Barber fan, especially the “Modern Cool” album, and a big Norma Winstone fan as well.

[cookie]

I'm mostly just trying to bring this thread back to the top.

I *think* that DOUBLE EXOPOSURE is a new release of an older album. It's excellent: great arranging---by Sebesky and Willie Maiden I think.

I'll be looking for it on disc, so thanks Allen H.

I recommended it on the old JCS, but if you like vocal groups and you like Brazilian music, check out Paquito D'Rivera's BRAZILIAN DREAMS. I think this may be my favorite work by New York Voices yet. Superb arranging, singing, and playing. I found it under Paquito's name at Borders.

[FredC]

Welcome back Allen, the search expedition was almost ready to search the ruins of Kansas City!

For the poster who likes only a selected few vocals,
No Sarah Vaughan, or Billie Holliday?

Then try something newer, try Tierney Sutton's "Blue Is Green" and let us know what you think.

[Lois Gilbert]

Cd Group Review Giveaway
Nancy Harrow and Artists House would like to give you a copy of Nancy's CD WINTER DREAMS The Life and Passions of F. Scott Fitzgerald

We have 10 copies for you. We ask that you only enter if you like vocalists (this is a totally different kind of cd) and that you agree to review it here and post your review by June 1st (date may change depending on when you get it) Just email me at lois@jazzcorner.com with you name, address, screen name, etc. Put in subject area: Nancy Harrow CD

Here's some more info:




Featuring Grady Tate & Nancy Harrow

Nancy Harrow - Voice
Grady Tate - Voice
Roland Hanna - Piano
Jack Wilkins - Guitar
Bill Easley - Saxophones, Flute, Clarinet
Frank Wess - Tenor Saxophone, Flute
Michael Mossman - Trumpet
John Mosca - Trombone
Rufus Reid - Bass
Akira Tana - Drums, Perc.

[BFrank]

Interesting list.

The Kurt Elling looks promising. I've been disappointed with his output over the past few albums. He seemed like he was headed in an interesting direction after his first couple, but somehow got sidetracked. I might give this one a try.

I always thought that the Tony Bennett/Bill Evans album was intersting. Even though Tony is not in the best voice here, I think the session is entertaining.

Nice to see Irene Kral's work getting out there.

ANITA O’DAY - COMPLETE 1952 VERVE SESSIONS (Jazz Factory) - This stuff must be in the Mosaic box, right?

SARAH VAUGHAN - SASSY SWINGS THE TIVOLI (Verve Masters Edition) - I've almost bought this a million times. I imagine that this will be the difinitive version (at least for a while). Maybe time to break down and get it.

CASSANDRA WILSON - JUMPWORLD - An album of Cassandra's that I've enjoyed since it came out. Will there be any tracks not on the original?

[hornplayer]

"Barber, Elling, Mitchell" ... gnhr, I'm curious. Who is Mitchell? certainly not Joni. She's not a Jazz singer -- at least not in my book.

If Barber and Elling are your main frame of reference, you are missing a whole century of Jazz Vocals. Or do you just not care for singers, whatever the genre?

imho, Sarah Vaughan and Joe Williams had two of the finest voices (instruments) of any genre, tho their vehicle was Jazz. In another time either might have sung opera, but those avenues were closed to them. If you enjoy "any" singers, you might give them a try.

Allan said a mouthful when he said Tastes change. Even tho I've always enjoyed singers, it took me years to "get" Billlie Holiday. Now I wonder where my ears were!

[Allen H]

I haven't come up with anything on the Cassandra Wilson and Anita O'Day reissues. Proper Music's website doesn't have anything up about the Anita O'Day yet, but the Mosaic box begins with 1952 and is supposed to be the complete Verve sessions, so I'd assume the Proper box won't add anything to the Mosaic. The Cassandra Wilson reissue is coming out on Winter & Winter, and I can't find a website for them - has anybody run across one?

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

I really dug an album from 2000 titled "Capable Egg" by the Lullaby Baxter Trio (w/Oranj Symphonette instrumentalists) -- wickedly clever songs and a great smoky alto from Canada. Anyone know what's become of them? Or her?

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Originally posted by Allen H
A Walter Benjamin song cycle??!! Now I’ve heard everything. I need this so I can have something to listen to as I delve into my copy of the Arcades Project. I bet there are some snappy tune titles like "The Work of Art in an Age of Mechanical Reproduction." I’ve heard of some weird song settings before, but this goes to the top of the list. Permanently. I have GOT to get it.

Allen: In conjunction with the above, you have to read William Gaddis' last novel, "Agape Agape" (accent on the first e), a hospitalized man's ruminations on the player piano, technology, art, entertainment, entropy and all that -- under a hundred pages, uniformly brilliant, but dense to the limit of possibility! (This was the book Jack was working on in "JR".) Walter Benjamin is one of the characters the unnamed hero "speaks" to throughout the book.

[Lois Gilbert]

Hi folks

The following should expect a little present in their mailboxes shortly:

1. Helge, Norway
2. Mwanji, Belgium
3. Jazzoo, Escondido, CA
4. Troy D, Durham, NC
5. Gary Delligatti. Fairmont, WV
6. Ron Thorne, Anchorage, Alaska
7. Valerie Bishop, Westwood, MA
8. Randy Hersom, Morganton, NC
9. Hornplayer, Jersey City, NJ
10. B Frank, San Francisco, CA
11. Squaredancecalling Steve, Healdsburg, CA

Since all will be sent by tomorrow, do you think you could have your reviews by June 1. Is that a reasonable time?

Thank you all for your support.... sorry we didn't have more, but Artists House was kind enough to make it 11 rather than 10...

Best Lois

[BFrank]

Sure, Lois

Where should we post them?

[Lois Gilbert]

It should be in the record reviews section and you'll have plenty of time. Do let me know when you guys and gals get the cd so you have enough time....

Peace Lois

[Sand]

I don't have any details, but a new Karin Krog and Steve Kuhn CD certainly looks interesting:

Karin Krog: Where You At?
Med: Steve Kuhn piano, David Finck bass, Bill Drummond trommer.

[Martin]

The new Krog CD (release date: May 2003) was produced by John Surman for Enja (Horst Weber's, not Matthias Winckelmann's label). It is said to include three compositions by Steve Kuhn, three by Krog/Surman, one by John Surman alone, two by Krog/Frishberg and two standards.

[Sand]

Karin's new CD with Steve Kuhn was reviewed in Oslo paper "Dagbladet" today, and the reviewer claimed that it was excellent and that Karin is getting better all the time.

And I found that she finally has a website

[Valerie]

Just read that Luciana Sousa's new CD is out!

[Dr Dave]

Sheila Jordan with Tom Harrell I gotta hear.

Dena Derose has several fine albums out. She's the thinking person's Diana Krall.

In no particular order: Blossom Dearie, Andy Bey, Jimmy Scott (fa chrissakes!), Kevin Mahogany, Shirley Horn, Rebecca Paris...I saw Angela Bofill on BET the other night and she was not good...

[makpjazz57]

I've become a fan of Deborah Brown, thanks to Nich Anderson, who posts here from time to time. Not only does Deborah swing like mad, but she has the "chops" of a musician. I also love her choice of musicians - her albums have featured Johnny Griffin, Red MItchell, Horace Parlan and Ed Thigpen, to name a few. Highly recommended.

One of the hippest jazz pianists/vocalists around today is Patti Wicks. Look for her new MaxJazz release, tentatively scheduled for late July of this year. Patti Wicks is one of the most creative musicians out there today...

Nancy King's Dreamlands, Vol 1 & 2 - aso highly recommended.

And, I am hereby typing a shameless plug for my Mom, Rebecca Parris. Two of my favorites are her CD with the Kenny Hadley Big Band and her most recent recording - My Foolish Heart. Lastly, I'll be in NYC with her next week - she'll be performing at Chez Suzette in NYC next Thursday, May 22...www.chezsuzettenyc.com. With her will be pianist George Mesterhazy, who is currently touring with Shirley Horn.

I'm a huge fan of Sarah and Carmen, as well. One of my favorite Sarah recordings is Sarah + Two and if I had to pick one Carmen (well, actually, I have to pick 2), it would be Carmen Sings Monk and Any Old Time.

A question for posters - are you pretty open to hearing new vocalists or do you stick with your favorites - tried and true?

Marla

[Valerie]

Originally posted by makpjazz57
And, I am hereby typing a shameless plug for my Mom, Rebecca Parris. Two of my favorites are her CD with the Kenny Hadley Big Band and her most recent recording - My Foolish Heart. Lastly, I'll be in NYC with her next week - she'll be performing at Chez Suzette in NYC next Thursday, May 22...www.chezsuzettenyc.com. With her will be pianist George Mesterhazy, who is currently touring with Shirley Horn.
Marla

Well, this is not a shameless plug as she ain't my Mom, but Rebecca is appearing at the Regatta this Friday and I'm so excited to see/hear her again.

Hey, Dr. Dave, will we see you there?!?

I'm also real excited these days about Lizz Wright. Must get her debut CD called "Salt" which I've been hearing on radio and loving! I think I may have already mentioned this here but she's sure worth mentioning again anyway!

[Pete C]

Marla, I didn't realize Rebecca Parris was your mom. She's great! I only discovered her recently because EMusic has "My Foolish Heart." She can send chills up one's spine (and some thrills I can't define). Too bad the Suzette gig is on a night I'm otherwise engaged.

[Ron Thorne]

Hey, Marla, glad to see you posting here again. Hear anything recently from our vagabond friend, Danny Gottlieb? :-)

[Ron Thorne]

Re: Nancy Harrow's Winter Dreams - The Life and Passions of F. Scott Fitzgerald

Originally posted by Lois Gilbert
It should be in the record reviews section and you'll have plenty of time. Do let me know when you guys and gals get the cd so you have enough time....

Peace Lois

I received my copy today, Lois. I should be able to make the June 1st deadline, though I'm as busy as a one-armed paperhanger right now!

[makpjazz57]

And I'm excited to see Valerie Friday evening!!!

Ron, how are you? Danny is doing fine and still living between Orlando and NY (with his wife, Beth). I occasionally receive an email from the road - sometimes he travels with the Blues Brothers, still also doing gigs with his friend, Mark Egan. I'll see if I can get add'l updates.

I also forgot to mention how much I looooove Shirley Horn. Here's To Life is just one of the finest recordings ever made. I also love her "Live at Vine Street" recording - gives the listener a real feel for a live Shirley Horn gig.

Marla