Jazz Vocal Duets

[stevebop]

Do you have a favorite vocal duet? I've been listening to:

Ray Charles/Betty Carter
Bily Eckstine/SarahVaughan
Louis Armstrong/Ella Fitzgerald
Recently found some Hot Lips Page w. Pearl Bailey

Any others out there that I'm missing?

Always Know,

Steve Schwartz

Jazz From Studio 4
NOW ON: Friday, 7p-12a
WGBH, 89.7FM, Boston
www.wgbh.org

[Valerie]

Can't say they were my favorites, but I did enjoy Jackie and Roy.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Carmen McRae and Betty Carter (killer version of It Don't Mean A Thing)

Louis Armstrong and Jack Teagarden (several wonderful duets on Town Hall Concert 1947, including Rockin' Chair, Ain't Misbehavin')

[SinginSumo]

In a rock vein, I loved the vocal blend of the Righteous Brothers.

[Stormcrow]

Ella and Pops.

[Boris Badenov]

Sarah Vaughan and Joe Williams, "If I Were a Bell" and "Teach Me Tonight," from:

[BFrank]

Andy Bey and Dee Dee Bridgewater on Stan Clarke's first album - "Children of Forever".

[Valerie]

I heard a live evening concert a few years back with Joe Williams and Dianne Reeves doing some tunes together and it both took my breath away and made me misty-eyed. Unfortunately, don't think they ever recorded together.

[SinginSumo]

Billy Eckstine and Sarah Vaughan

Ray Charles and Cleo Laine

Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald

Frank Sinatra and Antonio Carlos Jobim

Nat King Cole and everyone with whom he ever performed (in real-time, of course)

***************************************************

Numero uno must be Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald

[Dr Dave]

I heard Andy Bey and Carol Sloane together at Scullers some years back. I wish I could say magic occurred, but it didn't...

There are two duets on the King Pleasure Sings/Annie Ross Sings CD. The first is KP with Betty Carter on "Red Top," the second is KP with Jon Hendricks on "Don't Get Scared."

Blossom Dearie duets with Dave Lambert (uncredited, but I think it's him) on "A Doodlin' Song" from her Once Upon A Summertime recording. It's not a big part, but it counts as a duet, I think.

That's all I can come up with off the top...

You've already listed the sources of two of my all-time favorite duet performances: Ella and Louis singing "Dancing Cheek To Cheek" and Ray and Betty doing "Baby It's Cold Outside."

[Peterdubya]

Diane Reeves and Joe Williams recorded together on a Dianne Reeves release called "The Grand Encounter."

Another great duo is Carmen McRae and Sammy Davis, Jr. "Boy meets Girl"

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Louis Jordan with Ella (Stone Cold Dead In The Market) and with Pops (Life Is So Peculiar)

Dinah Washington and Brook Benton

Originally posted by SinginSumo
In a rock vein, I loved the vocal blend of the Righteous Brothers.

So do I, but not as much as The Everly Brothers.

And even better were the group the Everlys emulated, the GREAT Louvin Brothers.

[stevebop]

Thanks all and keep 'em coming. This might turn into a radio show.
I also remembered some duets with Shirley Horn and Joe Williams and Bob Dorough and Dave Frishberg. Did someone mention Louis and Billie?


Always Know,

Steve Schwartz

Jazz From Studio 4
NOW on Friday, 7p-12a
WGBH, 89.7FM, Boston
www.wgbh.org

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Counting LH&R as a unit, there their great recording with Joe Williams (and the Basie band) of Going to Chicago.

[jacman]

Pops/Ella
Billy Ekstine/Ella

non-jazz:
Marvin Gaye/Tammy Terrell

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Dave Lambert and Buddy Stewart (with Red Rodney's Be Boppers, including Al Haig, & Neal Hefti arrangments)

[Dr Dave]

Dinah Washington and Brook Benton? Really? Yikes.


There is a CD of duets by--are you ready? Chuck Brown (of go-go fame) and the late Eva Cassidy. Click here to learn more.

[Valerie]

Originally posted by stevebop
Thanks all and keep 'em coming. This might turn into a radio show.
I also remembered some duets with Shirley Horn and Joe Williams and Bob Dorough and Dave Frishberg. Did someone mention Louis and Billie?


Always Know,

Steve Schwartz

Jazz From Studio 4
NOW on Friday, 7p-12a
WGBH, 89.7FM, Boston
www.wgbh.org

Steve: I almost forgot Carol Sloane and Clark Terry!!!

[Canuck Don]

Jackie and Roy
Steve and Eddie
Mel Torme with Cleo Laine
Carmen McCrae with Betty Carter
Ella with Carmen
Ella with Sarah

[Stormcrow]

When did Ella record with Frank, Carmen, Sarah, or Billy Eckstine? I can't find any recordings of those.

[Allen H]

Rosie Clooney and Jack Sheldon, on “People Will Say We’re in Love” from Clooney’s Rodgers & Hammerstein album.

The duo that I hear about these days, but have not heard personally, is Claire Martin and Ian Shaw, two British singers. They’re each superb individually, especially Martin, and I have no doubt they’d be a superb, dynamic, and possibly even fun act. I don’t think they have any recordings together, to speak of. But I’m pretty sure some of their performances have been broadcast, so maybe there’s something on the internet.

Not exactly jazz, but Eva Cassidy and Chuck Brown on their album The Other Side are a very surprising and very successful duo.

Also not exactly jazz, but close, are Mary Cleere Haran and Richard Rodney Bennett, on Haran’s Gershwin album and her album of ‘20s NY songs. This is more cabaret than jazz, but the sort of non-purist cabaret that should appeal to most jazz fans. (Especially since both of these performers are really, really good.)

How ‘bout Jonathan and Darlene Edwards?

[Canuck Don]

Originally posted by Theophilus
When did Ella record with Frank, Carmen, Sarah, or Billy Eckstine? I can't find any recordings of those.

I don't think there are any with Sarah and Carmen.Unless on some obscure old record label.

I saw Ella with Carmen and another time with Sarah in concert to-gether in the begining 70's .They were duets with each and I really enjoyed it and I put it down here .Going to check on the computer and see if there is anything recorded to-gether ever.

[Stormcrow]

Originally posted by Canuck Don
I don't think there are any with Sarah and Carmen.Unless on some obscure old record label.

I saw Ella with Carmen and another time with Sarah in concert to-gether in the begining 70's .They were duets with each and I really enjoyed it and I put it down here .Going to check on the computer and see if there is anything recorded to-gether ever.

I already scoured every site I could think of.

[Fred K]

I like the 3 songs that Sheila Jordan does with Theo Bleckmann on Jazz Child.. I don't have the Sheila Jordan/Mark Murphy CD One for Junior, but the AMG review was very positive.

[Pete C]

Originally posted by Dr Dave
Dinah Washington and Brook Benton? Really? Yikes.

"Baby, You've Got What It Takes" and "Rockin' Good Way" are damn good recordings.

Some excellent choices so far. I'll add the Bob Dorough/Barbara Lea duets on "Hoagy's Children."

It seems like all the great Brazilian artists have dueted in every possible combination.

[Pete C]

Theophilus--the Ella & Frank recordings are airchecks from several TV appearances in the 60's.

[Pete C]

On DVD:



Description
Frank Sinatra "Classic Duets" features an incredible roster of many of the greatest and most influential jazz and pop singers of all time. Compiled from Sinatra TV specials that originally aired between 1957-1960, this highly collectable program includes complete musical performances and special interviews and commentary from the Sinatra family, Tina, Nancy and Frank Sinatra Jr. Highlights include Frank Sinatra performing with Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Louis Armstrong, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Lena Horne, Nancy Sinatra, Elvis Presley and more.

[moneyp]

Louie and Keely!

[Pete C]

"Let Me Off Uptown," Anita O'Day & Roy Eldridge with Gene Krupa.

[Stormcrow]

Pete, I will have to look into that!