Top Ten Vocal Jazz Albums

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

One selection per artist sounds desirable.

Singing rather than spoken word, which certainly deserves a thread of its own.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°


1. Anita O'Day -- Cool Heat (Jimmy Giuffre arrangements, with Giuffre, Bud Shank, Art Pepper, Mel Lewis... Where to begin? "Easy Come, Easy Go" is the coolest arrangement of the coolest song in jazz, and perhaps my favorite of all jazz vocals. "Hershey Bar" is 100% scatted -- except for singing the title at the end -- and is my favorite scatted vocal. She does an incredible "Gone With The Wind" and cooly coy and charming versions of "Hooray For Hollywood" and "My Heart Belongs To Daddy." She does "It Had To Be You" first very slow, then medium tempo, and finally fast with all kinds of tempo variations thrown in. A masterpiece.)

2. Billie Holiday -- Billie's Love Songs (A choice made primarily for the superb quality of the remasterings from the original 78s. A stellar one-volume collection of her work from 1935-49.)

3. Carmen McRae -- Carmen Sings Monk (A hugely ambitious project successfully done!)

4. Louis Armstrong -- Complete Town Hall Concert May 1947 (2 CDS, and probably less than half of them vocal. Still, with Louis doing my favorite version of "Ain't Misbehavin'" and Jack Teagarden doing my favorite version of "St. James Infirmary," it's hard to leave this album -- the first I ever bought with my own money -- off this list.)

5. Lauren Newton/ Joelle Leandre/ Urs Leimgruber -- Out Of Sound (A brilliantly inventive and satisfying album at the cutting edge of vocal music, and the most successful use of the voice as a co-equal instrument with the other players.)

6. Nat 'King' Cole -- The Complete After Midnight Sessions (A tip of the hat to Pete Cherches who steered me to this one! From 9/56, Nat's trio is augmented by a drummer and rotating featured stars: the great Stuff Smith on fiddle, Juan Tizol on trombone, who really impresses me on this date!, Harry 'Sweets' Edison on trumpet, and Willie Smith on alto. Cole shows what a superb jazz vocalist he was on these sessions! There are many fine moments including a beautiful 'Caravan' with the tune's author and a captivating version of the rarely done "When I Grow Too Old To Dream" with Stuff.)

7. Ran Blake/ Jeanne Lee -- The Newest Sound Around

8. Ella Fitzgerald -- Clap Hands Here Comes Charlie

9. Lambert Hendricks & Ross -- Twisted, the Best of ... (I've tried to stick with original albums rather than compilations, but this one is so good -- despite the egregious omission of "Along Came Betty" -- that this one is the choice.

10. Sarah Vaughan (with Clifford Brown)


Narrowly missing the cut are Dinah Washington's 'Dinah Jams,' June Christy's 'Something Cool,' and Lee Wiley's 'Time on My Hands.'


And special recognitions for the non-jazz but related work of Bessie Smith, Luciano Berio and Cathy Berberian, and Sainkho Namtchlyak.

[jazzfiend]

What, no Mark Murphy or Connie Francis???

I'm outa here!












just kidding, Steve! I'll need to give this considerable thought.

[jazzy mary]

Whoa, some nice ones! Let me think.

Sarah w/ Clifford--yes!! An absolute MUST have

Ella--"Clap Hands..." I have soooooo many Ella records But, I think I gotta agree-excellent choice

Billie Holiday: "Lady in Satin"--her last and, I think, her greatest

Let me add: Leon Thomas "Live in Berlin" An absolutely extraordinary album with Oliver Nelson. Everyone should have it.


I'll try to think of 6 more.


Nice thread!!

[Pete C]

"Dinah Jams" makes my list.

Yes indeedy to Nat "King" Cole, "The Complete After Midnight Sessions."

I'd probably pick Jeanne Lee/Mal Waldron "After Hours" over the Lee/Blake.

Ella & Louis.

for Billie Holiday I'd pick "At JATP." I think she was at her best in the 40's, but the Decca sides are often too commersh. The live performances from those years are sublime.

Definitely something by Anita O'Day, but I'm not sure which.

"Count Basie Swings, Joe Williams Sings.

Lee Wiley, "A Night in Manhattan," though I'm not sure it's jazz.

For me Carmen McRae was really at her peak in the 60s & 70s. I'd have to pick between the Columbia CD "Alive" from Mainstream recordings at the Village Gate, or "Great American Songbook" on Atlantic.

I think a Mildred Bailey collection would have to be up there too.

[Jason Bivins]

I'm not as well versed in vocal music as any of you folks - and thanks for the lists, which I hope to use as listening guides - but some of my favorites are:

Sheila Jordan - Portrait of Sheila

Betty Carter - The Audience with Betty Carter

Jeanne Lee/Ran Blake (for sure!)

Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album (I know many people hate this, but I've always had a serious soft spot for it)

and, of course, Ella and Billie.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Originally Posted by Jason Bivins

Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album (I know many people hate this, but I've always had a serious soft spot for it)

Me, too -- just one of several oversights I'm sure I must have made in not considering it for my list. After a few more memory-jogs like this, I'll reappraise things.

[moneyp]

Something Cool, dammit.

[jazzfiend]

subject to change, y'all:


Billie Holliday - The Lady Sings (1944 - 1950)

Dinah Washington - The Jazz Sides

Eddie Jefferson - Hipper Than Thou

Carmen McRae - The Great American Songbook

Arthur Prysock - Arthur Prysock/Count Basie

Anita O'Day - Live at The City (SF)

Betty Carter - The Audience with Betty Carter

Joe Williams - Joe Williams & Thad Jones/Mel Lewis, The Jazz Orchestra

Sarah Vaughn - S.V. with Clifford Brown

Ella & Louie


Hon. mention: Carmen Sings Monk, Christy's Something Cool, Murphy's Satisfaction Guaranteed & Stolen Moments, Torme's Mel Torme and the Marty Paich Dek-tette, Vivian Lord's Love Dance, Holiday's Lady in Satin

[Dibble]

Thank you -= a fan of the jazz voice..but dont know wnough to recommend anything ..taking everyones elses favourites on board though..love Anita O'Day, Ella and Joe Williamsand Eddie Jefferson

Can anyone tell me which album "jeannine" appears on..?

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by Dibble

Can anyone tell me which album "jeannine" appears on..?

I assume you mean Jefferson's version. It doesn't appear to be on any in-print CD's, but here's the album credit info I found

Title: Jeanine(3:53)
Musicians: EDDIE JEFFERSON(vocal),
Charles Sullivan(trumpet), Richie Cole(alto sax),
Junior Cook(tenor sax), Hamiet Bluiett(baritone sax),
Slide Hampton(trombone), Harold Mabern(piano),
George Duvivier(bass), Billy Hart(drums),
Azzendin Weston(congas), Harold White(congas).
Recording Date: September or October, 1977

LP Title: Eddie Jefferson/The Main Man
Label: Inner City Records(USA)
Number: IC-1033


I was fortunate to see him several times in the 70s at the Tin Palace in NY.

[Pete C]

Hey, have we all forgotten

?


Another contender is Shirley Horn, "You Won't Forget Me."

If we venture a wee bit outside of jazz into the wider world of classics of the Great American Songbook, then Jazzfiend & I will agree, I'm sure, on the Dick Haymes Capitol sides.

[jazzfiend]

Exactly, uncle Pete! The reason I didn't consider the Hartman would be the same for Haymes. There is no jazz singing on the Coltrane/Hartman disc, as great as it certainly is.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

I'll confess to owning a Dick Haymes compilation, too, although it's unlikely I'd have bought it had it not contained THE version of one of my favorite songs: Long Ago And Far Away (with Helen Forrest).


I was waiting to see how long we'd get into the thread before Coltrane/Hartman was brought up! The record has never done much for me... nor has anything by Hartman, actually.

[Richardo Caerleoni]

Originally Posted by Squaredancecalling Steve

...

I was waiting to see how long we'd get into the thread before Coltrane/Hartman was brought up! The record has never done much for me... nor has anything by Hartman, actually.

SHAME! (it will grow on you - give it another 20 years -Lush Life on rotation! )

ANYWAY:
How soon they forget!



And many many more –Little Jimmy Scott, Joe Williams, Eddie Jefferson, Billie,Mose Allison, AND up to and including, …Kenny Dorham,who made a neat vocal album.

[Root Doctor]

One of my favorites.

[stonemonkts]

So far, these are my favorites:

Count Basie Swings, Joe Williams Sings
Mose Allison - I Don't Worry About a Thing
Louis Armstrong - Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (any track he sings)
Billie Holliday - The Quintessential Vols. 3 & 5
Billie Holliday - Songs For Distingue Lovers
Besse Smith - Sings The Jazz
Billy Strayhorn - Lush Life (Red Baron)
Sarah Vaughan - with Clifford Brown
Dinah Washington - Dinah Washington Story

[lehinchi666]

Just a bit ago, Downbeat had an interesting survey article on Singers’ favorite albums, somewhat in the manner of the old Playboy Jazz Poll All Star’s All Stars (The Poll-Winning Musicians chose their favorite musicians.)
They polled approximately 75 singers (including Suzanne Abbuehl, Karrin Allyson, Andy Bey, Elvis Costello, Dominique Eade, Nancy Harrow, Nancy King, Cleo Laine, Shawn Montiero, Aaron Neville, Annette Peacock, Tierney Sutton, Steve Tyrell, Marlene verPlanck, Nancy Wilson, and Norma Winstone.) as to their five favorite Vocal albums. The results were as follows:

1) Nancy Wilson – “Nancy Wilson and Cannonball Adderley”
2) Johnny Hartman – “John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman”
3) Shirley Horn – “Here’s To Life”
4) Carmen McRae – “Carmen Sings Monk”
5) Carmen McRae - “Sings Lover Man”
6) Frank Sinatra – “Sings For Only the Lonely”
7) Billie Holiday – “Lady Day”
8) Ella Fitzgerald – “Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook”
9) Billie Holiday – “The Commodore Master Takes”
10) Sarah Vaughan – “How Long Has This Been Going On”
11) Betty Carter – “The Audience With Betty Carter”
12) Nat “King” Cole – “The After Midnight Sessions”
13) Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross – “Sing a Song of Basie”
14) Frank Sinatra – “The Wee Small Hours”
15) Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong – “Ella and Louis”
16) Mark Murphy – “Bop for Kerouac”
17) Joe Williams – “Count Basie Swings, Joe Williams Sings”
18) Ray Charles – “The Genius of Ray Charles”
19) Tony Bennett – “The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album”
20) Elis Regina and Antonio Carlos Jobim – ”Ellis and Tom”
21) Ella Fitzgerald – “Ella in Rome – The Birthday Concert”
22) Sheila Jordan – “Portrait of Sheila”
23) Kurt Elling – “The Messenger”
24) Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross – “Everybody’s Boppin’”
25) Etta Jones – “Don’t Go To Strangers”
25) {Tie} Bobby McFerrin – “The Voice”
27) Mark Murphy – “Rah”
28) Ella Fitzgerald and Oscar Peterson “Ella and Oscar”
29) Betty Carter and Ray Charles – “Betty Carter and Ray Charles”
30) Jay Clayton – “Circle Dancing”

Leon Harris

P.S.

I would have trouble coming up with just ten favorites favorites from the above list (with maybe a few changes...)

1) Billie Holiday - "Lady Day" More great musicians than any other records I have on one set of sides.

2) My personal choice for Sarah Vaughan would be the very early collection with Bird and Diz as sidemen on some sides. My favorite of favorites is "East of the Sun"

3) Coltrane and Hartman (Amazing how little Hartman's voice aged. I was listening to some 1940's sides with Dizzy's Big Band, and was struck with how like his Coltrane sides he sounded.)

4) "The Genius of Ray Charles" At my teenage basement parties, this was always the recond that ended the evenings festivities.

5) Carmen McRae "Sings Monk" (Just one of many good McRae choices.)

6) LH&R with Joe Williams and Count Basie - "Sing Along with Basie" (Jon Hendricks' and Joe Williams' performance of "Goin' to Chicago" is embedded in my musical DNA) The "Sing a Song of Basie" album is almost as enjoyable.

And...

Betty Carter - "Social Call"

"Elis and Tom"

King Pleasure - "Moody's Mood for Love" et al.

Something by Irene Kral (maybe " Better then Anything" with Junior Mance) although the sides with Alan Broadbent are about as good as singing gets.

Nat Cole - any of several Capitol anthologies of the early trio sides (got to have "Sweet Lorraine"), or the "After Hours" sides.

Can't forget June Christy's "Something Cool"

Since this list has so few records from the last 25 years, It may be time for another list of more recent favorites...can't leave out Cassandra Wilson, Nancy Marano or Stephanie Nakasian.

[Dibble]

Originally Posted by Pete C

I assume you mean Jefferson's version. It doesn't appear to be on any in-print CD's, but here's the album credit info I found

Title: Jeanine(3:53)
Musicians: EDDIE JEFFERSON(vocal),
Charles Sullivan(trumpet), Richie Cole(alto sax),
Junior Cook(tenor sax), Hamiet Bluiett(baritone sax),
Slide Hampton(trombone), Harold Mabern(piano),
George Duvivier(bass), Billy Hart(drums),
Azzendin Weston(congas), Harold White(congas).
Recording Date: September or October, 1977

LP Title: Eddie Jefferson/The Main Man
Label: Inner City Records(USA)
Number: IC-1033


I was fortunate to see him several times in the 70s at the Tin Palace in NY.

Thank you Pete C -

What a great thread..so many suggestions

Fast beomming an Eddie Jefferson fan..I love his "gravel"

Love his version of Night in Tunisia

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Originally Posted by lehinchi666

Something by Irene Kral (maybe " Better then Anything" with Junior Mance) although the sides with Alan Broadbent are about as good as singing gets.

Yes, Irene Kral!! Excellent choice, Leon!

I've always loved Sinatra's "Only The Lonely," but I've never considered it (or his other great albums from that period) to be jazz.

I dumbfounded that nothing by Anita made the singers' list!

[lehinchi666]

Originally Posted by Squaredancecalling Steve

Yes, Irene Kral!! Excellent choice, Leon!

I've always loved Sinatra's "Only The Lonely," but I've never considered it (or his other great albums from that period) to be jazz.

I dumbfounded that nothing by Anita made the singers' list!

Interesting, but not surprising that nothing by Ms. Kral made the singers' top 30. The one time that I was able to catch Ms. Kral live (at a club in the San Fernando Valley) Carmen McRae and Bill Henderson were ringside.

Leon Harris

[Richardo Caerleoni]

Originally Posted by lehinchi666

Interesting, but not surprising that nothing by Ms. Kral made the singers' top 30. The one time that I was able to catch Ms. Kral live (at a club in the San Fernando Valley) Carmen McRae and Bill Henderson were ringside.

Leon Harris

There is an interesting ( and very respectful) take on Irene Krall's first session in Junior Mance's interview with Gene Lees in his latest book. Also a beautifully written - and moving - portrait of Bill Evan's manager (Helen Keane ?) and a very strong dislike of John Hammond!

Re Sinatra's "Sings for Only the Lonely" - it may or may not not be "jazz" but it has some classic versions of some great songs and was highly influencial over time...( I think Sinatra once called it "Songs to commit suicide by!"). Is'n't Teardrops out to dry, Angel Eyes and What's New on this? Seems to have been a (JAZZ ?)key ref point for Dexter and others! (inc. Miles).

Also - can I put a plug in for Jimmy Witherspoon (who was certainly jazz avec blues)...particarly the World Pac. album with Harold Land or Teddy Edwards and Hamp Hawes etc., and the live session with Webster and Mulligan from '59 - a total joy. And the album (live) he made with Phil Seaman and Dick Morrisey in London - which rips off the turntable.



OH AND KAREN KROGG - (sp) for her gorgeous album with Dexter and Kenny Drew etc. - "Some Other Spring". Norway c. 1969.

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by Richardo Caerleoni

Also - can I put a plug in for Jimmy Witherspoon (who was certainly jazz avec blues)...particarly the World Pac. album with Harold Land or Teddy Edwards and Hamp Hawes etc., and the live session with Webster and Mulligan from '59 - a total joy. And the album (live) he made with Phil Seaman and Dick Morrisey in London - which rips off the turntable.
[/B]

Richard, have you seen the video of the "Jazz Casual" program with Witherspoon & Webster? Great stuff.

[frankiepop]

i will add some from my small collection that i find particularly good in my collection:

mose allison - middle class white boy

rosemary clooney - the harold arlen song book

manhatten transfer - vocalese

ella fitzgerald and joe pass again

Mary LaRose - Obbligato

jay clayton - Sound Songs

g hampel/jeanne lee/a braxton/ - familie

max roach/abbey lincoln - We Insist! Max Roach's Freedom Now Suite

Sainkho Namtchylak and the moscow composer orchestra - LET PEREMSKY DREAM. ...

flora purim - 500 miles high

[Richardo Caerleoni]

Originally Posted by frankiepop

i will add 4 that i find particularly good in my collection:



rosemary clooney - the harold arlen song book

manhatten transfer - vocalese

ella fitzgerald and joe pass again

Mary LaRose - Obbligato

jay clayton - Sound Songs

g hampel/jeanne lee/a braxton/ - familie

max roach/abbey lincoln - We Insist! Max Roach's Freedom Now Suite

Sainkho Namtchylak and the moscow composer orchestra - LET PEREMSKY DREAM. ...

flora purim - 500 miles high

- frankiepop - totally agree re "max roach/abbey lincoln - We Insist! Max Roach's Freedom Now Suite", but the last time I mentioned it on this board, a lotof people thought it was over-rated/dated! No, I don't know why - Along with Precussion Bitter Suite (Mendacity/Dolphy), Abbey Lincoln to me has just been amazing throughout/keeps getting better !

Pete - I haven't seen the video of Ben/Gerry/Rowles with Jimmy Witherspoon- just have the (now) full club sesions - will def check it out. Many thanks (yet again!).

And to Add, Karen Krogg with Archie Sheep (sic!) Shepp!- "Hi Fly" - a strange "mix", it shouldn't work, but it does, and she more than holds her own.

[SEJ]

I'm not the person to ask, since I listen to very little vocal jazz. But I nominate Disc 4 of the Sarah Vaughan Roulette Studio Sessions on Mosaic, comprised of After Hours and Sarah + 2. And The Explosive Side Of Sarah Vaughan, with Benny Carter arrangements, is spectacular. (Really, to have "After You've Gone", "Great Day", "The Trolley Song", and "I'm Gonna Live Till I Die" on a single album! I'm gonna put it on right now...) And the Basie Roulette sessions are another highlight. Though this box goes from the sublime to the ridiculous, the best of it is my favorite jazz singing.

Also, Ella and Basie's On The Sunny Side Of The Street.

I see no one has mentioned George Shearing and Nancy Wilson, The Swingin's Mutual.

And, jazz or not, Sinatra on Capitol. Just get the Concepts box set and get it over with! (Well, the three disc compilation hits the highlights, and it's much cheaper.)

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by Richardo Caerleoni

Pete - I haven't seen the video of Ben/Gerry/Rowles with Jimmy Witherspoon- just have the (now) full club sesions - will def check it out. Many thanks (yet again!).

Gerry & Rowles are not with them on the TV date.

[GodSpeliZed]

Originally Posted by jazzy mary

Billie Holiday: "Lady in Satin"

I really like this one, as the Roach's Freedom Now Suite


I add Archie Shepp's "Blasé" with a wonderful Jeanne Lee

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

I'll second Shepp's 'Blase' as a fine one.

I replayed 'Nancy Wilson & Cannonball Adderley' today -- which was the singers' list top choice -- and again I'm mystified by the pick. It's a nice album, a couple of superb cuts, but I don't think it's anyting special. (No disrespect intended for Ms. Wilson, who has had a great career and who is an exemplary representative of jazz on NPR.)

Actually, looking at the singers' top three picks leave me puzzled. And perhaps in some ways explains my relative lack of enthusiasm for most contemporary singers. I'd be curious to see individual singer's lists -- is that available?

[iris]

i'm not sure how many of people posting are jazz singers - i am one and here are the records that i think are invaluble resource for jazz singers working nyc. i am basically listing the records that I appreciate the most - not sure if they are the "best of all time".

1) Sarah Vaughan - "Swingin' Easy" (her solo on "All of Me" is a classic!)
2)"Betty and Carmen Duets" - (esp. Sometimes I'm Happy & Stolen Moments)
3) "Well Kept Secret" - Norma Winstone (with Jimmy Rowles)
4) "Like Song, Like Weather" - Norma W. and John Taylor
5) Shirley Horn - "You Won't Forget Me"
6) Marguerite Jeuneman - "By Whose Standards" (amazing jazz singer who lives in Colorado, was a member of Rare Silk)
7) Betty Carter - "Finally"
8) Andy Bey - "Shades of Bey" - (esp. Straight No Chaser)
9) Dinah Washington - "Dinah Jams"
10) Luciana Souza - "Neruda"

[clinthopson]

A few that I never tire of:

Hoagy Sings Carmichael
Cannonball Adderley with Nancy Wilson (maybe the ONLY good thing Nancy ever recorded)
Mose Allison - Ever Since The World Ended
Lorez Alexandria - Harlem Butterfly
Nat Cole - Round Midnight and Welcome To The Club
Charles Brown - All My life
Jackie Cain & Roy Kral - Sondheim
Irene Kral- everything she ever did
Blossom Dearie - My New Celebrity Is You
Bobby Dorough - Just About Everything
Dave Frishberg - Live At Vine St.
Ella - The Harold Arlen Songbook
Ella and Louis - both albums
Joe Williams - The Overwhelming Joe Williams
Johnny Hartman - The Voice That Is
Dinah Washington - Dinah Jams
Helen Merrill - Brownie
Sinatra - Wee Small Hours, Live at the Sands w/Basie, Swingin' Lovers
Mel Torme - An Elegant Evening w/George Shearing
Carmen McRae - Monk and Any Old Time