jazz vocalists

[a.j. zeitlin]

Does anyone have thoughts on a catagory focusing on vocalists?

[Edward]

Yes. I would definitely like one.

[D.D.]

Originally posted by Edward
I would definitely like one.

...And one for jazz trumpeters
and one for jazz vibraphonists
and one for jazz cellist
and one for jazz harpists
and one for jazz mondolinists...

[James]

I think it would be a great idea as well.

[bubber]

Back at BNBB they had a vocalist category, but that one was one
of the -if not the - least active on the board. I'm quite interested in singers myself, but I think it will be satisfactory to deal with them under artists or new releases etc.

[a.j. zeitlin]

that's true Bubber, it wasn't the most active thread over at BN.

[xricci]

Would it make sense to create a "By Instrument" forum category?

The structure would look something like this...

By Instrument

* Accordion Players
* Bagpipe Players
* Flutists
* Harpists
* Harmonica Players
* Vocalists

[Claude]

Should we discuss Rahsaan Roland Kirk in the Manzello or the Stritch forum?

[Edward]

Well guys, if you do not want a category dedicated to vocalists that is fine. I do think that you miss the point, though, when you jokingly suggest dedicating forums to every instrument under the sun. There were a lot of interesting discussions about jazz influenced vocalists (e.g., Bennett, Gilberto, Martin, Starr, Sinatra, etc.) that I do not think would have occurred on the BNBB in the absence of such a forum. Of course, this obviously is not the BNBB. However, there are a lot of young jazz listeners who are interested primarily in vocal talent, and these people might not join this board otherwise. Indeed, it was Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan who not only introduced me to jazz, but also inspired me to explore the jazz instrumentalists.

[Claude]

Edward, I think it's good to have a Vocalists forum, as vocal jazz often has a different audience than instrumental jazz. Some rock and blues fans also listen to jazz singers but rarely to instrumental music.

I don't like the idea of having fora dedicated to instruments. It's an unnecessary division unless the users are all fetishists of a particular instrument.

[John L]

I think that it is a good idea. I really like the vocalist forum at the BNBB. We discussed all sorts of vocalists there, including singers who would not usually be categorized as "jazz" proper, but fit in the grand tradition nevertheless. There may have been relatively few threads in the vocalist forum, but the thread quality was often high.

[a.j. zeitlin]

The structure notwithstanding, we could use a forum for bagpipes.;)

[marvin g]

I too was introduce to jazz via the singers but I don't have a problem with bringing them up in the artist catagory.

[EKE BBB]

I don´t mind talking about vocalists in Artists Forum.

In old BNBB, there were many more posts in Vocalists Forum than in any of the others.

[Saundra Hummer]

Originally posted by xricci
Would it make sense to create a "By Instrument" forum category?

The structure would look something like this...

By Instrument

* Accordion Players
* Bagpipe Players
* Flutists
* Harpists
* Harmonica Players
* Vocalists


Anyone who heard Ella at the Shrine in Los Angeles when she closed the show, on stage with every jazz great who was alive, couldn't possibly think that her voice was not not an instrument. It was just unbelievable ! A once in a lifetime experience! The longer she sang, the greater her voice became that night back in 1959, or 1960. She brought the house down, and impressed a lot of intrumentalists as well.

Sandi from Hermosa Beach

[Chris A.]

Among the most active threads on JazzCorner was one devoted to Jazz Singers. In fact, it got so big that someone had to start a Part II.

[PDEE]

one of the reasond I did not like the Harlem board wasa because it more or less catergorised everything

If you want to talk about Henry Allen.. use thgis thread

If you want to talk about **** use this thread

If you want to talk about Bessie Smith......:D

I like " forums" but when there's too many it feels a bit oppresive.. like we are sheep being herded into small fenced areas

Vocals O.K. but lets not go overboard here.. hope xriooi post was in jest.

[Fran]

There are numerous reasons cited above for a vocalists forum. The BNBB vocalists forum was not the most active, but it was a very valid one and often very interesting.
If we are voting count mine as a yes

[orroonie]

My vote would be for jazz vocalists. I believe I once saw a " talk about songs" at jazz corner. I think that might go very well if it were added to the jazz vocalist forum. It would be interesting to get into the material the singers use.

Perhaps calling it something like" jazz vocalists, songs and composers."

[clinthopson]

"Jew's Harp," more correctly "Jaws Harp" should have it's own category. Of course after Diz, is there anyone else?

Sub category for a singers thread: "Irritating Singers" - Curt Elling (Mark Murphy Wannabe), Mark Murphy(Role model for Elling), Betty Carter (what the hell song is she singing?), Johnny Mathis (the apotheosis of flat), etc.

[still life]

Originally posted by clinthopson
"Jew's Harp," more correctly "Jaws Harp" should have it's own category. Of course after Diz, is there anyone else?

Sub category for a singers thread: "Irritating Singers" - Curt Elling (Mark Murphy Wannabe), Mark Murphy(Role model for Elling), Betty Carter (what the hell song is she singing?), Johnny Mathis (the apotheosis of flat), etc.

I voted "yes" for a separate thread for vocalists, because lots of people *only* listen to people sing and are only vaguely aware of the musicians behind them. However, sub-catagorizing may be a little much.
It's unreallistic to think that any conversation is going to stay on topic, but "vocalists" is a broad spectrum and, I think, draws in all artists, who sing and makes for a lively exchange.
Conversations, which is what we have here, I hope, are not narrowly defined, which is what makes them so interesting. Just knowing not to post about tuba-players, on the "vocalists" thread should keep things narrowly defined enough, IMO.

So yes, a "Vocalists" thread, by all means.
Musicians who backed them, of course, will come in, in context, but the singers, good, bad or indifferent, would be the focus.

[blues4paco]

Absolutely, emphatically Yes! I often listen to and enjoy jazz vocals. Within the past few years several of my favorite vocalists have died. It would be nice to have a place to discuss jazz vocalists as well as instrumentalists.

[Valerie]

Isn't it time we started talking about vocalists instead of format?!?

The more I've heard Lizz Wright on the radio, the more I've liked her. Has anybody here seen her perform in person?

[Chris A.]

Originally posted by clinthopson
"Jew's Harp," more correctly "Jaws Harp" should have it's own category. Of course after Diz, is there anyone else?


Bassist Ben Brown, who used to play in Dizzy's group, bought a wide array of Jew's harps from a German manufacturer. Until he showed them to me, I had no idea that this instrument came in so many variations--each with its own characteristics.

Not much call for Jew's harp in jazz these day, so Ben gets good use out of his purchase on "Sesame Street."

[blues4paco]

I know I'm new here... but I agree with Valerie! Furthermore, there's a European jazz vocalist that I just heard and I'm dying to hear more from and learn more about--Lyambiko.

~paco~

[victor]

i would say a definite yes especially when you talk about jazz vocalists

[Phil Kelly]

I second Clint on Elling and Murphy ..

also , in the "irritating " category: so called "jazz " singers who try to scat sing . and can't , don't know the changes, or have anything to say ..

this group would probably encompass about 92% of those who attempt same.