@elliottbnewcombjr +++ for Diana Krall. The late great recording engineer Al Schmitt talked about her in his autobiography. He was extremely impressed with her musicianship and that fact that she insisted on playing while singing during recording. No over-dubs for her. No trickery of any kind. Bonnie and I saw her live last year in West Palm Beach at the Kravits Center. I would love to see her in a more intimate setting some time.
How women, both American and internationally, have affected jazz.
As I watched Ken Burns history of jazz, it was no secret that women were rarities in the jazz world until the 1970s when things began to open up a bit, especially in Brazil. And I must admit i am a big fan of Brazillian jazz.
There have always been women's presence in singing, however. Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, and Ellla Fitzgerald, just to name a few. Astrid Gilberto was the first Brazilian singer I heard (on the Jonny Carson Show) and I immediately fell for her whispering breathy voice.
I would like to throw out an American singer as my first offereing. I am smart enough not to make it Patricia Barber or Diana Krall, both of whomn are excellent jazz pianists, because I've already seen how most "serious" jazz afficianados dismiss them right off the bat. Instead, I will submit the name of Cassandra Wilson.
I have been listening to jazz most of my life, and I have gone to many live jazz concerts. With that background, I consider Cassandra Wild to be a true innovator in jazz singing. I have recently purchased three of her albums. I have never heard any other singer like her. If you have not heard her, I would suggest "New Moon Daughter." If you have a turntable, there is a fantastic AAA album reissue. I can't stop playing it.
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Oleta Adams https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMvapCHumpE&list=RDTMvapCHumpE&start_radio=1 Came to mind, because if close enough, Get Here: The Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition (also known as The SASSY Awards), held annually at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), has honored the following winners:
Earlier winners listed in the competition’s history include Ashleigh Smith (2014), Deelee Dubé, Quiana Lynell, and Samara Joy (2019, who later won the Grammy for Best New Artist in 2023). The competition is open to singers over 18, of all genders and nationalities, who are not signed to a major label. I missed the 1st 2 years, then every show until covid, started up again, one of the best musical events you will ever attend, in the wonderful small theater at NJPAC
Typical batch of contestants (occasionally men), April May Webb won |
The first woman Jazz musician (instrumentalist) I really got into was Alice Coltrane. I took a date to see her in a small club south of L.A. She blew me away, but that was without Pharoah Sanders. Her albums with Pharoah Sanders, like "Journey Through Satchidananda" were groundbreaking. They were influenced by John Coltrane's spirituality but were not at all deriviative. I know certain people like more "standard" jazz that followed bebop, but I love all of the new incarnations. I prefer jazz that goes more to the heart than the head, and women are very good at that. BTW, "Journey Through Satchinanda" AAA reissue mastered by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound is fantastic. There is at least one other reissue that was taken from digital sources. I mistakenly purchased it and it screeched into my ears. If you're going to buy it on vinyl, look for the real deal. |
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