Your top rated Female Jazz Vocalists

OLDUDE

New member
I can't remember if this has ever been a thread in my time with the Forum (from Jan 2010), but here goes.
Who would be your top rated 6 female jazz singers during the history of jazz.
Off the top of my head here are mine;-
Billie Holiday
Ella Fitzgerald
Anita O'Day
June Christy
Cleo Laine
Diana Krall
 

OLDUDE

New member
Before someone else shoots me down, I've just remembered that I started a thread called "Jazz canaries" some time ago. (How embarrassing).
However newish members may like to join in.

john
 

Mat

Sr. Regulator
Staff member
Sr. Regulator
Regulator
My first thought was Diana Krall. But I do have to give some credit to Billie and Ella just so they don't feel left out. Dee Dee Bridgewater has a nice voice, too.

I'm leaving the remaining two spots open. So many singers I've not heard yet...

EDIT:

How dare you, John. You just made me post twice about the same thing:scold:

Joking...:clap:

Btw, how's your PC? Up and running yet?
 

teddy

Duckmeister
I have to put Peggy Lee in here John. One of the best renditions of Stormy Weather,....in my opinion.

teddy
 

Art Rock

Sr. Regulator
Staff member
Sr. Regulator
Billie Holiday
Ella Fitzgerald
Stacey Kent
Madeleine Peyroux
Laura Fygi
Jacintha
 

Dorsetmike

Member
Last edited:

escher

New member
Abbey Lincoln
Nina Simone
Leena Conquest (the best i've heard of the new singers)
Betty Carter
Carmen McRae
Nancy Wilson

I have a great sin to confess: i can't stand what i've listened of Billie Holiday. Maybe it's because often i don't know what she is singing because i have difficulties with english and her greatness lies in her interpretation of the lyrics more that in the beauty of the voice
 

OLDUDE

New member
Thanks guys for the rapid response. I must admit that I listen to most of the singers mentioned with pleasure and I have CDs of Chris Connor; Clare Teal; Dianne Reeve; Dinah Washington; Elkie Brooks; July London; Keely Smith; Lena Horne; Mildred Bailey; Nancy Wilson; Natalie Cole; Nina Simone; Patti Page; peggy Lee; Sarah Vaughan; Stacey Kent; not to mention Doris Day and other great Classic Pop singers such as Dusty Springfield and Karen Carpenter. These besides my chosen top six.
Alas although I think highly of her - . not Annie Ross. (Soon to be rectified).
I have noted others mentioned in the posts above and will have an active time on Spotify to listen to them and any others yet to be mentioned.
For Mat-thanks for your prior advice which I have yet to try out since I have just resolved (hopefully) my computer problems and am now able to return more actively to the Forum.
 

gord

New member
hi escher, good choice, lorez alexandria is an excellent jazz singer, and vastly underated. gord
 

teddy

Duckmeister
After her assotiation with Mingus and P M andher release of Darkness and Light I will include Joni Mitchell. Even though she is not exclusively a jazz singer

teddy
 

escher

New member
she's beautiful, as a singer i don't like her. She has a good voice, but to have a good voice and a good rhythm sense doesn't coincide with the great singer.

As Ted Gioia said:
Jane Monheit's record label, not to be outdone, points out in her official bio, the "indisputable fact" that Monheit is a "stunning, raven-haired beauty"—and then goes on to mention, almost as an after-thought, her singing. No wonder the record companies hate downloading. How do you pitch a "stunning, raven-haired beauty" in a MP3 file? How do you get a return on your hairdo investment on iTunes? Ah, how times have changed . . . how did Billie Holiday get by with just that gardenia? Where was Ella's entourage? Bessie's beautician? Sarah's stylist?
http://www.jazz.com/features-and-interviews/2008/2/13/the-state-of-jazz-singing-today
 

Ghekorg7 (Ret)

Rear Admiral Appassionata (Ret)
Hi to all,

John, I cannot rate as all of them are favourites of mine.....
Any one of them added something special to the whole spectrum of female Jazz vocals.

But there's one who stands clearly just a step ahead of all : Billie.Lady Day.

Cheers
Panos
 

gord

New member
i have always been puzzled by the fact that there are dozens of great female jazz vocalists, and only a few male jazz singers. gord
 
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