I first discovered my love for classic jazz vocalists in the 90's when I was getting sick and tired of a lot of mediocre rock & alternative rock/pop I was having to promote at the record shop I worked in (as well as in some of the music courses I was taking in college). That, coupled with my love for classic movies, lead me to explore a lot of really great vocalists who paved the way for a lot of folk-especially alternative women-we talk about a great deal on this board. Kate Bush, Tori Amos, Regina Spektor, Nellie McKay, Siouxsie, Sinead O'Connor, Patti Smith, Natalie Merchant & others have commented many times about their love for Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan,Nina Simone, June Christy, Anita O'Day and many other classic Jazz vocalists, so I wanted to create a thread to honor/discuss some great Jazz folk.

My Jazz Artist of the Day:
Ms. June Christy
June was one of the great female vocalists for the Stan Kenton Orchestra. She has a gorgeous, moody voice, and her "Something Cool" and other fine jazz albums are almost a master class for singers/musicians.




GONE FOR THE DAY is my particular fav June album-I love her versions of "When the World Was Young" & "When the Sun Comes Out".

I like more modern Jazz myself Diana krall makes me melt.

^You are welcome to post about people like Diane here if you would like. We need a place to discuss jazz here. I want to keep my own personal posts here to more classic people-without them there would be no Norah,Diana, Diane Schurr or the women making the jazz of today.

My Classic Jazz Artist of the day today is the fabulous & wonderful Ms. Sarah Vaughan.
To me, Sarah (or "Sassy" as she is often lovingly called) was perhaps the most amazing vocalist of all time. She is just so superb. The beauty of her voice & vibrato is amazing, and she was able to achieve greatnessin jazz, pop, ballads, swing, and even opera.
For those of you who are Joni Mitchell heads, Sarah was/is Joni's idol, and "Doodlin'" was originally performed by Sarah.




My personal fav Sarah tracks: "Lullaby of Birdland," "Key Largo," her versions of "Moonlight in Vermont," & "Autumn in New York".

Jazz just ain't my thang.

I remember an old roommate and his new boyfriend trying to out do each other thinking they were super cool and they bought a bunch of jazz and I knew neither liked it! LMAO!

I do love Cyndi Laupers version of Etta's "At Last" though, if that counts for anything.

I guess I appreciate it enough - just not enough to want to listen to it at length. Not when Brit Brit is available.

^It's OK. There are periods when I just listen to a lot of classic jazz, especially when too much modern music begins to bug me.
I actually love that Cyndi album-and I love Cyndi, in general, Phreak.

Classic Jazz Artist of the day: Ms. Anita O'Day.
Totally glam with one of the coolest voices ever, Anita really lived the fast, jazz life. She survived drugs, alcohol & just recently passed on in her 90's.
At one point in the 60's, Anita actually roomed with Judy Garland right before Judy passed away. Anita mentions in her book about all the pills Judy was taking constantly.



My personal fav Anita albums



I also owe Anita a big thank you coz I actually got a record store gig once after chatting with the manager about Anita. He told me anybody who liked her was cool & I landed a really sweet part time job! Bless you, Anita!

Jazz is one of the few music genres that I just plain don't like. I don't know why, it just doesn't do it for me. In fact, I don't even like Natalie Merchant's straight up jazz songs that were on her Retrospective.

I grew up with a lot of "traditional pop" & jazz vocals, so I have a real affection for it.
Actually, your WOMAN is very traditional jazz influenced & has talked quite a bit about Marian McPartland & other jazz pianists influence on her own playing.
And, I ABHOR this later "smooth jazz" label or whatever the hell that is-I like traditonal, old school jazz vocal stylings.
Everybody should like what they like, though-I just started this thread for my own enjoyment.

Do you like DJ JaZzy Jeff?

^Boy, you are just really rife with the humor lately, aren't you?
And what happened to Ryan?

Itheopia got some good jazz thats were I left off with jazz.

Classic Jazz Artist of the Day-Mr. Chet Baker.
Still one of my absolute favorite male singing voices of any genre-so sad & beautiful-like Chet himself.