The Big Five
Vocalists were influenced by the bands they sang with, so Billie Holiday learned from Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald from Chick Webb's orchestra, and Sarah Vaughan from Billie Eckstine's group, and that's how they learned to sing jazz. Ella Fitzgerald was a master at vocal riffing (scatting), but Billie Holiday did not scat at all. Anita O'Day used the technique but Saran and Carmen, very little. But they all improvised, the hallmark of jazz.
In the early 1900's African-American musical traditions mixed with other musical forms in the melting pot of New Orleans. Gradually jazz emerged from a blend of ragtime, marches, blues, and other kinds of music played in this vibrant city. At first, jazz was mostly for dancing but then people began to listen to it.
BILLIE HOLIDAY (1915–1959), nicknamed "Lady Day," is synonymous with “jazz singer.” Her vocal style, strongly inspired by jazz instrumentalists, pioneered a new way of manipulating phrasing and tempo.
Listen to NPR's Jazz Profile:
ELLA FITZGERALD (1917-1996) was known as "The First Lady of Song." Unquestionably the best all-around jazz singer, she had a purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, intonation, and a "horn-like" improvisational ability, particularly in her scat singing.
SARAH VAUGHAN (1924–1990), Nicknamed "Sassy" and "The Divine One", she had a four-octave range and complete control of her voice. Critic Scott Yanow wrote she had "one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century."
Listen to this NPR Jazz Profile produced by JM Jazz:
CARMEN MCRAE (1920–1994) is remembered for her behind-the-beat phrasing and her realistic interpretation of lyrics. Though greatly admired by jazz artists, she never acquired the mainstream status of Billie, Ella, and Sarah.
Let’s listen to NPR’s Jazz Profiles produced by JM Jazz:
ANITA O'DAY (1919–2006) was a self-proclaimed “song stylist” widely admired for her sense of time. Her performance at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival is one of jazz music's best known moments.
Listen to this NPR Jazz Profile produced by JM Jazz:
Comments on these singers by Will Friedwald, esteemed jazz and pop singing historian and JM Jazz’s favorite resource.
WILL FRIEDWALD is the author of nine books, including "A Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers"; "Stardust Melodies: The Biography of Twelve of America’s Most Popular Songs"; :Jazz Singing: America’s Great Voices from Bessie Smith to Bebop and Beyond"; "Sinatra! The Song Is You"; "Tony Bennett: The Good Life", and "Nat King Cole: Straighten Up and Fly Right".
BILLIE HOLIDAY
ELLA FITZGERALD
SARAH VAUGHAN
CARMEN MCRAE
ANITA O’DAY
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BILLIE HOLIDAY
"Don’t Explain"
Arthur Herzog, Jr,-Billie Holiday
ELLA FITGERALD with DUKE ELLINGTON
“It Don’t Mean a Thing”
Composer - Duke Ellington
SARAH VAUGHAN
"The Shadow of Your Smile"
Johnny Mandel-P.F. Webster
Oscar Winner 2004
CARMEN MCRAE
"Send in the Clowns"
Stephen Sondheim
ANITA DAY
"Tea For Two"
"Jazz on a Summer’s Day "
Vincent Youmans-Irving Caesar 1924