I agree with the Allison Krauss fans above -- her voice is simply incredible. As my dark horse pick, I would nominate Bonnie Raitt. Although she may not have the purest voice, she has to be one of the most distinctive female singers out there.
For jazz fans, I would strongly second Rayhall's recommendation of Dee Dee Bridgewater -- Live at Yoshi's. And if you like Bridgewater, try Mary Stallings, Live at the Village Vanguard. However, there's still no one more powerful than Billie Holiday. |
For a newcomer, Garbriella Anders is amazing. |
Eva cassiday brings goosebumps everytime i listen. To bad there will be no new recordings due to her passing. |
I am absolutely in love with Jacintha! JVC's releases of her albums "Autumn Leaves" and "Here's to Ben" on XRCD2 are stunningly gorgeous. The only other singer that comes close to capturing my heart is Diana Krall. |
Susana Baca, Peruvian singer/musicologist, latest is "echoes de sombros" or something like that. She's a wonderful singer, has great material, ideas, and it's well recorded.
I love Abbey Lincoln's record "Wholly Earth." She's a real acquired taste. In her 70's now, and gets more idyosyncratic by the minute. But she's a gem, I reckon, and this record features her w/a superb ensemble (including the great vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson). Not everybody's cup of tea, but worth checking out. With its sneak intro and gorgeous playing, her rendition of "If I only had a brain" is charming/heartbreaking/funny. |
cecilia bartoli and ruth ann swenson and without a doubt "famous blue raincoat" or "the hunter" both by jennifer warnes. tim2x
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Anything by Loreena McKennitt. In particular her CD's The Visit, and The Mask And The Mirror. These discs have remained in my rotation for years. The unusual & authentic instrumentation (celtic & middle eastern) mixed with her clear powerful voice spinning mythic tales, makes for very enjoyable listening even after an untold number of playings. Not to mention the are very high quality recordings with an amazing soundstage. |
This is a great thread because I'm seeing a lot of singers I've never heard of before, and is giving me the chance to discover new aural mistrsses. |
Nothing in my life I've heard better than female voices from France. From generation to generation they take turns upto now and feels like they're somehow connected:
Edit Piaf, Guliette Greco, Mireille Mathieu, Francois Hardy, Patricia Kaas... |
in particular the "Songlines" Cd...Iwas in Dublin two years ago and it was playing in a Cd store across from the university....can be found on Amazon but I have never seen it in a store stateside.....you won't be sorry! |
correction....songlines by karan casey for an irish lilt |
Mary Black - while I don't enjoy all of the songs, her voice is so pure, and the sonics are great on "Babes in the Wood" - Gift Horse D2-77528.
Also, Sue Matthews is interesting on a bunch of old favorites on "Love Dances" - 1991 SIR 91037. |
gotta be Joni Mitchel, "Hejira" recorded in 1976.
joeb |
Ordered 7 Cds based on the suggestions above. All were great. The biggest enjoyment for me was the Cowboy Junkies, & Eva Cassidy. I can't believe I've never heard of the Cowboy Junkies. Keep up the suggestions! Like someone said earlier.....CDNOW would love this Forum! |
Ms. Krall does sound great on cd but she's no Ella or Billie.
Rosanne Cash 10 Song Demo is a good listen so is The Captain by Kasey Chambers. I guess I'm going to have go out and buy some Eva Cassiday great thread. |
Jennifer Warnes- Hunter and The Well, equally as good is Eva Cassidy- Songbird |
I've always enjoyed Roberta Flack's First Take (her first album) but this is purely a musical opinion. I have no idea as to how the recording quality stacks up. In fact, I suspect it's not that great, I was just listening to it and there's an awful lot of background hiss. |
Maura O'Connell...Fabulous voice from Ireland! |
Patty Larkin is my all time favorite but I also love Joni Mitchell, Tori Amos, Eliane Elias, Edie Brickell, Nancy Wilson (Heart), Pat Benatar, Mary Black and Rickie Lee Jones to name a few. |
Fitzterry, glad to "meet" another Maura O'Connell fan. Do you have "Wandering Home"? And have you heard her duet, "Love Won't Come" with Tracy Nelson on one of Tracy's cds? Stunning. Two of the best voices ever.
When Alison Krauss accepted her first Grammy, she thanked her Mom and Dad and Maura O'Connell. |
Check out the new Norah Jones "Come Away With Me" CD on the Blue Note label just released on February 26,2002. She's a new talent, 22 years old,with a voice that is smooth and seductive. To me, she's a bit Holly Cole, Billie Holiday, and Diana Krall. Go to her website, norahjones.com, and listen to "Cold Cold Heart" "Shoot The Moon" and "Nightingale". All beautifully recorded. I think you'll be impressed. |
I gotta repeat here my LOVE for Goldfrapp's vocals in the debut CD ' Felt mountain' . Simply gorgeous! |
Without question or deliberation, no female vocalist can tug on my heartstrings moreso than Nancy LaMott. She sings with incredible control and expression. Her intonation is beyond reproach. No other vocalist (male or female) can get "inside" a tune quite like her. She was a Cabaret/Jazz singer who was making it bigtime in N.Y. city. Sadly, she passed away on 12/13/95 at the age of 43. If "standards" are your bag, no one can sing Mercer or Mancini better than Nancy. Her vocal material includes offbeat often forgotten tunes as well ("Rhode Island is Famous For You").
There is an indescribable "magic" in her voice...Don't miss out on one of life's late, great treasures.
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...my favorites nonetheless: Kate Bush (Hounds of Love may be her best); PJ Harvey (Songs From the City...is her best); Jennifer Warnes (esp. Famous Blue Raincoat); Sarah Brightman; post-country k.d.lang; and what's-her-name Enya's sister from the old Clannad recordings, particularly the songs sung in Gaelic. |
I left off Bjork! She's a love-it or hate-it affair for most folks -- I happen to love her music. |
Listen to Patricia Barber and Jill Scott. |
Could everyone please listen to "best of Cowboy Junkies" before we have any further discussions, just so we can get some perspective on where you may be coming from.... |
Just one song guys......but if you want to hear a really REALLY good female vocalist, check out the HAND SONG by NICKEL CREEK. Mostly Bluegrass and not many vocals but that one song is worth the price of admission.
The violin bites nicely as well.
Happy listening!
PS Linda, yes good ol Ms. R is great on LUSHLIFE. |
This bands first album is titled the same as the bands name, they have since broken up after just 2 albums total. Had a chance to see them twice here in Chicago ( The Green Door ) & ( The Park West ). The lead singer Mary Fahl has a voice that will melt your heart. She has since gone off on her own and everybody is still waiting for a full release of songs but it has been over 4 or 5 years now. The cd will be hard to find , usually ebay has some but I can not recommend this first album enough. I think I played it every day for about a year and I guarantee that once you hear this voice, you will be saying " Man what a voice, what a band "
Later,
Bill |
Have to include Sinead O'Connor -- esp I do not want what I haven't got. |
Ok, gotta be Joni Mitchel, not just for voice, but style, composition, overall musical soulfullness. And what about Stevie Nicks? Her work with Fleetwood Mac and even solo is not too shabby.
jobe |
Forget D.K. - Great recordings, but I'd take Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Karen Carpenter and Linda Ronstadt any day for vocals over Diana Krall |
Billy Holliday & Ella Fitzgerald recordings. Especially the Mobile Fidelity Ultradic CDs. |
Hello,
I heard for my first time, while auditioning speakers for my first time since 1978, Rebecca Pidgeon sing "Rose In Sapnish Harlem". It was on a pair of Paradigm Studio 60's being powered by a 250watt amp. I have never heard anything that sounded that good. I can still hear her voice in my mind. It gave me goosebumpbs.
JohnnyW |
Two of my favorites....
Ella Fitzgerald (Clap hands...here comes Charlie)
Carmen McCrae (Sings the Great American songbook) |
I forgot, Bonnie Raitt, what a combo of musical ability and voice
joeb |
Songbird.........Eva Cassidy and The Well...........Jennifer Warnes are my favorites, there are many more. |
If you're not a traditionalist (ie: jazz & classical) give (Amplified Heart - album) by (Everything But The Girl - band". The voice is Tracey Thorn's. I think you can place her along with "Margo Timmins of cowboy junkie", Sade and the like. |
well I looked at a lot of responses, but there are a lot in there. I apologize if I repeat anyone, but I didn't see them at first glance anywhere in the list.
Mazzy Star
Bjork
Sinead O'Connor
Lamb (a couple of tracks)
No disrespect to any older recordings. I simply haven't taken the oppurtunity to get to know a lot of those albums.
This is just a list of modern artists that fit the bill.
enjoy,
Patrick |
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Lots of great singers hear that I agree with.
Some of my absolute favorites are:
Natalie Merchant-Motherland
Eva Cassidy-Live at Blues Alley
Norah Jones- Come away with me.(If her looks don't melt your heart her voice on track 3 surely will!) Don't walk..Run to get these CD's if you don't have them. Norah is addictive I warn you now.
Also let me add Jewel-Pieces of you is pretty good as well.
Butch |
Viginia Rodrigues: "Nos", particularly tracks 3 & 7, and "Sol Negro" |
Haven't been a jazz or a classical officianado by any means but based on recommendations here, I went and bought a Dianna Krall CD "Look of Love" - listened to it for 3-days straight, for the music and for the recording. I just put in a order for the following. Hope they stack up to DK:
"Call of the Valley" -- My own choosing; Its indian classical or with classical influence.
"Songbird" Eva Cassidy
"Modern Cool" Patricia Barber
"Famous Blue Raincoat [IMPORT] Jennifer Warnes - couldn't find "the hunter".
"Belly of the Sun" Cassandra Wilson |
how about holly cole TEMPTATIoN??? |
Jewel, that's great that you're discovering all these great voices and songstresses. Dianan Krall is one of my all time favorites as well, but I actually prefer every CD previous to "The Look of Love". Definitely have a listen to her earlier stuff. I hope you are as entranced with your new CDs too! Have fun. |
any thing bye Laura Bush!!! |
So I'm sure a bunch (all?) read stererophile, and this month they reviewed a ABSOLUTE WINNER in Noarh Jones. I actually picked up this CD about 2 months ago, when it first hit the stands. I go to the Music dept. of Borders frequently, and they had it at a listening station. This is a very good CD.
You may also want to check out Gillian Welch (the first CD is the best one).
Happy Listening,
Z |
Hi Gunbei - I received the CDs yesterday. One thing for sure, the sound quality is great in all of them. But for my more big city, upbeat and funky taste, they all seemed too much of an aquired taste, too moody.
"Songbird" Eva Cassidy - nice but won't get a lot of play.
"Modern Cool" Patricia Barber - the best among these, funky and the recording quality is better (20 bit) than the rest.
"Famous Blue Raincoat [IMPORT] Jennifer Warnes - Paid the most ($19) liked the least. I can do rock/country at someone else's place, not mine - this is both or I think this is the one.
"Belly of the Sun" Cassandra Wilson. Great voice, I'll probably listen to it every now and then.
Stuff I bought based on recommendation here, I liked Dianna Krall's "Look of Love" the best.
I'll go through the "Classical" recommendations next. |
200+ Responses to this thread and no mention of Linda Eder. NOT her latest(Gold), although it is still good, but the two before this one: "It's Time" and "It's No Secret Anymore" She has a voice like no one else. Her vocals are backed by an energetic orchestra. Very few recordings this much fun. |
Norah jones cd- 9 bucks at tower. Do yourself a favor and buy it.great cd. |
