Looking for good recordings of female vocals I have not yet tried...

I suggest you try "Calypso Blues" by Youn Sun Nah. It's just female vocal and upright bass.

If she has not been mentioned…Laura Nyro. 
Enjoy. 

The Queen  — Nina Simone

Patricia Barber - Cafe Blue "Un-mastered"  SACD

 

Beegie Adair for jazz piano

Sara Gazarek jazz vocals

Halie Loren jazz vocals

Chantal Chamberland jazz vocals

Stacey Kent jazz vocals

Some great offerings here…

Try: Youn Sun Nah - Shenandoah ; Album = On Voyage.

Spectacular recording on a highly resolving system…

Many great suggestions!!

Eva Cassidy was mentioned previously. Check out her Songbird/ Live at Blues Alley.  Great combo of power & grace w/ a great band behind & excellent live recording. Some harder blues / rock & some beautiful solo ballads w/ just acoustic guitar. 

 

 

Eva Cassidy

Cesaria Evora

Sara Tavares

Youn Sun Nah

Holly Cole

To mention some not mentioned earlier.... 

Neko Case 

Jenny Lewis 

Nicole Atkins 

Joan Osborne 

Natalie Merchant 

Margo Timmons 

Kelly Hogan 

Rosanne Cash 

Patty Griffin 

Diane Schuur, all of her albums especially “Blues for Schuur.

Cassandra Wilson

Allison Russell

Annie Lennox

If you enjoy Billy Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, and Ella Fitzgerald I recommend Cecile McLorin Salvant.

Robinella and the CC string band

Rosanne Cash. Rules of Travel

KD Lang. Hymns of the 49th Parallel

 

 

 

Dinah Washington!!!

Possibly now viewed as quite uncool:

Julie London, 'Around Midnight' album1960

Doris Day, Secret Love among many others

Lani Hall (already mentioned) Sergio Mendez &B66 'Equinox' 1967

Swingle Singers, especially with Christiane Legrand (Michel's sister), but the modern incarnations are also good and well recorded, e.g. Bach hits back

Surprised not to see Sarah Vaughn mentioned yet...

All very good suggestions above.

But for an amazing voice performer that no one has mentioned, or probably heard, check out Chris Webster. Locally famous in Northern California. Quboz has only two of her albums, but a good start!

-G

Lucinda Williams

Kevyn Lettau

This is my tidal playlist 

great female vocals 

 

 

 

I have been thinking to myself "Why are people recommending non-Jazz female singers?" I just realized the request was for female singers in general, not just Jazz. Duh!

Some of my faves have already been mentioned (Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Dusty Springfield, Patsy Cline, Shelby Lynne, Alison Krauss, Rosanne Cash, etc.), others haven’t. They include:

 

- Iris DeMent (Traditional Country/Bluegrass).

- Julie Miller (Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Christian).

- Sam Phillips (Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Christian).

- Mary Gauthier (Singer/Songwriter, Folk).

- Lou Ann Barton (Blues, R & B).

- Darlene Love (Soul, R & B, Pop).

- Joan Osborne (R & B, Pop).

- Kasey Chambers (Trad. Country).

- Dolly Parton (Trad. Country, Bluegrass).

- Tammy Wynette (Trad. Country).

- Loretta Lynn (Trad. Country).

- Carlene Carter (Rock ’n’ Roll, Trad. Country).

- Mavis Staples (Soul, R & B, Gospel).

- Bonnie Raitt (Blues, R & B).

- Wanda Jackson (Rockabilly).

- Brenda Lee (Rock ’n’ Roll, Rockabilly, Pop).

- Patty Loveless (Trad. Country, Bluegrass).

- June Carter (Trad. Country).

- Maryann Price (Dan Hicks, The Kinks, Asleep At The Wheel).

 

There are dozens more, but that’s enough for starters ;-) .

This is one of the best, most informative and interesting threads ever.

I have no digital in my main system. Only TT analog. So, I am missing out on probably the best thing about digital: learning about new music.

I bought the first three woman’s album. All are exactly what I like most: solo guitar, etc. non processed, super interesting women singers whose interpretations are unique and highly musical. Partly, I wanted to make this comment so I would have this thread in “related to you”.

Surprised that Claire Martin hasn't yet been mentioned. An excellent jazz singer, and her work is well-recorded.

Claire Martin was mentioned in the first few posts! I ordered that LP.

Ella Fitzgerald has to be included.

Anita O'Day is another very good jazz singer.

Peggy Lee sizzles.

Cécile McLorin Salvant is worth a listen

 

Great thread - I've been enlightened.

I didn't know;

Susie Arioli

Kristin Asbjørnsen

Melody Bardot (Wow - she's great)

Youn Sun Nah

All are now in my playlist - Thanks!!

Mindy Smith: One Moment More..... Surprisingly good recording and good music to boot

Eva Cassidy:  Live at Blues Alley..... Clean recording, can get a bit hot on a few spots, but overall, very good. 

Erin Bode:  Don't Take Your Time, Over and Over, Little Garden, Here and Now....All recordings are good to very good, nice laid back jazzy sound... I like all of these albums. 

 

Jonatha Brooke

Neko Case

Marti Jones

Katydids

Wendy MaHarry

Over The Rhine

Dina Regine

Renaissance

Kim Richey

Bic Runga

Susie Suh

 

Tracy Chapman 

Shirley Bassy "Goldfinger"

Peggy Lee

My all time favorite jazz vocalist is Carol Sloane 👍

Best wishes,

Don

I recent had an interesting experience at a friend’s house. He has a terrific system using a very high end digital kit. Maybe around $50K.

We listened to several cuts the digital then the analog.

I was somewhat subjectively convinced of the superiority of vinyl when hearing C,S,N &Y. As a lifetime guitar guy, I am very familiar with the tone of a $250K+ old Martin the likes of which David Crosby plays. The tone of his guitar on digital sound great. But the tone with analog TT clearly sounded like an old Martin. There was no comparison. Analog hands down. Not just incredible detail but incredible reality!

 

Give a listen (or more) to Susanne Sundfør's wonderful album Music for People in Trouble. Not only she's got a beautiful voice, the lyrics is also something else (plus, from an audiophile perspective, you'll enjoy all the ambient noises). It's been on my turntable regularly for years, and I can't get bored of its beauty.

Really? No mention of Yoko Ono?

Someone mentioned early Linda Ronstadt, but the three albums of standards she did with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra would definitely fit the bill.

Happy Listening,

df

So many greats that I love already mentioned. Let me add Fiona Apple and her recent album Fetch The Bolt Cutters.

 

Also Mavis Staples.

Ann Wilson (Heart)

Sade

Dominque Fils-Aime

 

Joan Baez -Ring Them Bells (Live)

Joni Mitchell - no faves

Janis Ian - Breaking Silence

Shawn Colvin - no faves

Mary Chapin Carpenter - no faves (sort of country)

Joanie Sommers - she can sing anything and turn everything into a hit

Connie Stevens

Amanda Jensen

Dusty Springfield

Many great suggestions.  Not mentioned:

Shirley Horn “Here’s To Life” - Gorgeous recording.  Arrangements by the great Johnny Mandel.

Abbey Lincoln “You Gotta Pay The Band” - Bonus: Stan Getz as guest soloist.

Phoebe Snow “Phoebe Snow”.  Fantastic record in a “folksy” vein.  Guest appearance by Zoot Sims.  Bonus: Great sounding, mostly acoustic, recording.

Elis Regina.  Probably the greatest Brazilian female vocalist of all time.  Anything by her is worthwhile,  

Netania Navrath “Chants d’Auvergne” (Canteloube).  Gorgeous music; gorgeous recording.  

 

Frog Records remastered the entire Bessie Smith catalogue. Back in the day I had the Columbia box set but was disenchanted with the sound quality. The Frog remasters are simply amazing by comparison.

If you like art music, I’ve heard good things about Mediaeval Baebes. I’m going to discover them myself.

https://www.mediaevalbaebes.com/

On the Striking It Rich album by Dan Hicks And His Hot Licks (produced by Tommy LiPuma---nominated for 33 Grammys, 5 of which he won, engineered by Bruce Botnick---best known for the Doors albums---at Sunset Sound in L.A.), Maryann price sings the classic "I’m An Old Cowhand" with a remarkably relaxed (and delicious lasciviousness that would make your grandma blush ;-) feel (like she’s had a few, and maybe a reefer), backed by a deeply-swinging small Jazz combo (upright bass, Gibson L-5 archtop guitar, snare drum played with brushes, fiddle). As a welcome bonus, excellent recorded sound quality, demo material.

Ernestine Anderson - Moonlight in Vermont 

Anita Baker - 

Change Moore w/ The Rippingtons

Lissie - Dreams

 

Dominique Fils-Amie, Three little words 

For starters, I would suggest:

• The Truly Unforgettable Voice of Florence Foster Jenkins (Sony Classical/RCA Red Seal 88985319622)

Either the original CD or the 2016 remastered version.

@917nut  YES on Dusty... was my mom's absolute favorite. Has no one mentioned Adele? - voice of the decade. Lauryn Hill, amazing! Amy Lee of Evanescence, C'mon. May not be the OPs cup of tea but geez. Barbara Streisand, Blossom Dearie, Anne Bisson! So many...

Cecile McLorin Salvant 
 

Karen Carpenter

Holly Cole (esp 'Don't Smoke in Bed' album)

Patricia O'Callaghan

Susan Jacks (from Poppy Family)