Modern day female jazz recommendations


We all know the classics from decades ago. What are your favorite your more contemporary female jazz singers of today?

Living close to Nashville I have the opportunity to see and hear a lot of up and coming artists. Nashville is NOT just country music by a long shot.

I'll start with Diana Krall....
dean_fuller
Rachael Price. In my opinion, by far one of the best female jazz singers currently recording. Her rendition of "You Go to My Head" makes me weak in the knees. The sultriness of her voice is incredibly sexy and enticing. That's what singing jazz is all about to me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_WzB3l66o8
Fay Victor.
Lazy Old Sun, recorded live in Amsterdam is my favorite of the two albums I currently have of her's. An absolute masterpiece. Heavy rotation in my musical life.
try to find some new cd's coming out on Paulette McWilliams; great female jazz singer; who has sung back up for Celine Dion, and Michale Jackson; now has her own cd out...sweeet and saltry..

Anna Marie Jopek from Poland. First English language release, Secret. Nice cover of Moondance. Just good straightforward singing.
Check out 2 vocalists on the Venus Label from Japan. Tessa Souter and Nicki Parott. Audiophile label that presses vinyl as well. Have been available from Eastwind Imports, Acoustic Sounds and Music Direct.
Since were approaching 10 years after her death a vote for Susannah McCorkle is over due. Thou she lacked the seamless voice of Fitzgerald she had all the intangibles, the ability to make the song her own with class and dignity.
Erin Bode.... a flair that leans pop, but undoubtably Jazz.
I have 3 cd's all are recorded by a small record company called MAX JAZZ and are certainly very good to excellent recordings.
The Little Garden....
Don't Take your Time
Over and Over
Maybe I'm late to the party...but I've got to say that the finest talent, new to me, that I've heard in the past 20 years, is Renee Olstead.
She's just now 22 years old--but if one goes to youtube and watches her "Someone to Watch Over Me", that she performed at the ripe old age of 14...you'll hear someone who's voice sounds, angelic, beautiful, well seasoned and just beyond imagination. (Feel like Rod Serling with that one).
WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW.
She has two albums--I have both, and they're hypnotic--she takes ownership of every song she sings...they are hers once you've heard her sing them.
"A once in a generation or two, or three, voice!"

Larry
Rachelle Ferrell went the R&B route, but her second album "First Instrument" is pure Jazz and remains my favorite Female Jazz vocal album to this day. It has only two stars on allmusic.com and no one seems to know about it, but I think it is brilliant.
"All that's missing from these genre relaxed works is the murmer of conversations and the tinkling of glassware" - Garn509 - lol, I couldn't agree with you more.
I sampled many of the names contributed, and, "YAWN". All that's missing from these genre relaxed works is the murmer of conversations and the tinkling of glassware. What a rut ! Jazz does not stop at the Atlantic and Pacific, nor with the Mel Torme style. There is great music being produced in Brazil right now.
Hello Guys ,

Great thread !

Tried Roberta Gambarini, after hearing about her for the first time here, fantastic singer! the best of the newbies IMO and highly recommended.

Rite of passage by Sunny Sumter is also a thumbsup , give
sophie Milman a listen also...

regards,
Been giving Sunny Sumter another spin as I found her first CD and then went back to her Larry Willis produced Mappleshade.
Chazz
Roberta Gambarini,, has a vocal range and tonal purity that will remind you of Ella! Simply the best contemporary female jazz singer of a generation..
I recommend Mina Agossi, the NOT wannabee like somebody else. You may want to try the "Simple Things" cd with her vocal interpretations of Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix songs
I don't know if you would call this jazz, some Bossa Nova in there and lots of big band but the guy is brilliant - Michael Bubl'e. Was never into this type of music until I heard one of his CDs, now I have them all......in the past month!!
Frank Sinatra style with a more intimate and romantic edge and lovely recordings. If you want to experiment don't get any live stuff (can't remember the name of my "live" CD). A lot more talent than Diana Krall and a bit more life to his music too. Interested to see if any of you are familiar.
Melody Gardot--really good music, and good lush recording--perhaps a little too buttery for some, but I like that lush sound of an orchestra.
Plus, her voice is (to my taste) just about as sexy as one could ask for. Plus she has an interesting story--injured, having been hit by a car.
Buy her last album--you can see her singing on you tube.
BEst,

Larry
D&A
Thanks for the FA tip, it is a strangely addictive album that
I keep finding myself listening to it!
A few good crossover projects with female voice:

Fiona Apple "Extraordinary Machine"

I think I've worn out my first copy, played it so much.
A few good crossover projects with female voice:

Fiona Apple "Extraordinary Machine"
Petra Haden and Bill Frisell
Allison Krause should deserve some mention; though more country style; but her voice fits in with many of the others suggested. I enjoy her solo album more than her Grammy duet "The Letter" that came out last year. Because of this thread; I've gone out and purchased many of the CD's recommended; many thanks to the 'Gon community for a great post; I am now enjoying artists I might never have heard of..I am enjoying Stacey Kent; Shirley Horn; Price,Cole, and Barber...
Great thread...thanks.
Sorry-of course it is Stacey Kent.

BTW, Melody Gardot's second album is out-very good! A complete musician at a very young age!
And now for the change-up, Ingrid Lucia and the Flying Neutrinos' "Hotel Child". You will love this cd. Trust me.
Kevyn Lettau, Melody Gardot, Eleni Mandell, Robin McKelle, and Kate McGarry to add to what has already been mentioned.

L
Same comment again - it is Stacey Kent, not Tracey Kent. Agree - Stacey and Jim are a geat combo.
Forgot to mention Carrol Kidd in last post here.I like a lot of Tracey Kent and her husband tenor man Jim Tomlinson usually backs her and she shows up on his CD's-very Prez/Zoot/Harry Allen line of as opposed to Webster/Hawkins lineage).Roberta Gambrini is fine Italian singer.But right now I think Dee Dee Bridgewater and Diane Reeves are the top singers.
Chazz
Anyone mention Norah Jones...great voice. Her first record, "Come away with me" is a tour de force by the recording studio. I also want to say how much Shirley Horn will be missed...Here's to Life... here's to Shirley....
Would that be Stacey Kent? One of my favorites. Incidently, Stacey is in NYC at Birdland June 2-6.
I bought Susie Arioli and Tracey Kent. They are both fantastic artists. Tracey has a warm sultry voice. Arioli also has great voice and some well-recorded live stuff.

I am curious. As a result of this post has anyone gone out and purchased any of the artists that were recommended here?

If so how would you rate the artist?
I also picked up "The Best of Holly Cole". Very nice voice, some neat songs I had never heard as well as some covers like "I've just seen a face" and "Alison".
I'll probably look for some more Holly Cole too.
Check out Frank Sinatra's Duets I & II, I know he's a he...but this disc has some great vocals with Carly Simon, Patti laBelle, Chrissie Hynde, Aretha, Barbara Streisand, Gloria Estefan, and on it goes, also there's a duet with Jimmy Buffet doing Mack the Knife. Very Cool... and I was NEVER a fan of the chairman, until now..go figure!
I would LOVE to hear Crissie Hynde do a "jazz" standards type disc!
Foster 9 Her inclusion in the Monterey Jazz Festival 50TH Anniversary All-Stars Album should have been a clue. If you haven't heard the album "HERITAGE" and the song "HERITAGE" ( my favorite) get it, more ballad than jazz but one of her best albums IMO.
Don't forget k.d. lang, granted she's not a dedicated Jazz singer but she can sing in almost any genre with a depth, passion and beauty that's truly over the top. Her Jazz tunes and collaboration with Tony Bennet were just superb.

REL2
Samhar I saw your post mentioning Nnenna Freelon. The folks here just don't seem to understand. Finally someone else other than me acknowledges what a jazz vocal talent she is. Her voice is one of the best jazz voices out there today but few members here seem to get it...

At least we understand!