Modern day female jazz recommendations

Rachael Price. I just picked up a re-released 2008 CD originally recorded in 2003 by the then 17 year old Rachael Price. Ella influenced with a beautiful voice can't wait to get some of her current work.

To call some of these people Jazz performers stretches my definition a little. Don't get me wrong, I love virtually all of them, if not their music, but I'd have to say that when I think of Jazz female vocalists, Ella comes to mind, Sassy Sarah, Billie; after that, there are select few.
Maybe its because Ella sang improvisationally, as did Sarah some, but the rest just touch the outer edges, at least, to me.
As much as I love Buble's music, I don't think of Jazz when I think of him--more of old standards with Big Bands to the rear. Obviously I'm wrong as he's listed in the Jazz bins and charts.
Anyone else see this distinction?

Mary Beth Maziarz is pretty sweet though she might not fit into the jazz part.

Speaking of babes with incredible voices, has any heard Carla Bruni? Unbelievable... and french!

If Jane Monheit's musical selections were as terrific as her physical appearance, WOW, she'd be at the top of all the 'more lustful' male audiophiles on this site!

Mina Agossi has a very refreshing and different style

NNENNA FREELON!!! Blues, ballads she just has an involving style with a great voice.

Patricia Barber - Modern day or Any day - Words totally fail me. I seriously doubt I will hear her equal, let alone a better female jazz vocalist/musician, in my lifetime. But in the same breath, I can only hope that I am proven wrong on that one!

unreal, patricia barber,,,, nothing more to say.

Get the Pamela Brown CD with Horace Parlan.Her career mainly in Europe but she's great.Did I mention Stacey Kent before
Cheers
Chazz

Definitely different Jazz singer and try the track Money to slap a bass!

Not Jazz you say, maybe technically but...If you're just looking at great sounding female vocalists with great music... K.D. Lang with Tony Bennet is awesome and rather Jazz based, There are a ton of Bonnie Raitt songs that are sheer vocal delights. Also, Michelle Shocked has a great voice. Another blast from the past, the Linda Ronstadt triple album, think it's called "After Midnight" recorded with the Nelson Riddle orchestra...INCREDIBLE! The Trio albums of Linda Ronstadt, Emylou Harris and Dolly Parton are pretty sweet too. As others have said, Patricia Barber, Eva Cassidy, are great, one smokey and sultry the other open clear and sweet.
But if you want fire and brimstone female vocals (not Jazz for sure) The all time queen is still Janis. No, not Ian,.... Joplin.

A lot of good suggestions, I would add one name knowone has mentioned, a wonderful Scandinavian singer called Katrine Madsen. There really is a lot of good Jazz coming out of Scandinavia, perhaps it's the long dark winters. She does'nt have a large discography, but has an expressive, smoky contralto voice. I love Holly Cole, Karrin Allyson, Stacey Kent and others, but Katrine is my favourite. "You are so beautiful" is a great starting point, but all her CD's are strongly recommended, nothing on LP as far as I know.

You need to check out Rachael Price that is mentioned
in Tabl10s's post.

My new favorite is Rene Marie. You can down load some free music from her website.

Albert, I saw Rachael mentioned (on AA) about a week ago and fell in love with what I have heard. I hope some great vinyl is in her future as I think it would certainly sell well. For 23 years old, she has potential for greatness.

Steve

Since I’m into this thread now, my suggestions are ( in no particular order)

Carmen McRae
Dee Dee Bridgewater
Cassandra Wilson
Ernestine Anderson

Peggy Lee
Sarah Vaughan
Dinah Washington.

I know the last three are not modern day, but they have had such an enormous influence on me I wanted to list them.

Wwwrecords, that's an awesome suggestion, she sounds amazing based on the samples at that web site.

Wonder if she will release on LP like so many new artists are doing?

Rachael Price

http://www.rachaelprice.net/

Kellylee Evans. Her first cd "Fight or Flight" for something new and different. All original songs and an excellent performance and recording.

I have to "second" the Tierney Sutton recommendations. An earlier poster, last year, mentioned Tierney Sutton's voice as being nasal. I completely disagree with that. Her voice is silky pure. The nassl one, in my opinion, is Stacey Kent.

Paula West is also immensely talented, but unheralded unfortunately.

leah Randazzo Group

http://www.myspace.com/leahrandazzogroup

Looked at my old post and forgot to mention that Diz's daughter is named Jeanie Bryson.Her stuff is great.Diane Reeves is best out there now.Also if you can find early 70's LP/CD of Dee Dee Bridgewater (right up thier with Reeves) is one she did called "Afro Blue".Stunning!!!!!

Tierney Sutton!!! Excellent musician, improvises as an instrumentalist would, perfect pitch, and wonderful voice. I'd start with "Something Cool" (2002, also available in hybrid/SACD) or "I'm with the Band" which was recorded live at Birdland in 2005. Her latest album was released last year and is on my short list.

I have heard almost all of the above suggested artists and Tierney is my favorite.

08-15-08: Robertd said:
"holly cole, sue mc corkle, amy winehouse"

Wow, I agree that all are great singers; however, one actually committed suicide and one is doing it slowly. Holly may not be self-destructive, but she's certainly focused on the down side.

These singers are in my library, but they don't get played a lot by me. My mood has to be "just right." Still, thanks for the suggestions.

Do you feel ok today???

Dave

As far as new jazz vocalists go, I love Carmen Lundy and Karen Blixt.

I love Carmen Lundy and Karen Blixt :)

Judy Wexler is a wonderful singer. Excellent phrasing and great intonation coupled to real interpretive skill. Great taste in music too. Wonderful collaborator in pianist Jeff Collela who is also a great arranger. Latest CD, "Dreams and Shadows" is great.

Dazone, I agree, Amy Winehouse has a voice that is on of the best in the world, but her drug and alcohol problems, anti-social behavior, and unhealthy anorexic appearance, are taking away from her supreme vocal talent. She may well end up dead soon just as many exceptional performers before her.

holly cole, sue mc corkle, amy winehouse

Cassandra Wilson! IMHO, she carries the throne of of jazz vocalists. She sings other genres as well. New album just out: "Loverly". Can't wait to listen...

Also, I just discovered a young talent by the name of Melody Gardot.

I've been listening to a young vocalist who performs with a quartet and as a duo with her bass player; mostly in clubs in the Northeast. Her name? Katie Bull. If you get a chance to see her live, she puts on a good show. she has a couple of CDs out (their titles escape me) but I suspect we will be hearing more of her.

Try Esperanza Spalding for a contemporary jazz female vocalist and she plays the Bass during her songs. Saw her on David Letterman's show this last week. She's new, but worth hearing right now.

Good thread. FYI, Sue McCorkle died a few years back, suicide. She had had some health problems and career setbacks. I have tons of he stuff and loved it all.
I second alot of the stuff on this list. Some oters.. Laverne Butler is another below the radar singer...bluesy with a Carmen feel. Carmen Mcrae obviously has to be mentioned. Rene Marie, Anne Hampton Callaway, Rebecca Kilgore, Diane Schurr, Jackie Allen, Carla Helmbrecht,an Irish singer whose name escapes me now..very Billie influenced. Old Nancy Wilson with Cannonball Adderly and some other standards oriented sets.

I haven't seen anyone mention Sandy Sasso. She is great. Start with Mixed Grill. I have been using Tuxedo Junction for speaker auditions and have won her fans in the process. I suspect VMPS may be using that song to show off their speakers now. Another one you don't hear about too much about in recent years is Susanne McCorkle. She can be a bit quirky but a lot of fun. Dream is a good starting CD. Sophie Milman has a lot of potential, beautiful voice but she needs to develop more. Still, her Make Somebody Happy (I hope I remember that right) is very pretty and is well worth a listen, if only for Rocket Love. Holly Cole, especially her new solo album, Cheryle Bentyne is fun.

Rosa Passos for some excellent, well recorded modern bossa nova. By the way, I checked out Madeleine Peyroux based on recommendations in this thread and absolutely love her singing.

Rickie Lee Jones...
Check out the new RLJ release if you haven't already. Called "It's Like This" - an Incredible pressing from Analogue Productions.

Shirley Horne - "Here's to Life", heavy rotation here

I've been obsessing over Kelly Flint of Dave's True Story for a while now. Although I sampled her latest, without Dave, and find it very boring. Funny how that happens sometimes, like with Keely Smith. I find her extraordinary with Louis Prima, but boring without. Anyway, any three of these finds Kelly at her best, IMO:
"Dave's True Story";
"Sex Without Bodies"; and
"Nature".

Very good responses, yo! This fan is impressed. One of these days, not just yet, Amy Winehouse. Just past, Shirley Horne- You Won't Forget Me (Verve). Sound quality, ah, like 10.

Julie Day... (julieday.org)

Christy Baron, Rebecca Pideon, Jacintha

I second Jane Monheit

Fabulous young jazz vocalist

Susie Arioli band - 30's swing recorded today with a minimalist band playing archtops, upright bass, etc. Fantastic music and recordings. And fun!

I recently discovered Sasha Dobson and Erin Boheme.

Carol Kidd "Nice work" on Linn what krall wishes she could be!

Maria Muldaur. I know she isn't really Jazz, but her Dylan Love Songs album is one of the best I've ever heard.

An easy way to check out some of these recommended singers is either with the samples at Amazon or the artists' sites.

Dave

Unfortunately Newbee I am not familiar with the singers you mention. I hope you'll check out Nnenna Freelon anyway. You can get a feel for her voice here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSqQPTtUW2o