Female jazz vocalists of the 1920s/30s/40s/50s

[Elgarian]

A few years ago, after decades of indifference, I found myself enjoying swing jazz for the first time in my life. I started listening to Benny Goodman but quickly came to realise that what I most responded to were the pieces with a contribution from a female vocalist - most notably the incomparable swinging singing of Helen Ward. That led me to Helen Forrest; then Ivie Anderson, with Duke Ellington; early Peggy Lee, Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday, and the like - and above all Anita O'Day. I bought Anita O'Day CDs as if they were lollipops melting on a hot day and I had to rescue them all.

After that first flush of wild enthusiasm things settled down more quietly, but the whole thing resurfaced recently when I stumbled across the remarkable Annette Hanshaw, whose brief career spanned the end of the 1920s and the beginning of the 1930s. At first I thought she was just an attractive sort of flapper pop singer - and of course she is, partly, that. But she phrases the songs with wonderfully creative insight, often suggesting a fragile and vulnerable character hiding behind a veneer of cheerfulness. I've lost track of how many times I've listened to her rendition of 'Mean to Me':

http://www.youtube.com/v/q6s7-5IaMeM

There didn't seem to be a place where I could chat amiably about this sort of thing - it's a lot more specific than merely 'jazz', as you see - so I thought I'd create this new thread and see if there were any kindred spirits out there.

[mc ukrneal]

Interesting confluence of events. I am not the biggest expert in this area, though I know a little. But a friend of mine recently mentioned something about Mamie Smith (who may or may not be of interest to you). But that led me to do a little research and I came across this interesting list just a couple of days ago: http://www.lib.odu.edu/exhibits/womenshistorymonth/2003/vocal.htm. You will surely recognize some of the names. Ethel Waters sang in some films and had a remarkable voice. One of my favorite songs has always been Stormy Weather, with which she is associated. She started with Blues.

Ella Fitzgerald wasn't on your list, but you will find plenty of her, so I'll skip her for now. Alberta Hunter is a very interesting character - she started as a singer, changed careers and became a nurse. She would have happily stayed a nurse to the end if not forced to retire. Mildred Bailey was known as the Queen of Swing and Mrs. Swing. Anyway, lots of names to explore if you like. Here's one with her: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7PjdY4YaQg&feature=related.

One person not on the list, and often credited with influencing Ella Fitzgerlad was Connee Boswell. She used a wheelchair her whole life. Here is something you will recognize: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZCi2WQ6rNg

[Zizekian]

Although it came out in 1960 or so and doesn't technically fit in with your '20s-'50s thread, Abbey Lincoln's work on Max Roach's We Insist! Freedom Now Suite is excellent and among my favorite female jazz vocalist performances.

http://www.youtube.com/v/yTGUkQQkttg

[snyprrr]

Helen Merrill (sic?)

[Elgarian]

Interesting confluence of events. I am not the biggest expert in this area, though I know a little. But a friend of mine recently mentioned something about Mamie Smith (who may or may not be of interest to you). But that led me to do a little research and I came across this interesting list just a couple of days ago: http://www.lib.odu.edu/exhibits/womenshistorymonth/2003/vocal.htm. You will surely recognize some of the names. Ethel Waters sang in some films and had a remarkable voice. One of my favorite songs has always been Stormy Weather, with which she is associated. She started with Blues.

What has tended to happen is that when I find a singer that strikes a personal chord, so to speak, I explore that particular person's recordings for a while to the (temporary) exclusion of others. So I end up being quite familiar with a few select singers and hardly at all familiar with some often more famous ones. I've bumped into Ethel Waters and she's on my radar, but she hasn't had 'the treatment' yet.

I must say I agree with you about Stormy Weather; it's a great favourite of mine too, along with I Apologise, Smoke gets in your eyes (I love Dinah Washington's versions of those three), and while I'm on a roll, how about Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered, and A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (this last nailed forever by Anita O'Day).

Ella Fitzgerald wasn't on your list, but you will find plenty of her, so I'll skip her for now.

I found her enormous back-catalogue altogether too daunting at the outset, but as it happens I've just recently ordered a collection of some of her best-known recordings.

Alberta Hunter is a very interesting character - she started as a singer, changed careers and became a nurse. She would have happily stayed a nurse to the end if not forced to retire. Mildred Bailey was known as the Queen of Swing and Mrs. Swing. Anyway, lots of names to explore if you like. Here's one with her: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7PjdY4YaQg&feature=related.

Hunter's new to me, but Mildred Bailey isn't - I have the 4 CD Proper Box collection of her stuff. I haven't exactly warmed to her yet, but I'm making new breakthroughs all the time, so I've no doubt I'll get to know her better.

One person not on the list, and often credited with influencing Ella Fitzgerlad was Connee Boswell. She used a wheelchair her whole life. Here is something you will recognize: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZCi2WQ6rNg

She's another singer on my radar but as yet unexplored. There are so many of them, almost all worth exploring, that it's bound to take a long time.


At the moment I'm obsessed with Annette Hanshaw, though, and have just discovered that one particular label has produced remastered recordings of unparalleled quality: it's the (incomplete) series of jazz and blues CDs on the Sensation label - volumes 5, 6 and 7 are devoted to Annette:



I just bought volume 6 (above) and whoever cleaned these recordings up did a superb job. There really is no comparison between these and the various other collections of Hanshaw recordings that are available (just search on Amazon to see them). I simply have to get vols 5 and 7, now, and some of the purchases I've already made may become redundant.

As for Annette herself: there seems to be only one piece of film that has survived, and here it is. I find it endlessly watchable:

http://www.youtube.com/v/3I12Wwc9qo4

[Ataraxia]

Good thread topic.

Not a lot of time right now but I will mention that Ella used to be my favorite until Sarah Vaughan came along.

And how about those Boswell Sisters?  0:)

[escher]

i absolutely love this Manhattan made by Lee Wiley with Bobby Hackett
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK3ZqLXxacs

and another singer who started in the fifties i love is Lorez Alexandria.
Her rendition of Baltimore oriole is a classic, altough this one is the version she did in 1963 and not the one on This is Lorez in 1957
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKELUG2nQVE

[Elgarian]

i absolutely love this Manhattan made by Lee Wiley with Bobby Hackett
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK3ZqLXxacs

Thanks for the tip-off for Lee Wiley, who's new to me - but clearly someone I should put on my list.

[eyeresist]

 
Doris Day!

That is all.

[early grey]

Well.... if Doris Day can be listed in a thread for Female Jazz singers then I hope you will accept:
                          Nancy Wilson, three standout songs, "Never let me go"  and "Please send me someone to love" from the superb "Yesterday's Love Songs: Tomorrow's Blues" with the Gerald Wilson Orchestra, a stunning "Ode to Billie Joe" on "Welcome to my love".  There's also the collaboration with Cannonball and Nat Adderley.
                          Dakota Staton and a jazz group, "The Late Late Show" with Jonah Jones on trumpet has one of the best "Summertime"s IMHO.
                          Barbara McNair channels the Streisand sound on "The Livin' End" but  has enough individuality to make it a great album nonetheless. "What are you afraid of? " was banned by at least one Broadcasting organisation ( too suggestive?). I know because I saw the organisation's library copy annotated with the ban.


www.cliveheathmusic.co.uk
                         

[Elgarian]

Well.... if Doris Day an be listed in a thread for Female Jazz singers ...

I too lifted an eyebrow at the idea of Doris Day as a jazz singer, but a moment's googling took me to these 1952's radio transcriptions, which surprised me:

http://www.amazon.com/Doris-Day-Complete-Standard-Transcriptions/dp/B000R02FJW

Her singing always comes over as too sugary for my taste, but it seems that she does have some something  like jazz in her back-catalogue.


On a different topic: www.cliveheathmusic.co.uk - is this your website? If it is, then thank you very much indeed. Your site was largely responsible for my initiation into Benny Goodman a couple of years ago.

[early grey]

Replying to Elgarian: yes, it is my site and I'm delighted that find you found it rewarding. I came on today to launch my latest Ellingtonia (see the new thread) but my passion for this topic drew me in.  Clive

[Elgarian]

Replying to Elgarian: yes, it is my site and I'm delighted that find you found it rewarding. I came on today to launch my latest Ellingtonia (see the new thread) but my passion for this topic drew me in.  Clive

Actually Clive, now I recall more carefully (and revisiting your website to refresh my memory), I also have you to thank for my first exposure to Helen Ward and Ivie Anderson - both having an enormous impact on me. The point is: I knew nothing at all at that stage. I knew so little that I didn't even know what questions to ask. In short, your website is perfectly geared to provide some starting points for someone like me.

I see now that there's a 'contact' button - I should have left an appreciative message  back then, and apologise for not doing so. But I'm delighted to be able to say 'thank you' now. Really, you can have no idea  what an unstoppable juggernaut you started!

[escher]

Thanks for the tip-off for Lee Wiley, who's new to me - but clearly someone I should put on my list.

i'm glad you like it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SYREijmrKQ&feature=related
This one of Lucy Reed is very different, so i don't know if it's what you are looking for, very slow interpretation but it's a great song with a great pianist too (a young bill evans).

[jowcol]

I find Dinah Washington' s work varies a lot in quality, but the best stuff really impresses me.  What really got my attention was her version of Back Water Blues her Bessie Smith album (which, unfortunately, is pretty weak overall- the arrangements are too silly for most of the  songs on that album. ) 
http://www.youtube.com/v/HoB_EP6vFzM

Mercury has a good two disc overview of her career-- although I must admit that her move towards pop in that later 50s didn't do much from me.  Her last album, Back to the Blues is quite strong.

Ella Fitzgerald has amazing range-- there are many good collections out there.  On one compilation I have of hers is great cover of Angel Eyes with only a piano backing her, and it is haunting.  Iv'e found many versions she's done of the song on YouTube, but not that one.

[Vesteralen]

Ethel Waters is a fascinating character in her pre-"Cabin In the Sky" days.

I have an even greater fascination with the Boswell Sisters.  Later groups like The Andrews Sisters and The Maguire Sisters may have intended to be latter-day follow-ups to the Bozzies, but no other group ever managed the super-tight harmonies and flexible rhythms of the Bozzies.

Lots of their stuff is available on CD, like "Shout, Sister, Shout" and "That's How Rhythm Was Born", and probably their biggest number "It's the Girl".

A far cry from Ella, Dinah and Sarah Vaughan, admittedly, but a really cool backwater to explore.

[Elgarian]

... a really cool backwater to explore.

I think this is what fascinates me: there are so many cool backwaters to explore. Once you start digging, there seems no end to the good stuff.

[Vesteralen]

Ella was a fan of Connie Boswell, by the way, and she and several others tried to model their approach to certain standards on Connie's. 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connee_Boswell

I've never been a huge fan of Sarah Vaughan on the whole, but her versions of certain songs are classic and unique.  "The Man I Love" is one that comes to mind immediately.

[bigshot]

Kaye Starr's Lamplighter Sessions are my pick for the greatest collection of female jazz vocals ever.

[jwinter]

Nice topic.  I have very little expertise on the subject, but I went through a bit of a Billie Holliday phase a while back.  My local library has a pretty large jazz selection, and out of curiosity I ripped a couple of her boxsets to itunes.  Extremely glad I did, beautiful stuff...