Was Sarah Vaughan the Greatest Jazz Singer ever?

[Bevo Incognito]

I think the answer is yes. Everybody talks about Ella Fitzgerald.

I was lucky enough to see her at the Paramount in 1985. What a singer!

Behold five octaves, baby:



The Link

 

[Texanne]

They both were great. I could listen to either of them all day.

Ella singing "I'll Take Manhattan" is a childhood favorite of mine, along with "A-Tisket, A-Tasket." My mama rocked me to sleep with that one.

 

[YChang]

She's definitely fantastic, some of my other favorite jazz vocalists are:

Female, classical (not in any particular order) -
Ella Fitzgerald
Billie Holiday
Rosemary Clooney
Nina Simone
Etta Jones
Actually for female artist...there's too many to list

Current artist -
Diana Krall
Madeleine Peyroux
Sophie Milman
Stacey Kent

Male -
Chet Baker (although first time I heard him...I thought it was a chick)
Nat King Cole

 

[Shockorama]

I would have to say Nina Simone. Not only could she sing, she played a wicked piano and had incredible chops. Everytime I listen to her, I am so sad I never got to see her perform.

 

[LITNIN HORN]

That classic list should have two Ettas on it...Jones and James.

 

[buckhorn]

Love Sarah Vaughn, who could vocally front a smokin' hard bop outfit (Julian Adderly's sextet on the classic '...in the land of Hi-Fi') or pull of timeless pop ditties like 'Broken Hearted Melody.'

Ella, Billie...obvious.

One of my other favorites is Betty Carter, whose jazzy pop song, 'Open the Door,' never ceases to slay me. She also did some great stuff with the Ray Bryant Trio that is more classically jazz oriented.

Nina Simone had a really sad and worn sounding voice that I preferred in the pop setting ('Four Women' and 'Either Way I Lose' are awesome).

Ethel Waters could sing her *** off, and Lena Horne's stuff from the 30s and 40s, when she was a beauty without peer, also holds up well all these years later.

 

[hullabelew]

Damn....Black Coffee, along with Satin Doll, is one of my all-time favorite jazz songs. Thanks for posting that.

 

[Bevo Incognito]

My very favorite Sarah Vaughan tune. It helps that Miles Davis is playing trumpet.


The Link

 

[CottonEyedHorn]

She makes for pretty cool remix material too:The Link

 

[TXHookem]

I love Ella, Helen Merril, Billie... but Sarah takes the cake.

 

[groover]

Nancy Wilson should be on that list, too. I particularly like the CD she made with Cannonball Adderley.

Etta James is my favorite female vocalist of all time.

 

[hank_gathers]

Madeleine Peyroux' CDs are wonderful, but if you've ever seen her in concert, she doesn't belong anywhere near this list. Second worst live show I've ever seen -- a wasted Townes van Zandt will likely never be topped for awfulness.

 

[Hornius Emeritus]

Hank ...

I'll see your wasted Townes and raise you with a Lou Ann Barton so trashed that, not only could she not remember the lyrics to the songs, she couldn't even sit on a stool without falling over or sliding off.