Well this is your lucky day.... My preference also and I have been doing it for years... You can start with these 28 and if you like them, I have hundreds more.
Rebecca pigeon, Lizz Wright, Janet Seidell, Karlie Bruce, Kinna Grannis, Monica Martin, Karen Souza, Woong San, Eva Cassidy, Chantel Chamberland, Simone Kopmajer, Angel Olsen, Devon Sinclair, Holly Cole, Sarah Menescal, Manhattan Jazz Quartet, Lua Blanco, Billianne, Sophie Auster, Gwada Soul, Connie Evingson, Beth Hart, Ailnia Seidel, Jane Duboc, Simone Kopmojer, Emile-Claire Barlow, Patricia Barber, Katie Melua.
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2channel8: If you want to start with an album of just Gillian and her guitarist/harmony singer David Rawlings, The Harrow & The Harvest is the one. All the songs on the album were written by Gillian and David, and the album was Grammy-nominated for Best Engineered Album (non Classical) and Best Folk Album.
If you want some instrumental accompaniment, on Soul Journey the duo adds a few real fine musicians, they being Greg Leisz on dobro, Jim Boquist on bass (like some other well-intentioned but mistaken folks---including John Atkinson, his instrument is listed as bass "guitar". There is no such instrument---a bass is either a standup/upright acoustic or an electric, unless you are speaking of the early-1960's Fender 6.), Mark Ambrose on acoustic guitar, and Ketcham Secor on fiddle. Again, all songs written by Gillian and David.
And then there is the All The Good Times Are Past & Gone, Gillian and David's album of covers. Songs written by Elizabeth Cotton, Bob Dylan, John Prine, Norman Blake, a few others, as well as some written by "Traditional" ;-) . Arranged by Gillian and David, produced by David. On the inner sleeve the recording equipment is listed, and it's impressive: Telefunken mic, tube Studer tape deck, the lacquer cut direct master tape to a Neumann lathe with an Ortofon cutterhead. Yeah, baby!
If you like the above enough, there is a 3-LP boxset entitled The Lost Songs/Boots No.2. One great thing about the duo's Acony Records label is that the LP's are more modestly priced than those of Analogue Productions, Speakers Corner, MoFi, Intervention, etc., at around $30 a disc. Gillian and David, cool people!
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Diana Krall has been mentioned numerous times here.
One of my favorite performances is her rendition of "Dreamsville" from the old Peter Gunn soundtrack.
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@curiousjim
"Do you know what album “Taking a chance on love” might be on?"
Taking a Chance on Love is the name of the album by Simone Kopmajer
Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight is Simone’s cover of the James Taylor classic.
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Carrie Newcomer strong voice-folk -country -pop
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For fans of Allison Krause:
MOLLY TUTTLE - "Standing On the Moon"
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Jheena Lodwick. Mary Black
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@jwei
Do you know what album “Taking a chance on love” might be on?
Thanks
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Cecile McLorin Salvant
One of the best..and very much alive.
Try "Dreams and Daggers"..well recorded live ...a Demo record for sure..
Margo Timmins ..another classic live recording with one stereo mike, "The Trinity Session"
but Cecile is in league with Ella and Billie..
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+1 for Allison Krause and Cowboy Junkies
Add Secret Sisters, especially their first album.
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Eliane Elias
Jane Monheit
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Can toss Annie Lennox, Alicia Keys & Dianna Ross into the mix. All three very distinctive and certainly have their smokey/jazzy material. I too like Aimee Mann not so much for her voice but for her vibe and songwriting. Chaka Khan can punch it out with the best of them too. Some terrific Rufus LPs.
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@bdp24 , Which of Ms. Welch's albums do you recommend as an introduction? I know The Harrow & The Harvest is pretty popular.
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For great SOUNDING recordings of female voice, you gotta hear the Acony Records LP’s of Gillian Welch. They also fulfill your request for "mainly acoustic", non-"loud electronic" music.
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Simone Kopmajer -- Taking a Chance on Love ("Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight")
Jacintha -- Here’s to Ben
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS69mWUgotw
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Patricia Barber (too rich for my blood)
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Some great stuff here, grooving to Linda Ronstadt and Sophie Zelmani. Don't think I saw any mention of Joan Baez, great acoustic folk or with a band in the '70s. Also love Aimee Mann, such a great songwriter.
And in the guilty pleasures category, there's Barbra Streisand - Guilty, a vocal classic, great big belting. Just picked up The Story of My Life: Lea Salonga Live from Manila, her voice is just clear as a bell and so emotive. And was rocking out to Evita recently with Patti Lupone, powerful as well and such a great actor, a shining performance.
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Saw no mention of...
Rhian Benson
Carly Simon
Valerie Carter
Rita Coolidge
Judy Tzuke
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Huge Billie Holiday fan myself go down a few of these
Eva Cassidy
Joan Osborne
Amy Helm
Beth Hart
Susan Tedeschi
Erika Badhu
Diane Schuur
Champian Fulton
Rachael Price by way of Lake Street Dive
Amy Winehouse and Janis of course
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Look for anything Ivie Anderson recorded in the studio with Ellington. The material was recorded by guys who wore ties to work.
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Kate Wolf................ None finer in my book.........
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Surprised no one mentioned Jacintha.
A unique talent, and her recordings are extremely high on the sound quality scale, STS.
Her rendition of Danny Boy moves me as did Belafonte's version.
Clearly a jazz singer comfortable with the old standards.
Cheers, Crazy Bill
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On 8/25 dawgfish suggests Linda Ronstadt and her 3 vinyls with Nelson Riddle.from the 1980s. Her arrangements and incredible dynamic range have captivated me for years. Such incredible expressive talent. Can you imagine if she and the Eagles were still performing together.?!
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I can understand anyone trying to find a jazz vocalist besides Diana Krall.
She is WAY too whispery/throaty to be a good vocalist in the jazz genre.
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Thanks for the thread @Jusam. The problem with such engaging threads, especially those asking for favorites, is that the become too long to read to the very end before you respond unless you have hours and hours. I think that is a testament to the pent up passion you gave tapped into as well as the depth and breadth of the subject. I got hooked on female vocals a few years after I dropped out and began widening my horizons beyond acid rock, early heavy metal, and male singer songwriters like Neil Young and Jackson Browne. I heard some old girl group singles on FM radio that I had dismissed when they debuted on AM in the sixties. The Dixie cups, the Ronettes, The Crystals, The Chiffons, Barbara Lewis. You know the drill. Or maybe your parents would. So many years of collecting wonderful female vocals.
If you like belters, I would agree with Brandi Carlisle, and I would add Joan Osborne and Nicole Atkins. Not that many others listed here are not treasured parts of my collection. Dusty Springfield has always been a favorite, but Son of a Preacher Man is much lower on my list that You Don't Have to Say You Love Me.
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Beth Hart, "Leave the Light On"
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Shelby Lynne. Start with her album Just a Little Lovin'. Dusty Springfield covers. Amazing recording too.
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Try the Cowboy Junkies, Margo Timmins
Sweet Jane, Walking after midnight.
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- Cyrille Aimee - "Petite Fleur"
- Francoise Hardy - "Un Air de Guitare"
- Sabine Devieilhe & Marianne Crebassa - "Delibes: Lakmé - Duo des fleurs (Flower Duet)"
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EVA CASSIDY- the BEST female vocalist EVER. Period, end of story!
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Can't believe nobody mentioned the Welsh witch, Stevie Nicks...with or without Fleetwood Mac.
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Irene Kral accompanied by Alan Broadbent.
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Eva Cassidy 'Live at Blues Alley' Proof positive She could sing any song, any genre, better than almost anyone.
Emmy Lou Harris 'Spyboy' Maybe the best album she ever made.
Jewel 'Have A little Faith In Me' from the 'Phenomenon' soundtrack. She morphs into Janis Joplin halfway through the song as her band channels 'Big Brother & the Holding Company. Amazing. Totally worth finding.
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Try Sophie Zelmani. Specifically the track called 'All About You' on the Soul album. You'll swear Sophie and the players are in the room with you. And it's only Redbook CD quality. I can only imagine how good a hirez version would sound.
You can also try Lake Street Dive's 'Obviously' album. Rachel Price is a very soulful vocalist and this album has some catchy and clever tunes.
Rachel, if you read this please get the Lake Street Dive posse down to S. Fla.
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Cassandra Wilson and Norah Jones, both on Blue Note Records (and in audiophile pressings by Analogue Productions).
+1 (I'm partial to NJ's "Come Away With Me" and "The Fall").
+1 for Alison Krauss/US "Live". Incredible recording and her voice is heaven-sent.
I might also suggest Patricia Barber. Her recordings are well-engineered and she has one of those "smokey" jazz voices. Not to mention some very wellp-written pieces.
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The quintessential female jazz singer is Peggy Lee. Check out the album The Ultimate Peggy Lee, it is recorded very well and her style is so unique and subtle while extremely effective. Songs she made popular, 'Why dont you do right' with Benny Goodman, 'Fever' in 1958. She wrote and produced , 'I don't know enough about you'. Many more including the classic, 'Is that all there is'. Just a very under rated songstress from thr 40s and 50s. Many say she was the female version of Frank and I agree. Adding morr fuel to the fire they are reportedly to have hooked up frequently. Not surprising.
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annie ross "A Singer, a Swinger, A Gasser"
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Linda Ronstadt (no doubt mentioned earlier)
Not sure if these have too much background:
Dancehall Crashers (Honey, I'm Homely) and Suspect Bill (Bill Me Later) - neo swing. I use a couple of these to test audio
Courtney Love (if you can ignore the baggage)
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Eva Cassidy, Songbird, Time after time.
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I don't think these were mentioned. e
Rhiannon Giddens
Petra Magoni
Bebel Gilberto
Brittany Howard
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Margie Day - worked a lot w/ Griffey Bros Orchestra.
Ella Johnson - w/ Buddy Johnson
A few I enjoy but are definitely an acquired taste:
Circus 2000
Amon Duul 2 / Slapp Happy
Marina P
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+1 on Alison Krauss; in my opinion, the sweetest voice on Earth
While not solo, Voces8 have the best human voice performances and recordings I know of, and their soprano, Andrea Haines, must be heard to be believed.
Enjoy.
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