My all time favorite Jazz singers are Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn, and asked to choose between the two I really couldn’t. They both have what it takes to be considered great in my book, voices, phrasing, style, range and originality. I love them both. Today I would agree that Shirley Horn is carrying the torch. Diana Krall will never let you forget her with that image of her blonde hair blowing in the wind while sitting at the keyboards. It’s not hard to like her. I enjoy listening but she is really not a great stylist, just an overall excellent performer who stays within her range and well knows her limitations. Oh Whitney Houston, What happened to you girl? I really held so much hope for you. That voice oh how wasted on such ….better not say it out loud. Gosh I could go on with many of the others but there really is no point, many of the above have done better than I so I’m just going to mention one voice that I didn’t see here but think belongs. She isn’t my very favorite, but she did a whole lot for Broadway and show music, (I HAD to listen, 3 sisters OK?). What about Mary Martin? I suggest a listen to the Original Broadway “Sound of Music” Her voice on some of those songs really moves me. Power, feeling, joy and honesty. I can’t come up with any female broadway artist that did it better. As for Janis Joplin. I saw her perform at The “Electric Factory” in the late 60’s. It was tragic watching her with the ever present bottle, but one thing I’ll never forget about her and it comes back every time I listen was how she projected her feelings, it all came out when she sang, that is her legacy. I’ve never seen anyone that moved me more.
