Been reading through this thread. A whole lotta passion goin' on. My first vinyl jazz purchase was the Buddy Rich "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" recording back when I was in Junior College. Nixon was president. My first system was a Heath AJ14 FM tuner, a Dyna SCA-35 tube integrated amp, a Garrard Type A turntable with a Shure M3D cartridge and a pair of KLH Model 32 loudspeakers.
I've upgraded since... My rig is up as a virtual system here if you want to look it up.
I've got more Jazz Messenger albums than I care to think about. Dig the West Coast stuff as well as the hard bop and post bop. My 10" Miles LP with "Godchild" still swings.
But I'd like to get y'all hip to a few names I haven't seen here. The first is Catherine Russell, a vocalist I first heard interviewed by Terry Gross on the NPR Fresh Air program. Her father was Luis Russell, who was the musical director and pianist for Louis Armstrong. Her mother was Carline Ray, who played with the International Sweethearts of Rhythm. So she's got some pedigree. She spent a lot of years doing backup work on Motown stuff, but finally got started with a solo career a few years ago, much of it harkening back to the music of her family's era. She gets the best sidemen out of New York and really brings to life old standards like "Darktown Strutter's Ball", "Struttin' With Some BBQ", and "I'm Checkin' Out, Goombye!" Listen to this youtube of her doing "Whatcha Gonna Do When There Ain't No Swing?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LR2WVH-sIA
Another voice I discovered a few years ago is a Brazillian jazz singer named Gal Costa. Check this track out. Delicious!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVb1nHBnlZY
The last vocalist I want to present is something of a celebrity in the San Francisco area. Her name is Wesla Whitfield. She might tell you she's more of a cabaret singer than jazz, but she TELLS a story with what she does. Unlike many, she's even better live, but catching her live will be difficult for many of you, so her recordings will have to do. Check out this version of "Over the Rainbow".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fcm7vUDfGgc
If you love good jazz and the heart and love therein, you'll fall in love with at least one if not all of these wonderful voices.
I've upgraded since... My rig is up as a virtual system here if you want to look it up.
I've got more Jazz Messenger albums than I care to think about. Dig the West Coast stuff as well as the hard bop and post bop. My 10" Miles LP with "Godchild" still swings.
But I'd like to get y'all hip to a few names I haven't seen here. The first is Catherine Russell, a vocalist I first heard interviewed by Terry Gross on the NPR Fresh Air program. Her father was Luis Russell, who was the musical director and pianist for Louis Armstrong. Her mother was Carline Ray, who played with the International Sweethearts of Rhythm. So she's got some pedigree. She spent a lot of years doing backup work on Motown stuff, but finally got started with a solo career a few years ago, much of it harkening back to the music of her family's era. She gets the best sidemen out of New York and really brings to life old standards like "Darktown Strutter's Ball", "Struttin' With Some BBQ", and "I'm Checkin' Out, Goombye!" Listen to this youtube of her doing "Whatcha Gonna Do When There Ain't No Swing?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LR2WVH-sIA
Another voice I discovered a few years ago is a Brazillian jazz singer named Gal Costa. Check this track out. Delicious!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVb1nHBnlZY
The last vocalist I want to present is something of a celebrity in the San Francisco area. Her name is Wesla Whitfield. She might tell you she's more of a cabaret singer than jazz, but she TELLS a story with what she does. Unlike many, she's even better live, but catching her live will be difficult for many of you, so her recordings will have to do. Check out this version of "Over the Rainbow".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fcm7vUDfGgc
If you love good jazz and the heart and love therein, you'll fall in love with at least one if not all of these wonderful voices.