Jazz vocals recommendations please


My music tastses have become much more eclectic and I'm moving away from classic rock & pop & increasingly interested in jazz & progressive rock. Any suggestions re: well-recorded jazz with strong instrumentals, percussion and nice vocals? I've discovered Diana Krall & have most of her work. Patricia Barber musically nice but a bit too dark in mood for me (more like blues). Any and all suggestions welcome!!
klipschking
Try Tierney Sutton ( Telarc label ) ..One of the best out there..Incredible voice..I would suggest start with an album tittled " Something Cool " first and go from there...Every one of her albums is great..Much more open and uplifting then Pat Barber,,,,
The classic's are always a good place to begin. Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Arthur Prysock, Johnny Hartman, Billie Holiday, Diane Schuur, Mary Stallings, Mel Torme, Jack Jones, Shirley Horne, tony Bennett, Mary Washington, Ray Charles, etc.

Newer artists I like are Kevin Spacey, Susanah McCorkle, Norah Jones, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Eva Cassidy, Steve Tyrell, and even Queen Latifa, Gladys Knight, K D Lang, and Rod Stewart have put out Jazz CDs.

There's a new guy from England, fairly young whose name I forget but his interpretation of some standards is fresh... he plays piano and sings too. Not sure if Michael Bubble qualifies.

Manhattan Transfer puts out some nice sounding albums, and The Johnny Nocturne Band 'Million Dollar Secret' has a female singer Kim Nattalie ? also their 'Wild & Cool' CD has another female vocalist that does a good job.

Check out places like Amazon, itunes, etc and see what others grab your attention by clicking about and listening to previews. ONce you enter one artist other recomendations will pop up and you can pursue those... it's time well wasted and who knows what you'll discover on your own!

Good luck.
Some of my favorite contemporary jazz singers are Laverne Butler (Blues in the City/MaxJazz), Rene Marie (Live at Jazz Standard/MaxJazz), and Mary Stallings (Live at the Village Vanguard/MaxJazz).

And if you like Krall's style, you MUST hear Shirley Horn (I Thought About You, Live at Vine St/Verve). She is a bit more laid back than Krall but she is one of the best, if not the best, in this style, i.e. singer-pianist, and has a much better voice. She has passed but has a large and excellent discography.