Instrumentalists Vocalizing

[paul secor]

I listened to Morning Fun, a CD by Zoot Sims and Bob Brookmeyer yesterday, and Zoot sings "I Can't Get Started" on it. I tried to think of other instrumentalists who've sung on recordings and off the top of my head came up with Pres' "Two To Tango", Jimmy Rowles on The Peacocks, Archie Shepp, and Albert Ayler. There are always the usual suspects, mostly trumpeters (Louis, Clark Terry, Diz, K.D., Doc Cheatham, Lips Page), or pianists who sang along with their playing (Fats Waller, Jelly Roll, Jay McShann, and others), and a host of pianists who grunted along with their playing. Any others that anyone can add? There must be a lot that I and others have never heard.

[BeBop]

Illinois Jacquet and James Moody are two accomplished vocalists. Well, they're fun anyway. Eddie Harris was too.

[BeBop]

Almost forgot another favorite: Sonny Stitt.

[Sundog]

My favorites are Earl Hines and Jimmy Smith. George Benson also comes to mind.

[gdogus]

Add Chet Baker to the list of singer-trumpeters...he and Armstrong are probably the two who are best and equally known for their playing and singing.

Edited December 1, 2003 by gdogus

[Matthew]

Then there's the great one: Jack Teagarden

[maren]

Bassists: Slam Stewart! Major Holley, too.

Also, trombonist Ray Anderson.

(And on the classical tip, Glenn Gould unable to hold himself back from singing along here and there while playing Bach.)

[Jim R]

Dexter Gordon did a few vocals over the years.

Kenny Burrell made an entire vocal album for Columbia in the 60's, and has recorded a number of vocal tunes in recent years.

Oscar Peterson

Grady Tate

Frank Rosolino

Jack Sheldon

[brownie]

Jimmy Rowles was a very accomplished vocalist.

One I could do away without vocals is Keith Jarrett!

[EKE BBB]

Earle Warren did many vocals for Basie´s band... but I prefer his alto sax playing!

[EKE BBB]

And talking about trumpet/cornet players, we have Rex Stewart (he made some vocals in Duke´s men small ensembles) and Ray Nance (with the whole orchestra i.e. Newport ´56)

[EKE BBB]

During his period in Europe (1934-39), Hawk did some vocals. Well, at least I remember one, included in the Timeless release "Hawk in Europe 1934-39". Must check the song.

[EKE BBB]

LIONEL HAMPTON

[Joe G]

Freddie Green could sing, and did so nicely on a Prez cd I have.

Kurt Rosenwinkel sings along with his lines, which are quite complex and far ranging. I also heard an interview with Steve Masakowski in which he said that he does the same, to the point that he ends up with a sore throat by the end of the night.

[couw]

Rahsaan Roland Kirk

[mikeweil]

Bassists: Slam Stewart! Major Holley, too.

Avery Sharpe holds the torch Stewart and Holley ignited - there is a nice Sunnyside CD of his (Unspoken Words) with him singing along, one tune being called "A Major Slam in A Sharp(e)"!

Clifford Jordan did sing every now and then with nice results, Chris Anderson too - but I wouldn't recommend him .

[Brownian Motion]

As a vocalist the great early trombonist Jimmy Harrison was somewhere between a vaudeville performer and a jazz singer. I believe I read somewhere that his inspiration was Bert Williams. Love "Somebody Loves Me" with Fletcher Henderson.

[paul secor]

During his period in Europe (1934-39), Hawk did some vocals. Well, at least I remember one, included in the Timeless release "Hawk in Europe 1934-39". Must check the song.

I'd forgotten about Hawk. I think that you're referring to "Love Cries", recorded in 1936 with a Swiss band. I have it on an Xanadu LP, Dutch Treat.

[Nate Dorward]

My favourite instance of simultaneous vocalizing (of a sort) & playing is Dave Frishberg's unison piano+whistling on "El Cajone" on Live at Vine St.

[brownie]

Mose Allison also sings and plays simultaneously!

[clinthopson]

Dare I suggest George Benson?

Some of you seem to be categorizing grunting as singing, a la Hamp, Jarrett, Oscar Peterson, etc. If that is singing, then I would have to include Pee Wee Russell.

And Benny Goodman for that matter . .

Edited December 3, 2003 by clinthopson

[CJ Shearn]

let me add another grunter: Herbie Hancock...... I hear his grunting pretty much any acoustic recording I've heard that he's on

[catesta]

Erroll Garner was a big grunter.

Although not really singing, Ellington was extremely vocal during performances.

However he did do a sing-a-long on the Live at the Whitney date.

Drummers used to make some noise, Sam Woodyard and Sonny Payne are two examples.

[neveronfriday]

The wildest thing I ever saw was Dizzy Gillespie (it must have been in the 80s) in a concert broadcast by the now defunct German "Jazz Club" on ZDF.

Gillespie did not only parade an outrageous blue leather suit, he also performed a totally wild (scat) vocal improvisation which I viewed so often that my VHS tape simply wore out until it was unplayable.

I did once ask ZDF to send me a tape of this concert years ago, but they wanted to have too much money for it.

If anyone has a video of this live date (and if you do, you know which one I mean) I'd be more than happy if I could have a copy.

As far as I heard (I never saw Dizzy live), he was prone to these kinds of numbers, and if you have ever seen one you know how damn good he was at them as well.

Cheers!

[catman64]

The great Roy Eldridge