I recently touched upon artists who present a retro sound that appeals to my nostalgia and longing for a modicum of purity.
This type of player is perhaps not exposed as readily as Lady Avril Cyrus Bieber, but hey, if ye seeketh, ye shall find.
One of the most flexible and enduring genres of music is Jazz. Probably because it is more an element of DNA than species unto itself. Jazz can serve as condiment, single course, or an entire meal. (I checked, and the use of 2 separate metaphors to illustrate a point is perfectly acceptable when exercised with caution. I promise not to abuse the priviliege.)
Jazz evolved from elements of African and European music, and distinguished itself with the use
of blue notes, improvisation, and what I call "creative timing".
Broadly put, Jazz marked the beginning of every modern musical style we hear today, because it's free-flowing style shattered aristocratic barriers, allowing music to be played, and appreciated by the working-class.
The fact that its origins coincided with the advent of the record player is perhaps a book unto itself.
For now, I direct my focus to the singer.
Early Jazz singers were musical desperados who bent the rules to express longing, angst or even elation to which everyday people could relate. This is no small historical footnote. The style mirrored society's yearning for equality, inclusion and change, but most importantly, freedom.
It was this opening of Pandora's musical box that would ultimately unleash the raw sounds of dirty blues, country twang, raspy soul, and even shrieking rock.
The most important element for a vocalist then became emotion: the ones they felt, and the ones their music evoked.
We all recognize the names of Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, as well as Louis Armstrong and Tony Bennett, but by the time I was growing up, these names were hardly synonymous with "cool".
So I quote from Ecclesiastes 1:9 "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done
again; there is nothing new under the sun." (And the good book don't never lie! Can I get a "Amen"?)
The fact remains that these crooners were the hippest of the hip. I submit into evidence the success of artists like Harry Connick Jr., Michael Bublé, and Amy Winehouse, but there are artists all over the world injecting their own brand of Jazziness into their sound, not just "en homage" to the old, but in order to create an ever-evolving hybrid of "mojo music". So while Jazz itself may not be new, it can give way to something fresh, and even sexy.
Allow me to unite you with some current and future stars. Some took the time to speak with me, and others require little introduction. Check them out, and support them by buying their music on-line or (gasp!) on CD.
Corinne Bailey Rae: It smells like soul to me, but it's her innate "Jazzification" that puts the hot-sauce on the burger. Her 2007 work with Herbie Hancock won her a Grammy forBest Contemporary Jazz album, and her vocal style can't escape comparisons to the likes of Billie Holiday or even Nina Simone. Still, I don't believe she sees herself as a Jazz singer. In the early 90s, this pre-teen, classical violinist discovered Rock guitar. By 15, her all-girl band in hometown Leeds was almost signed to Heavy Metal label, Roadrunner Records. It was during a college job at a local bar where she met Jason, the saxophonist who put the "Rae" in her name, and the Jazz
in her heart. When your ears are in need of a treat, her latest EP contains some iconic covers including Marley's Is This Love, and the only version (except for Sly Stone's) of Que Sera Sera that I could ever listen to.
Sophie Berkal-Sarbit: I first wrote about this girl 2 years ago when she was a precocious 19 year-old with a 40s throwback sound. Now, she's 21 and singing Halleluyah! I mean, she literally just recorded a cover of Leonard Cohen's Halleluyah. The most refreshing thing about such a talented young woman whose name should be bigger, is that despite a decent national following, she remains unaffected by the attention. She genuinely enjoys the journey of growth to which she recently added songwriting. She seems to love the process, so we can eventually expect more than just the old jazz standards she does so well. I see the makings of a female Michael Bublé, only (and I can say this now that she's 21), just a little bit sexier. Click
here to see her vid. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YaLcliEnPw
Tia Brazda: Her talent, style, and attitude are all befitting of stardom, but Canada is sometimes like a bar by the airport on a Monday night. Sadly, heavy rotation on the CBC hardly guarantees fame and fortune. Now, this is not your grandma's sleepy Jazz. This girl is effervescent. Seeing Tia perform is like watching a rainbow come alive. All this girl needs is a microphone and a few beating hearts to captivate. She has no self-imposed musical boundaries, but watch her get sassy to a boogie-woogie, big band groove, and your enthusiasm cannot be contained. While Brazda's music is decidedly Jazzy, she has, and will again color outside the lines. Her new EP, Cabin Fever celebrates its release at Toronto's Cadillac Lounge on February 11th, so check out her video, and follow up with the live experience, which in her own words, is a "Swingin' riot"!
Peter Cincotti: This musical prodigy was discovered by Harry Connick Jr., who had him join his Atlantic City show when he (Cincotti) was just 7 years old. Cincotti is a classically-trained pianist who is also an impressive singer and songwriter. Now in his late 20s, his looks and sharp fashion-sense have put him in an elite group of desirable males in the Jazz community. That said,
his music is more of a jazz-tinged classic rock, but in the end, it's just really good music.
Alexia Coley: I just have the
feeling that this girl is on the cusp of breakout stardom. In fact, she won last summer's Big Chill Bar Competition, a 6 week festival in Bristol, England. The first time I heard her sing, I felt the 70s soul vibe of a Gladys Knight or maybe a female Al Green. The jazzy ingredient is really in her phrasing, and the way she takes her time to ride a note as if she's deciding how she feels about the story she's telling, and how it's going to end. Like a woman who knows she's beautiful, but whose heart can still be broken, her songs are slick, yet with a translucent vulnerability. She has paid her dues and performed with some major names. The only thing left is for the right label to snatch her up and make her one of them. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkhtAY5mwGY
Tamela D'Amico: They call her "Sinatra in Heels", and just like "Ol' Blue Eyes", this renaissance woman of the arts also acts and directs, but her voice is the juicy fruit beneath the peel. The tiresome trend of gratuitous vocal gymnastics makes it so refreshing to observe
Tamela's respect for melody. Her vocal placement is Streisand-esque at times, but her style evokes the strong feminine mystique of a Peggy Lee. She says, "I only know how to sing from the center of my soul. I want to wrap my voice around you like an embrace, and give it to you as a genuine gift."
And it is that very sentiment that emanates from every lyric she sings. D'amico is almost a purist compared to others on this list. She unabashedly performs old school Jazz, and it works for her both in personal style, and in musical appeal. Her album, Got A Little Story is available now, but keep your ears poised for her upcoming duet with the great Billy Vera, and all that will soon follow.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txzJIqIAackImelda May: This wild and crazy Irish chick provides the perfect example of using jazz to create a unique and personal sound. Her hair and clothes are right out of the 50s, but her blues and rockabilly edge conjure the image of Big Mama Thornton, LaVern Baker and Joan Jett all getting drunk together and deciding to jam. A story on the web describes the night her father drove her to a gig after breaking up with her boyfriend. She was crying. Her father asks, "Is your heart broken?". She nods, and he says "Excellent. Now you can sing the blues." Now, that's a dad who knows how encourage art. To better understand this musical rarity, check out Johnny Got a Boom Boom, and take a break from the mundane. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZucJAkzCNq8
John Pizzarelli: The son of guitar legend Bucky Pizzarelli first picked up his own at age 6. It
didn't hurt that as a teen, he was able to jam with guys like Benny Goodman, Les Paul, and Zoot Sims. (It doesn't matter if you know him. His name is Zoot. That's gotta count for something.) His pedigree also granted him an inherent musicality and a stage presence reminiscent of vintage Vegas Rat-Pack, probably because, as the oldest member of this list, he still remembers them.
Sachal Vasandani: This guy is a versatile composer and arranger who has established himself as one of the top male vocalists in modern jazz. His ability to infuse just enough to make a pop song interesting has garnered high praise for his new release, Hi-Fly. The fact that his looks have been compared to yours truly can't hurt sales or hinder the large female presence at his shows. (I'm kidding, of course. I look a little younger.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLTLDaKJDro
So you see, Jazz is not dead. It can never die. It's like the proverbial soul that passes from one living form to the other. Sometimes, you will catch just a glimpse, and other times you'll be blinded by the light, but don't ever be fooled into thinking it's gone.
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Peace.
