In Celebration of the Human Voice - The Essential Musical Instrument
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Vocal Jazz Harmony
Jazz emerged in early 20th century America, and was, at its height, the popular music of its time. Emerging from music halls and minstrelsy on one hand, and the cotton fields and churches of the South on the other, jazz first took the country by storm in the 1920's, which was dubbed The Jazz Age. While it can certainly be said that many of the most celebrated jazz musicians were instrumentalists, we posit that it is as a showcase for the voice that jazz is at its most divine. For a singer, the essential elements that define jazz stylistically improvisation, phrasing, syncopated ãswinging rhythms coupled with the addition of scat, are an ideal recipe for music that is complex, challenging and deeply satisfying.
When you combine several voices at once, the reward is that much greater. The harmony groups of the 30's, such as the Mills Brothers and the Boswell Sisters, ushered in a wave of singing groups that rose to fame in the Big Band Era of the 40's, including the Pied Pipers (Tommy Dorsey) Modernaires (Glenn Miller) and the Andrews Sisters. However, the best was yet to come. With the Hi-Lo's and Four Freshmen at the top of the vocal jazz hierarchy, record stores were jammed with vocal trios, quartets and quintets of every description! Vocal music continued its chart success even as rock and roll captured the imagination of America's youth. The Singers Unlimited, the Swingle Singers and later, the Manhattan Transfer showed that jazz was here to stay.
Though the recordings of many of the artists just mentioned do feature some instrumental accompaniment, jazz harmonies are ideally suited to an a cappella setting as well. Today's jazz a cappella luminaries continue the tradition of excellence established by their forbears. Recent recordings by the Real Group, Vox One, Rajaton and SoVoSo, as well as the Swingle Singers (who, with new membership under the direction of Ward Swingle, are one of the most prolific a cappella jazz groups performing today), are as sublime and inspired as those of their predecessors. So, come along with us and explore our vast collection of vocal jazz CD's, the largest selection of jazz vocal harmony recordings to be found anywhere.
Vocal Jazz Harmony Arrangements
Our arrangements our compiled from a variety of sources to provide the best selection possible. Most of them are designed for the group at the intermediate skill level. Though some of the songs included within this category are in fact popular or traditional compositions, it is the style of the arrangement that we classify as jazz.
Vocal Jazz Songbooks for Solo Female Voice
The United States has a long and wonderful tradition of producing a long line of talented female jazz singers such as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vauighn and Billie Holiday to contemporary jazz singers such as Ann Hampton Callaway and Alicia Keys. We offer here a selection of songbooks of songs as sung by these singers. Some are for PVG and otthers have accomapniement CDs to help you learn and perform.
Vocal Jazz Songbooks for Solo Male Voices
Everybody love a talented crooner singing a great standard and boy has there been some great male jazz singers over the years. From "Ol' Blue Eyes" himself to other greats such as Tony Bennett, Louis Armstrong and Nat King Cole we offer here a selection of songbooks from many of these performers singing from the great American Songbook.
Contemporary Vocal Jazz CDs
The only thing better than sitting in a small, intimate club, listening to a smooth vocal jazz group deliver powerful music is taking that group's music away with you, sticking it into the CD player, and enjoying it in the privacy of your own home. With sounds so warm you can wrap yourselves in them like a comfy afghan, whether you're a fan of male groups, female groups or those who have the best of both worlds ˆ male and female voices - you'll find at least one group whose music you want to take home and cuddle up to here.
Vocal Jazz DVDs
One of the great things about being able to take home a video recording is that the performers are immortalized in what may well be their heyday, performing material that they may not be doing anymore; it may even be a page of history of a group that's not performing together anymore. We at Primarily A Cappella carry documentaries, DVDs from award-winning, industry-leading groups and even feature films, so if you're a vocal jazz fan, go wild - this is where you can see shows & stories that most fans just dream of.
Vocal Jazz Part Predominant CD Recordings
VoiceTrax CDs includes a full performance of the primary voicing, accompaniment only track and part-predominant tracks for each voice part of each voicing listed. A voice part of the group, for example the Tenor track, the Tenor part is 'predominant', with the rest of the group in the background. This helps the vocalist easily identify their part, allowing them to better follow their music, and to hear how their part fits into the composition. You can also turn a voice part off and sing along with the remaining parts.
Vocal Jazz Groups
One of the most popular music forms of the last century, jazz comes in many styles, from the all-instrumental and accompanied to our favorite - vocal. It's an art form that is so identified with the United States, and yet so much great jazz Vocal Jazz Harmonycomes from talented groups around the world. Doesn't matter, though, because Jazz transcends language and national borders - warm, luscious tones, smooth sounds and powerful, emotive chords are great anywhere. And vocal jazz is just the icing on a very smooth and delightful cake.
Vocal Jazz Arrangers
The arrangement is so important in all styles of vocal singing and is particularly so with vocal jazz. Here we list information about all the great jazz arrangers whose arrangements are available for purchase from the great Gene Puerling (pictured) of the Singers Unlimited and the Hi-Lo's to contemporary groups such as the Real Group and Manhattan Transfer.
Vocal Jazz Christmas
Christmas music is a genre of its own, but one of the great things about holiday tunes is that they can be sung in almost any style and genre, too. You've heard many of these classics before, you've probably even sung most of them, but you've never heard or sung them like this! And that's not even going into the beauty of the holiday originals some of these terrific groups have written. Whether you choose to explore the work of a group you're not familiar with, or revisit a group you already know that you love, you'll find some luscious sounds with which to wrap yourself in a holiday spirit here.
Vocal Jazz Harmony Videos
Originating in America vocal jazz has has become popular worldwide and many of the top vocal jazz groups are based outside the U.S. This collection of videos shows the depth of talented groups performing today and some historical videos from some of the greats.
Vocal Jazz Showtrax CDs
Having a recording of an arrangement is a very valuable tool for choirs and groups to hear exactly the song they are learning. A Showtrax CD includes a full performance of the published voicings plus an accompaniment only backing track.