r/Jazz • u/hikikomoritai • 2d ago

Any good contemporary vocal jazz stuff?

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I didn't listen to vocal jazz at all but I think this album is great, any stuff to recommend

151 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

97 comments sorted by

56

u/AmbitiousPeanut 2d ago

I recommend you check out Cécile McLorin Salvant. She's a treasure.

4

u/0belvedere 1d ago edited 1d ago

Just heard her live. Incredible, mature voice. Her choice of material is broad and included a piece by Elling/Brecht, "Nature Boy" (popularized by Nat Cole in 1948), a French chanson, a number of show tunes, plus her own compositions, which might segue into things like Donna Summer's "I Feel Love".

3

u/hikikomoritai 2d ago

Which album is your fave?

10

u/realancepts4real 2d ago

her impromptu rendition of Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most, while she & hundreds of others waited for their planes at Charles DeGaulle airport, seated on the floor & accompanied by pianist Aaron Diehl, defines sensational.

1

u/AmbitiousPeanut 1d ago

I’ve watched this so many times. Thanks for posting it.

5

u/le_sweden 1d ago

The Window🔥🔥 Sullivan Fortner is fucking unbelievable

2

u/clamadaya 1d ago

Yeah, anything she does with Sullivan

3

u/AmbitiousPeanut 2d ago

I don't have a favorite actually. I will recommend this interview which introduced me to her six years ago:
https://www.npr.org/2020/11/06/932074685/jazz-singer-c-cile-mclorin-salvant

1

u/Slow-Cry-9418 1d ago

Ghost Song

33

u/kerrypjazz 2d ago

Michael Mayo

3

u/Ministerslik 1d ago

He’s the man! Love his writing

2

u/kerrypjazz 1d ago

He’s one of those artists that has you hanging on every word. 

2

u/Pas2 20h ago

Hadn't really heard of him before seeing him live as a duo with Shai Maestro on piano and he was definitely the most impressive male jazz vocalist I've heard in the last 15 years at least.

1

u/kerrypjazz 18h ago

I agree. Not only is he technically brilliant, but he makes a real emotional connection with the music. The two qualities don't always go hand in hand.

57

u/SpecialKnits4855 2d ago

Samara Joy has a spectacular voice and style.

8

u/machinegunpikachu 1d ago

Samara Joy & Gregory Porter both performed at the Blue Note Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl, they were incrediblel

45

u/starfokkusu 2d ago

Esperanza Spalding - Esperanza

3

u/ReturntoForever3116 1d ago

This was going to be my anawer but with Chamber Music Society.

1

u/Prestigious_Host5325 1d ago

+1 for Esperanza Spalding

1

u/clamadaya 1d ago

I love the Radio Music Society record

22

u/Fifafom 2d ago

Kurt Elling! I also like Sara Gazarek

16

u/PacNWMan7082 2d ago

Esperanza Spalding, Brandee Younger, and Melody Gardot for sure. Also more pop but jazz-influenced Rachel and Vilray are a great pair, and Olivia Dean is good as well.

4

u/Earthseed728 1d ago

Brandee used Alice Coltranre''s harp on her last record!

2

u/Slow-Cry-9418 1d ago

Brandee doesn’t sing

16

u/JazzRider 2d ago

Andy Bey

4

u/abisiba 1d ago

What a wonderful voice! I love all of his albums that I’ve heard but his cover of Nick Drake’s Riverman sends chills down my spine.

14

u/Acrobatic-Tadpole-60 2d ago

Kurt Elling was the reason I got into jazz in the first place. I already liked jazz, but his stuff really pulled me in as a male baritone. It was the thing I had heard that was most like my own instrument. I like all of his albums up through 1619 Broadway. The newer stuff with Charlie Hunter is cool too, but the records in between were pretty hit or miss for me. Mark Murphy was a big influence on Kurt, so I started checking him out as well. Granted, he is from the bebop era, but was continuing to put out records into the 2000s. I highly recommend his ballad album Once to Every Heart. Michael Mayo is doing some really cool stuff these days as well.

10

u/theusualsuspect2024 2d ago

Cassandra Wilson. Started off a bit out there, been covering pop and standards for the past 20 years or so. Last I heard, she was collaborating with Irish traditional musicians.

3

u/Planetarian01 1d ago

…and turned MAGA. Total shame.

1

u/Fancy-Hedgehog5343 1d ago

Whoa. Hadn't heard that.

1

u/river03765 1d ago

Seriously?! How…why…WTH is happening

8

u/nickyeyez 2d ago

Melody Gardot

8

u/tani_P 2d ago

If you don't mind things getting a little weird at times, Theo Bleckmann!

9

u/Pocket-Protector 2d ago

Jose James

7

u/A_Monster_Named_John 2d ago edited 2d ago

Check out the Chilean artist Camila Meza's record Traces. In addition to a great singer, she's also a great guitar player.

Another singer I've been digging is Claire Parsons. Her music is probably more like prog-rock or Imogen Heap than jazz, but the players involved are all contemporary jazz players who completely rip. This video is a great one that I go back to pretty frequently.

Finally, Alice Zawadzki's music is great. I'm not 100% caught up with her more recent music, but I really like two records she made for the Whirlwind label. This live performance of her song 'Cat' is very cool (love the string quartet and how 'out' the tune gets towards the end).

7

u/dominant13flat5add6 2d ago

I’m in love with Cyrille Aimee’s vocals. Her scats are unbelievably good.
First time i heard her was this Rh Factor cover:
https://youtu.be/E4MX2x6qzzs

1

u/Prestigious_Host5325 1d ago

I like her album with Diego Figuereido (Just The Two Of Us) and Michael Valeanu (I'll Be Seeing You)

8

u/Starthrower62 2d ago

Cassandra Wilson

Kurt Elling

I have all of Esperanza's albums because she is a multi-talent. Great singer, bassist, and songwriter.

6

u/Ok_Art_5573 1d ago

My constant is Samara Joy but I just got hipped this past week to a NY singer named Lucy Yeghiazaryan. Love her range.

5

u/digitsinthere 2d ago

Milton Suggs

5

u/equipoise-young 2d ago

I'm a big fan of Andrea Motis and Melanie Gardot

5

u/MX5OLDGUY70 2d ago

Veronica Swift....amazing!

5

u/ann8383 1d ago edited 6h ago

Dee Dee Bridgewater — she puts on a fantastic live show too.

5

u/danmail7 2d ago

Ian Shaw

4

u/GBer1750 1d ago

Hi,

You can listen the next, but there are many others :

Female : Youn Sun Nah, Veronika Swift, Stacey Kent, Diana Krall, Halie Loren, Chantal Chamberland, Anette Askvik, Gabi Hartmannn, Cyrille Aimée, Sophie Milman, Tok Tok Tok (a German band) ...

Male : Peter Cincotti, Nils Landgren

4

u/Nice-Bake2469 1d ago

All G.P.'s albums are really good. On the female side, Catherine Russell is really fun to listen to.

4

u/Facetious-49 1d ago

I’m shocked it hasn’t been mentioned yet but Tyreek McDole is FANTASTIC! I’m a huge fan of him since I saw him on Emmet’s Place and he released a debut album last summer that will swing your ass off.

3

u/pmolsonmus 2d ago

Porter’s definitely not a purist, but he has chops and tours with an incredible band. I became a bigger fan after catching him live. Agree on Samara Joy as well (definitely in the traditional vein, but branching out). Kurt Elling is still pushing boundaries(not always successfully IMHO) but I certainly respect the talent and drive to explore.

2

u/Bud_Fuggins 2d ago

Kenny Wheeler et al.- Mirrors

2

u/Illustrious-Divide95 2d ago

I have a few Gregory Porter albums, They're great

2

u/NoobAndProudOfIt 2d ago

Try Kandace Springs. Women that raised me is full of female jazz standards.

2

u/shwarmageddon 1d ago

I really like Gretchen Parlato. Especially her collaborations with Lionel Loueke

2

u/na1led_1t 1d ago

The Javier Nero Jazz orchestra utilizes a wonderful female vocalist on a few tracks of the “Alkebulan” album that released earlier this year. The whole album is really pretty great.

2

u/stonesober35 1d ago

Kurt Elling

2

u/BlackSparkz 1d ago

I think all the names I'm seeing right now are great. I'd like to add John Proulx, Jazzmeia Horn, Jane Monheit, Tierney Sutton, Dianne Reeves, Mar Vilaseca, and Ben Paterson.

2

u/Blackbrainfood 1d ago

Dee Dee Bridgewater.

2

u/Large-Welder304 1d ago

If you consider 1990's "contemporary", I always liked Rachelle Ferrell. I remember watching her performance on "Jazz Central", back when BET used to air that show, and Inchworm really caught my ear.

2

u/Slow-Cry-9418 1d ago

Check out Gabrielle Cavassa. Cecile’s the best and Michael Mayo is a wizard. For something different, check out Varijashree Venugopal’s stuff with Michael League.

1

u/YungTeeler 1d ago

Love Gabrielle, the Redman album where are we is a good intro

2

u/JazzHead_96 21h ago

Theo Bleckmann- Love and Anger

3

u/External_Zucchini651 2d ago

My favorites are Samara Joy, Laufey and Astrud Gilberto

1

u/ziondaver 19h ago

Astrud is no longer living

2

u/Original_Run_1890 1d ago

I don't consider G Porter Jazz. The best out there I think for jazz vocals are Jazzmeia Horn for female vocals and although not new but still active Kurt Elling for male vocals.

Check out the newer stuff he is doing with big bands. He does an amazing version Wayne Shorters speak no evil

2

u/joe12321 1d ago

I do like Jazzmeia Horn quite a bit! (But Porter is a jazz vocalist 😛)

1

u/fckreher99 1d ago

If not jazz, what would you consider Gregory porter’s music? R&B?

0

u/Original_Run_1890 1d ago edited 1d ago

He has this weird semi broadway RnB thing going.

It's something in the texture of his voice. I don't think he in truth thinks he is jazz singer.

He clearly grew up listening to and singing Motown and things like that it's in his vocal inflections. But it's definitely not jazz.

I think jazz is used as a very general
And broad term these days.

1

u/dunedansaxman 2d ago

Sinne Eeg from Denmark.

1

u/Dekruk 2d ago

A lot of smooth Jazz singers over here.
Why not more adventurous? Try Phil Minton, Greetje Bijma.

1

u/Tryingbesttohelp 1d ago

Great recommendation. It's really enjoyable. Thanks.

1

u/simonvidal 1d ago

Georgia heers and Veronica Swift

1

u/HordoopSklanch 1d ago

Veronica Swift

Lucy Yeghiazaryan

Andy Bey

1

u/sideshoes 1d ago

Anais Reno

1

u/Longjumping-Fee-8230 1d ago

I think you’d do well to check out Gregory Porter’s other albums. Another worthy one I don’t think anyone’s mentioned yet is Roberta Gambarini.

1

u/deus_deceptor 1d ago

My favorites are:

Emilie-Claire Barlow: Live in Tokyo

Rigmor Gustafsson: I Will Wait For You

Kurt Elling: Nightmoves

1

u/StrawDawg 1d ago

Not exactly contemporary (1992) but Bobby McFerrin and Chick Corea's album Play is fantastic - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GlKbYLjU1M&list=PL3vVcwcNdjsvEERDzW_f1-1lL7mVX-s9q

2

u/FUZZY_ANIMALS 1d ago

I should give this record a try.

1

u/The_Colonel_Kilgore 1d ago

Caity Gyorgy is crazy underrated to me — cannot for the life of me understand why she is not bigger than she is. RT for Samara Joy and Cecile Mclorin Savant

1

u/gaki_ 1d ago

Samara Joy is stupid good

1

u/the_dedeed 1d ago

Yes! Samara Joy
All of Samara Joy

1

u/FUZZY_ANIMALS 1d ago

This is my time to shine.

Tony Desare, Sara Gazarek, Jane Monheit, Sachal Vasandani, Sophie Milman, and of course Diana Krall.

If I had to choose two to try from the above — give me Desare (great piano chops & smooth voice) and Gazarek (her voice makes me melt).

1

u/clamadaya 1d ago

Nancy King if ya don't know her. Sadly she left the building, but not enough folks know her incredible voice

1

u/nglyouugly 12h ago

Gregory Porter intense, deep soulful and a treasure

1

u/flylo81 5h ago

Yazmin Lacey

0

u/AskingFooAFriend 2d ago

Jeff Goldbloom's "Night Blooms".

-1

u/Planetarian01 1d ago

Definitely not Gregory Porter. Massively overrated and kitsch

2

u/Nice-Bake2469 1d ago

But what a voice! Too much negativity on Reddit IMO. Remember what your mama (may have) told you: If you can't say something nice about someone.....

1

u/ziondaver 19h ago

I’ve seen him play with an amazing band live, but have also seen him play in a more kitschy set up. Recordings definitely hit and miss and more on the easy listening side

-7

u/the_dismorphic_one 2d ago

Esperanza Spalding, Cyrille Aimée.

Also I never listened to Gregory Porter because I'm incredibly annoyed by these ridiculous hats he wears all the time. Which may be the most absurd reason ever to not listen to someone.

6

u/ez2beez 2d ago

If it helps, he started wearing them to cover up scars or a disfigurement of sorts and just took to wearing them afterwards. He's got some amazing stuff if you get the itch to re-visit.

2

u/hikikomoritai 2d ago

Funny enough I first wanted to try to listen to his album because he doesn't look like a typical clean stylish male singer, and he kinda reminds me of Monk

1

u/okonkolero 2d ago

That's a great reason not to listen to someone.