I've never really listened to jazz or blues before I came upon this thread about 10 minutes ago. I downloaded some Billie Holiday, and i want to cry it's so moving. Never been so moved by music thats just coming out of my computer speakers. I've listened to "Crazy He Calls Me" 3 times and it still hurts to listen to it (which, in case you were wondering, is a very very very good thing in my world). My Uncle is a Jazz man and plays the Sax in a few different bands, so he can guide me...but my word! How did i not realize what a wonderful world was within my grasp!!! thank you thank you thank you!

Question.

Thus far with my Jazz knowledge it has all been instrumental.

Are there any vocals in any form of jazz music?

some names that come to mind are Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Nora Jones and Nat King Cole. am i on the right track MB?

Norah Jones is way new compared to Billie Holiday and kind of in a different realm, but i love them both :) im no expert though, just excited about my new experiences

Cool Ill check them out. Much appreciated.

Oh yeah

Yes, there's plenty of vocals in jazz music. Although there's a thin line between jazz, soul and blues in this case. Check out big names like Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole. I myself aren't a big fan of jazz with vocals but love Billie Holiday and Sinatra. Nowadays Norah Jones and Jamie Cullum come to mind but I don't like their style.

Definitely Sinatra and Fred Astaire if you're looking for smooth vocal jazz

Agreed on these suggestions; however, not all of them were Delta bluesmen. Also, it's Huddie William Ledbetter, aka Lead Belly, not Leadbelly.

Keeping with Southern flavoured blues, I'd like to add these bluesmen:

Blind Willie Johnson
Mississippi Fred McDowell
Lightnin' Hopkins
John Lee Hooker (his album Burning Hell is some of the best acoustic blues ever recorded)
Barbecue Bob
Big Bill Broonzy
Ishman Bracey
Reverend Gary Davis
Tampa Red
Bukka White

The Mississippi Sheiks were one of the, if not the most popular band in Mississippi, and most of the South, of their time.

definietly check out ahmad jamal. hes one of the greatest of all time, and influenced miles a ton

Thanks. I dont know if this counts because I know little about jazz but I rather like Louis Armstrong.


Also does anyone know a good starting point for Weather Report/Jaco Pastorius? Thanks.