Modern Singers, Classic Music?

InspectorMorse · Feb 10, 2006

I have XM satellite radio for XM 73 Frank's Place (American Popular Standards with Jonathan Schwartz,) Sunny XM24 Beautiful music, XM4 for the Forties sounds....I also have Sirius Satellite Radio just for Standard Time Sir75....the classic radio programs on XM 164 & Sir 118 are also great. Satellite radio has brought a new sense of culture across our nation as the classics are delivered in style 24/7 no matter where you are!

adamgottschalk · Feb 10, 2006

Kurt Elling

As a jazz singer (and bass player), I have been jealous of Kurt Elling's achievements for more than a decade. When I came across his first record, Close Your Eyes, while I could hear that his instrument was not yet fully developed, I was simply amazed at his sheer verve, and at his world-class vocalese skills. I was left thinking, "Damn. Somebody's already doing it."

Mr. Elling is one of two singers I can listen to singing warhorse standards (I'm all about carving out a whole new set of standards, standards for the 21st century) and not get turned off within seconds (Abbey Lincoln is the other). If you haven't heard it, you've got to check out KE's vocalese and singing on Moonlight Serenade, from his most recent record, Man in the Air. To begin the tune, Elling made a vocalese from a Charlie Haden solo from Quartet West's great record, Haunted Heart.

Now, just on the face of it, making a vocalese from a double bass solo is a feat of great magnitude. But the actual finished product is phenomenally good, both technically and lyrically speaking. Just beautiful music, perfect lyrics, sung sublimely (I've seen him sing it live too, at least as good).

I highly recommend any album in Elling's body of work.

adamgottschalk · Feb 10, 2006

Flirting with Twilight

adamgottschalk said:
If you haven't heard it, you've got to check out KE's vocalese and singing on Moonlight Serenade, from his most recent record, Man in the Air. To begin the tune, Elling made a vocalese from a Charlie Haden solo from Quartet West's great record, Haunted Heart.

Sorry. It's from the record Flirting with Twilight (lyrics from his vocalese).

The real Henry · Feb 10, 2006

I've boths albums!(Robbie Williams, Micheal Bouble) And I have to say They both did a GREAT job on singing the Ratpack-songs with a big-band, but for my taste Williams really brought the Swing-feeling back to nowadays! And if you see his concert in the Albert Hall! This man is maybe one of the best entertainers of our time!

koopkooper · Feb 11, 2006

Buble needs to learn how to dress.....did you seem him at the grammys.....blue jeans, polo shirt and at dinner jacket????Huh, did he get dressed in the dark??

katiemakeup · Feb 11, 2006

Kurt Elling is great! Ooh I missed the Grammys but Michael looked nice in his tuxedo jacket and tuxedo shirt & jeans! He performed at the pre telecast in his standard Hugo Boss suit... One more day till I am 2nd row center for Michael in Vegas! Then 3 weeks till Radio City Music Hall for more Michael! Whoo hooo! It was nice that Tony B. won, but it's sad that his voice just ain't what it used to be.

Inspector~ so you have two different satellite systems, you can't combine it in one?

katiemakeup · Feb 16, 2006

Vladimir Berkov said:
When it comes to modern singers singing vintage songs I think Max Raabe (who sings with the Palast Orchester) tops my list for male singers. Not only does he have an incredible and unique voice, but his on-stage and off-stage personality is just what you would expect from a singer of the period. Seeing him live was just spectacular.

http://www.palastorchester.de/index2.php

For female singers I really like Carla Norman who sings with Don Neely's orchestra. There are times when she sounds exactly like a resurrected Helen Ward singing with Benny Goodman in the mid-to-late 30s.

He is amazing~ He sang at the Dita Von Teese/Marilyn Manson Wedding (the Ireland ceremony, not the LA one)

clevispin · Feb 23, 2006

I find Buble to be a lightweight. Krall is hot as hell. I listen to web radio "www.LIVE365.com". In particular "Sophisticated Sounds". Excellent mix of standards from the 40's up. Old and new singers both.

m

InspectorMorse · Feb 23, 2006

Saw Jane Monheit in concert recently- very great stuff- If you a nut over standards & jazz she is a must!

Rundquist · Feb 25, 2006

katiemakeup said:
I respect your opinions, but in defense of Michael's career: All of his albums are Platinum so not everyone thinks he is lame. Certainly his choice of music is right on- he writes his own stuff and chooses standards and classics that have been recorded by many- even legends in this time. Not everyone likes, of course. He was raised on Ella, Duke, Frank, Billie, Bobby D. and others- he is only on his second studio album (although he has 4 independant albums prior to this) and he is doing even greater things for his next.

He was discovered by well respected multiple Grammy winner David Foster (about 5 years ago) - after Michael had been performing for 10 years. He is no overnight sensation and has paid his dues big time. He most definately brings this genre to us his own way, and doesn't copy a 'persona' or structure the way some wanted him to. This is hard to do because, as you had mentioned- and I agree with you- it's hard to fill the shoes of the greats before them as the barr was set very high. There will inevitably be people/songs/arrangements that will overlap & be reused becuase there are only so many things you can record- it's just numbers/laws of averages. In fact, David's arrangement of the Beatles' 'Can't Buy Me Love' is up for a Grammy for best arrangement.

So you are very picky about the music you listen to, aren't we all? That doesn't mean he is any less of an artist. He is very talented regardless if you like him or not. Do we have to only appreciate artists post mortem? His musical knowledge and integrity were learned and loved through the so called school of hard knocks and lived it growing up. With any artist, the path to their destination is just as important as the result they make. What is the difference of musical knowledge & integrity between Michael and artists similar to him, than the greats before him? One doesn't have to sing or play or write as good as their idols~ the fact that they feel it within themselves and strive to be like them and love what they loved makes them more like their idols than those who are technically equal, because those striving are fed by the need that their idols possess and therfor live it. I wish you would have backed up your 'choice of material' statement with facts so I could see your side. To me, art is the result of any creative process and therefor subjective.

And since when did scat have a blueprint?

Hey, I agree. Many people like the guy (there?¢‚Ç¨‚Ñ¢s no accounting for taste). But I wouldn?¢‚Ç¨‚Ñ¢t go around using the Grammies as a barometer for what?¢‚Ç¨‚Ñ¢s good though. And I stand by my statement. His music is gay. Cheers

PS- You just substantiated my claim about his choice in material. Don?¢‚Ç¨‚Ñ¢t get me wrong, I?¢‚Ç¨‚Ñ¢m a huge Beatles fan, but ?¢‚Ç¨?ìCan?¢‚Ç¨‚Ñ¢t Buy Me Love?¢‚Ç¨?? Come on.

Speedster · Feb 25, 2006

Michael Bubl?É¬©, Harry Connick Jr and Diana Krall are some of my favourites when it comes to young people singing old style music, but as BT mentioned earlier on we still have Tony Bennett with us. But it looks like there a lot of other performers mentioned in this thread that i need to check out.

And then i have a very soft spot for the Blues, so i am going to check out Big Joe Louis.

Speedster

InspectorMorse · Mar 1, 2006

I've seen Harry Connick twice in concert and he is great live...

Magus · Mar 10, 2006

Well....for me Tony Bennett is simply the voice I like to hear when listening to that style of music. To chime in on the topic though, Sinead O'Connor did an interesting CD of classics. She isn't someone I care for that much but it was way before the MB "movement" or Rod S doing classics...so I give it up for her at least being ahead of the curve.

Now...if you want a modern singer with a sultry, smoky, sexy, voice find some of Keren Ann. She is French Canadian and records mainly in French, though she has some songs in English. She isn?¢‚Ç¨‚Ñ¢t singing classics?¢‚Ç¨¬¶but has a classic voice.

M

feltfan · Mar 10, 2006

Vladimir Berkov said:
When it comes to modern singers singing vintage songs I think Max Raabe (who sings with the Palast Orchester) tops my list for male singers. Not only does he have an incredible and unique voice, but his on-stage and off-stage personality is just what you would expect from a singer of the period. Seeing him live was just spectacular.

http://www.palastorchester.de/index2.php

I was so disappointed when Max Raabe and the Palast played
in NYC a few months ago, but did not come to the West coast!
I'd love to see them.

I'd also recommend Bjork's "Gling Glo" for a fresh take on
some classics.

But generally it's hard to match the zing, enthusiasm, and
authenticity of the original recordings!

Zemke Fan · Mar 10, 2006

Diana Kralll...

...saw her first about seven or eight years ago. Shy. Cute. Unaware that she was the cat's meow. Small club in Georgetown (Blues Alley). We talked afterwards and she was sweet and nice and unassuming. (See the last album cover, below.) Her very early albums are the best... from 1995:

Only Trust Your Heart

Love Scenes

And my personal favorite, All for You

Although Diana has come into her own since her relationship/marriage to Elvis Costello, her original CDs are very cool and classy.

BTW, for all you Tony Benett fans, I've seen Diana and Tony team up twice in concert. AWESOME is the only word to describe the experience!

Kermez · Oct 11, 2008

Michael Buble

I've got to go with Buble, but as a metalhead my experience in this area is admittedly rather limited...

Miss 1929 · Oct 11, 2008

And think of all the ones that are undiscovered...

The wonderful thing about the music of the Golden Era is that these are the jazz standards. We can look forward to generation after generation rediscovering and recording these songs. Musically, they are more complicated, with more interesting harmony, than any other vocal music before or since, so there is a lot of room for improvisation (whether extreme improv as in scat and vocalese or the more subtle smal changes in tempo, emphasis etc).

Of all the above listed...

Tony Bennett! Not exactly a modern singer, since his career started in the Golden Era, but he brings a fresh feel to everything he does. Especially wonderful are his albums with pianist Bill Evans - two giants of jazz in one room.
Madeleine Peyroux - I agree, every time I hear her I think, " what a waste of a great Billie Holiday imitator". She has no sound of her own. She's a one-trick pony.
Buble - quite a good singer, but leaves me a bit cold, I really can't say why as he has not grabbed me so I haven't really listened deeply, I will give him another fling.
Love Max Palast. And what a wonderful band.

Mostly, I don't listen to other modern musicians as there is so much original material to listen to, and I would usually rather be playing tan listening.

But as a modern (kind of) musician doing vintage music, it gratifies me to see all of you into it!

www.gigmasters.com/swing/saraswingtime

ITG · Oct 11, 2008

Kermez said:
I've got to go with Buble, but as a metalhead my experience in this area is admittedly rather limited...

I'm so excited, I'm going to see Buble perform tonight. Can't wait!

Kermez · Oct 11, 2008

You'll have to share details afterwards. I always hear how he puts on one helluva show. Good luck!

Cabinetman · Oct 12, 2008

So...Holly...How was the show (too early right now; I'm guessing you're still there)?

And here's a way early happy birthday to Manuel!

The Long Lost Cabinetman

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