Jazz - Vocals or Instrumentals

[Admin]

There are many who believe Jazz is all about the instrumentals. Vocals are unnecessary accoutrements to the real music, the great instrumental performances. Even the great jazz vocalists - Lady Day, Ella, et al. are sometimes referred to as "Blues" singers, and for sure, the vocalists like Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Julie London, etc. were Pop singers and that Louis Armstrong and the likes were really instrumental greats who just happened to include some vocals in their performances.

What is your opinion? Do you prefer your Jazz with or without the vocals?

For me, I love the sound of vocals and until I saw Miles Davis at Newport back in 1969, performing his "Bitches Brew", I didn't consider music to be real music without the vocals...

Now I'm not sure?

[muddylives]

Well, we have both, and I am happy with that. I have never really been a fan of scat vocals or of vocalese. That is when I sometimes feel that vocals are unnecessary. I like the voice when it is really the voice, not an imitation of another instrument. Give me the distinctive vocals of people like Lady Day, Louis Armstrong, and Dinah Washington. They don't substitute for any other instrument, and no instrument could substitute for their vocals.