Four Tens

We like things that come in groups of ten – decades, fingers, that whole decimal system. And of course, top ten lists. It felt appropriate today to make four top ten lists, for a total of forty items.

They’re all alphabetical because I don’t have favorites: just a collection of artists I lean on – a different one could be my favorite every day. Are my lists longer than ten? Of course! But these are the ten I most frequently come back to.

My Top Ten Vocal Groups

  1. The Boswell Sisters
  2. The Hi-Lo’s
  3. Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross
  4. The Manhattan Transfer
  5. New York Voices
  6. Rajaton
  7. The Real Group
  8. The Singers Unlimited
  9. The Swingle Singers
  10. Take 6

My Top Ten Classic Jazz Singers

  1. Chet Baker
  2. Nat “King” Cole
  3. Ella Fitzgerald
  4. Shirley Horn
  5. Mark Murphy
  6. Frank Sinatra
  7. Mel Tormé
  8. Sarah Vaughan
  9. Joe Williams
  10. Nancy Wilson

My Top Ten Arrangers for Voice

  1. Anders Edenroth
  2. Moses Hogan
  3. Mark Kibble
  4. Phil Mattson
  5. Darmon Meader
  6. Alice Parker
  7. Gene Puerling
  8. Ward Swingle
  9. Michele Weir
  10. Steve Zegree

My Top Ten Authors/Thinkers Who Shape My Worldview

  1. Brené Brown
  2. Pema Chödrön
  3. Malcolm Gladwell
  4. Seth Godin
  5. Adam Grant
  6. Austin Kleon
  7. Alice Parker
  8. Alex Ross
  9. Krista Tippett
  10. Steve Zegree