A recent request from the brilliant composer/conductor David Von Kampen in the Facebook Vocal Jazz Educators group sent me down a rabbit hole, so I’m sharing the request and my answer here.
My group is done singing for the semester and I’m planning a class day to just show them great vocal jazz videos. Post your favorites and I’ll add them to my list.
CRITERIA:
- groups preferred, but I’ll show some solo singers as well
- real live singing only, absolutely no lip-syncing/music videos
- professional, school groups, whatever, are all good, as long as it’s GREAT SINGING
- any style/flavor, as long as it can loosely be considered ‘vocal jazz’
- concerts are fine, also informal videos from rehearsals or anywhere else!
I ended up with two playlists. One from the pros and one from academic groups. Enjoy!
(Note: I limited to one song per group; could have picked many different options!)
Professional Groups
Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross – Every Day (with Joe Williams)
The Hi-Lo’s – My Sugar Is So Refined
Manhattan Transfer – Four Brothers
Bobby McFerrin & Gimme5 – Circle Songs
The Real Group – Pass Me The Jazz
Voces8 – Straighten Up & Fly Right
Academic Groups
WMU Gold Company – Every Day I Have The Blues (with Kurt Elling)
University of Miami Extensions – Little Black Spider
CSULB Pacific Standard Time – Summertime
Folsom High School Jazz Choir – Still Crazy After All These Years
SWCC First Take – Bon Voyage Concert (your choice of tunes)