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Jazz Vocalist - Laufey

100.36.31.151
Posted on September 25, 2023 at 14:41:28
DaveT
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 I had occasion to hear this artist on the CBS Saturday Morning Show, September 23rd, 2023. She is a new Jazz vocalist on the scene, akin to Samara Joy.

These two young women assures the music (Jazz) will be available to new generations.
DaveT

 

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Better things happening with other singer/songwriters, posted on September 26, 2023 at 04:10:56
andy evans
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 I'm pretty cynical about new jazz singers relying on old formulae like standards and bossa nova rhythms. This is 2023 - the world has moved on in all possible ways, attitudes, lyrics, electronics, arrangements and production - just about everything.

I would much rather listen to the sounds of 2023 - young singer songwriters starting off their careers. Here's one I knew quite well when I was working at a rock academy. Just a young graduate, one of thousands making a statement about the world we now live in.

 

I find both extremely forgettable., posted on October 2, 2023 at 23:00:58
jimbill
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 And please don't use auto-tune in jazz.

But then, I wouldn't call either one of these jazz.

 

RE: Better things happening with other singer/songwriters, posted on October 3, 2023 at 14:47:36
DaveT
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Location: Mid Atlantic (Wash, DC Area)
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 I listened to Belle Jar - Blue. I find the arrangement different, and one could say it is 21st century-ish. To me the arrangement, although limited in instrumentation it does not complement the vocalist. To my ear the arrangement is a distraction. I did note at the end of track that she may have more ability than was demonstrated in this particular selection.

Not meaning to be hyper-critical, but the vocalist has limited range, and this particular selection does give me pause to hear more. One of the things Jazz artist have prided themselves on is the ability to perform the standards.

Lady Ga-Ga performed her own material (as have other pop performers) only to demonstrate the range of her vocal control and ability by singing a few standards. Oh so many pop performers have performed Jazz standards just to prove they have talent, range, and the ability improvise.

The 2 artist I suggested have range and control far out pacing any number of other vocalists. In my opinion, these 2 vocalists' abilities demonstrate range and control well beyond the "lounge singers" who have been pushed on the listening public. All too often female Jazz vocalists are photogenic and, in some cases, excellent musicians playing instruments, but are mediocre vocalist. This distinction is not only reserved to female performers. There are any number of male musicians who have offered mediocre Jazz vocalizations, as well.

Everyone has their tastes and preferences, and we don't all have to agree.

DaveT

 

There's more to being a singer than being a vocalist, posted on October 4, 2023 at 14:36:30
andy evans
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 Who would I prefer to listen to - Ella Fitzgerald or Blossom Dearie?

Answer - Blossom Dearie. She has a squeaky voice but she has something to say. Not just clever notes.

Ella is a "vocalist". She has pretty much no feel whatever for the emotion in the songs she sings. She's not a songwriter either.

Give me the songwriters every time - Joni Mitchell, Laura Nyro, St. Vincent, Sara Bareilles, Cyndi Lauper and all the rest. The same with the guys. They create the songs. That's where the real talent lies.

 

+1. That's how I have always thought about Ella's singing but was afraid to say it., posted on October 7, 2023 at 00:21:05
alaskahiatt
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 I much prefer Nina Simone and others with emotion in their voice. Then there are also other singers that sound like they are forcing the emotion. Not jazz, but Red House artist Greg Brown tries to sing with an increasingly deep voice on each new recording. I think he has finally bottomed out though.

 

Ella versus Sinead O'Connor....., posted on October 7, 2023 at 15:14:45
andy evans
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 My Man's Gone Now - George Gershwin

Ella:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ3kfDBAJWc

If there's any feeling in it, I can't feel it.

Sinead:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGhvFrzq7kQ

That hits the spot for me....

 

RE: Ella versus Sinead O'Connor....., posted on October 13, 2023 at 04:20:45
DaveT
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Location: Mid Atlantic (Wash, DC Area)
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 I don't agree regarding the two recordings.

To me, Ella's recording is more in the vein of the operatic performance as would be performed in a theater. Sinead's recording, to my ear, has less body. The arrangement or the recording is thin. Sinead's recording is underwhelming where Ells's recording is overwhelming.

Maybe it is just a matter of taste, but I don't hear any particular emotion in either recording.

In my experience, a live performance in an intimate setting is where one can sense the emotion. Whereas the recordings of all these artists provides us a glimpse of their talent. At best we like what we like, and we may disagree. Regardless, all the artist named in this thread are talented and I don't believe their performances are enhanced my technical gadgetry.

Overall, we can just "enjoy the music!"


DaveT

 

yep, posted on October 13, 2023 at 13:56:19
G Squared
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Gsquared

 

That's a nice Sara Bareilles track, posted on October 14, 2023 at 11:11:30
andy evans
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 Sara Bareilles is not only a good musician, she writes really good songs and her lyrics are some way towards the kind of metaphors you get in poetry.

Here's a favourite of mine. I love the lyrics....

"You've got a steel train touch and I'm just a track you lay
So I stay right here, underneath you
I'm just a basket case, it's what we do...."

 

RE: Sara Bareilles, posted on October 16, 2023 at 10:07:35
DaveT
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 She does indeed have a beautiful voice and delivery. I listened to this track and the one supplied by Andy. This specific selection strikes me as a Jazz performance.

Although performers may select songs and arrangements from any number genres, Andy's submittal sounds more Folk than Jazz. That is not to say the performance is sub-par - it just does not sound like what "I" think of as Jazz.

I believe we are identifying females who give performances that appeal to us. They are all female vocalist/performers. Whatever strikes you strikes you, and nothing is to be gained by diminishing one over the other.

One of my favorite vocal performances by anyone is Eva Cassidy;s Over the Rainbow. This song is often thought to be a Jazz standard, however I am do not know where this performance would be classified. This performance is what Andy says expresses feeling and emotion. For whatever reason, every time I hear this performance it brings tears to my eyes. YMMV

DaveT

 

RE: Sara Bareilles, posted on October 16, 2023 at 17:35:03
G Squared
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 I've always resisted putting boundaries around jazz. Part of the beauty of jazz is openness of the art form.
Gsquared

 

Just listened- very nice. nt, posted on October 16, 2023 at 18:16:26
G Squared
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 .
Gsquared

 

Jazz Boundaries, posted on October 17, 2023 at 13:26:34
DaveT
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Location: Mid Atlantic (Wash, DC Area)
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 I, wholeheartedly, agree that Jazz should be boundless. For the most part Jazz has branched out into various genres. The underlying theme of Jazz is improvisation.

DaveT

 

Not jazz...-, posted on October 24, 2023 at 19:56:21
budget fi
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 ...or my cup of tea but if you like it that's great :-)

 

RE: Jazz Vocalist - Laufey, posted on November 19, 2023 at 03:29:44
mwheelerk
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Location: Gilbert, Arizona
Joined: December 27, 2005
 I find Laufey and Samara Joy very enjoyable...

 

RE: Jazz Vocalist - Laufey, posted on December 27, 2023 at 18:55:46
mwheelerk
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Posts: 438
Location: Gilbert, Arizona
Joined: December 27, 2005
 I find both of these young artist enjoyable but certainly not straight up Jazz vocalist

 

RE: Not jazz...-, posted on December 29, 2023 at 13:00:02
pbarach
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Posts: 3389
Location: Ohio
Joined: June 22, 2008
 I like some of Laufey's songs, but her music is not jazz as I understand
it--there is no swing, she sings on the beat, there is no improvisation (the brief scat singing in "From the Start") is the same in every performance. Also, sadly, there has been some obvious wear and tear on her voice in the last few months, if you listen on YouTube to multiple performances she's done of the same song.

 

RE: Not jazz...-, posted on January 2, 2024 at 07:49:38
budget fi
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Location: seattle
Joined: August 8, 2004
 Speaking more to Belle Jar which is really nothing close to jazz. At least the Laufey video, good or bad, was an attempt of Brazilian Jazz per the forum it's posted.

 

Cyndi Lauper over Ella? I've heard it ALL. nt, posted on August 14, 2024 at 07:33:11
oldmkvi
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Joined: April 12, 2002
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