Been a little bored lately, wondering why I do what I do.

Then, I ran across "Everything Must Change" , featuring George Benson and Rachelle Ferrell, with Toots Thielman on harmonica.

Quincey directed the orchestra, in this live performance.

This is what it's all about.

Russ

I am no Toots Thielman but have begun incorporating harmonica into my shows(4:00 on video). I have a collection of Blues, Diatonic, solo tuned, and chromatic harps. I can read, but have always been able to play anything on the harmonica I know in my head, without music. I have to go over the accidentals a couple of times, however. I thought the harmonica to be below me, through the years, until I began using it sparingly. I was surprised by the positive reaction, but shouldn't have been, since I brought my valve trombone to the clubs, along with my B3 and 122R. Oh what fun(usually).

Why is this so great? I can't recognize any of the words that are being sung. Great sound but diction is impossible for me to hear. Is my hearing going out that bad?

Structure, superior musicianship, outstanding arrangement, top shelf vocals, and QUINCEY!

To an old "jazzer" this is about as good as it gets.

What do you think is better and why? Diction is fine to me, but I know it is a live event, and know the song well.

Try playing it live, take a close look at the lyrics and then see what you think.

Toots is phenomenal on this. Stevie also blows me away. Had the good fortune to play with him many years ago.

Russ

Gotta agree with Earl - I couldn't understand a word they sang and that was using headphones. They may be great musicians Russ, but the two singers were just plain awful, IMO.

Gary

Me Too!!!! They want to treat their voice as an acoustic instrument and failed big time.. George can sing when he wants to, but the lady just plain can not sing a lick


I want to hear from other jazzers that think that was presentable.. Russ you drinking Gary's brew..

Ask real jazzers about Rachelle. In my opinion, one of the best jazz singers of all time.

An elite talent recognized world-wide.I'm really surprised at this response. To me very few female singers can even hold her mic.

R.

Sorry to disagree with you on this subject, Russ, but I sincerely believe that diction is a major component of singing. As for not being able to hold her mic, how about Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, Nina Simmons, Diana Krall, Diana Washington, Betty Carter, Peggy Lee and Carmen McRae? I can clearly understand every word of ever song those ladies performed. She doesn't even make it into the Top 25 List of Best Jazz Singers. https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/best-female-jazz-singers-ever/

When I was visiting Nashville I came across a lady that had a school where she taught diction to singers, and she instructed many of the greatest singers of our time during the past 30 years. She had an ad in one of the local musical entertainer magazines, and her school was booked to capacity with a two year waiting list.

Thirty years ago, when I was an aspiring singer, I thought I sounded pretty damned good, but my wife convinced me to take a course at the local community college where she worked. The course was called "Voice And Articulation" and was taught by a local jazz singer. She had an incredible voice, and she was an excellent instructor. She placed a lot of emphasis on articulation and vocal control, which is why she, and many of her students, were very successful. I'm not bragging, but I sincerely believe that I would not have been nearly as successful without her tutelage. My wife agrees wholeheartedly.

All the best,

Gary

Sorry Russ.... Ella Fitz could have sung circles around her, imo.
Eddie

Russ I based my comment on that video... and the distorted facial views were scary

My bet... she couldn't hold a mic for the ladies Gary mentioned..

I will check her out a little more... as long as it is not the same as that video.

Obviously this is a situation of "different strokes for different folks" ... Ms. Ferrell has garnered accolades from the jazz world, but her vocal style is not to my taste ... I have a problem with vocalists - and even instrumentalists who try to put every note of the scale into every musical phrase ... and as for facial expressions or other 'gyrations', they also bother me ... I always found it difficult to watch Jim Nabors and Celine Dion (in fact, I don't even like her singing) ...
But, like everything in the world, it's all a matter of PERSONAL preference ...
JMHO

I see both sides here. As a country music fan, I am not really qualified to judge, but like everyone I have an opinion anyway. Obviously, she is an excellent vocalist, not my preference-I like Diana Krall's type of jazz myself when I listen to it. But since she is performing with George Benson, I think this is more about showing off her "chops" than it is about making sure the lyrics are enunciated correctly.

Thoughtful posts. If you're not into jazz, I can see why you wouldn't like this. I like all vocalists mentioned, including Diana Krall. Ella had just divorced Ray Brown when I was in California and helped me with chord inversions.

She isn't a commercial talent at all, but if you check out her credentials, you will find that she is a world-recognized talent.

Responses have been personal preferences, and that's the way it should be. Jazz elitism will NOT raise it's nasty little head here.

Just check her out and look at her world-wide accolades.

She is one of my top two female vocalists of all time.

And this performance with George, Toots, Quincy and Rochelle really is why I do what I do.

It may also be why I make most of my money playing for a recording machine and not live audiences....YA THINK? (LOL).


Be well, all.

Russ

P.S.
There are other niche performers. Check out Leanne La Havas. Much more commercial appeal, but not for everyone.

Good find, Donny. Now this young lady enunciates with perfect clarity, her voice is crisp, clear, distinct, very smooth, perfect pitch and a very enjoyable listen. That's what I'm talkin' about!

Gary

Nice. Liked the guitar and everything about the singing except the vocal gymnastics at the very end.
Eddie

I am from the old school where you each note of the song was sung with a few variations. As the years pass musicians and singers began to add more and more to a song until it was no longer the song.

This is acceptable if you listen with a Jazz ear. Musicians added more scale and scales modes. My preference is to add notes and scales without losing too much of the melody. It was a dance in a New York hotel, about 175 people. We had a drums, sax, bass, a portable B3 organ, and myself on guitar. The sing, Witchcraft in F. The sax who was real good took his improvised solo. I think he was playing over the chords. We went into the second song, same key and tempo. After my vocal the sax started his impro solo. He was good. He suddenly turned to me and said, “What song are we playing”.

At the Sands hotel in Vegas – Ethel Merman (Spelling) was singing – Sinatra was in the next room. I’ll never forget his choice of words. “Hey, who’s yellen’?” I love it.

All music has its place, John C.

I've got to say I was a little concerned about criticizing the vocal that a respected member was praising. I was gratified to see that I was not alone in my opinion. Don't mean to start a war
BUT...

Now, I've got to say I have always considered myself a jazzer. Maybe not a great one but a jazzer nether the less. Spent 20 years playing and arranging big band jazz charts in the Army b4 retiring in 1992. I must also admit that their where many jazz 'artists' I wouldn't walk across the street to hear. Playing a string of notes from some obscure scale as fast as you can never seemed very musical to me. favorite Jazz artists, Charlie Byrd, Guitar, Pete Fountain, clarinet, and Jimmy Smith, organ.

Now, I gotta admit I'm heavy into country, but thats a whole nother story.

Now THAT is funny. I admit I like some semblance of recognizable melody in my jazz.

Eddie

Quincy, George and Toots, undeniably the finest in their respective categories, would not be on stage with any person of questionable credentials.

She is at the heavy end of the female jazz interpreters and is universally recognized as one of the best in the world.

If I were the only one who had such a high opinion of her, I'd question my judgement.

I'm not. To me, she is fabulous; just not quite right for the nursing home circuit.

Frankly, I'm really surprised at the reaction of the folks here.

But you certainly have the right to your opinion. I just think you're missing out on the enjoyment of a premier, world-class talent, appreciated by legions of jazz fans around the world.

Be well,

Russ (evidently, tone deaf) Lay

The list of top vocalists was partially based on sales. In terms of talent this lady; to me, it at the top of the heap.

Russ, her vocals have nothing to do with the nursing home circuit or any other circuit, for that matter. Her diction is just horrible by any measure. Not too many years ago, this type of diction, where consonants are omitted or unintelligible, was known as "Lazy Speech" while others termed it "Acceptable Slang." When 9 out of 10 respondents or listeners cannot understand a single word of the song she is singing, there is definitely something wrong. I know my hearing is shot to hell, so I listened to the song again using headphones and I still could not understand what she was singing.

Sorry old friend, but it's not just my opinion, many others on this forum feel the same.

All the best,

Gary

I guess I need to email George Benson and tell him the bad news....he's TONE DEAF!

Before he passed, George Duke said Rochelle was the best female vocalist of the modern jazz era. Guess he didn't know what he was talking about, either.

Spend a 1/2 hour LISTENING! Hopefully, you'll see what the top people in the music field see.

She's a world-class Berklee School of Music graduate and a nationally recognized pianist and arranger, too.

I really value the opinions of many here, but in this case, I'll side with the majority of the internationally recognized jazz music pros.


R.

Quincy is on stage with her and I didn't even know she sang in English

Wow Chaka Kahn is so Amazing!

thanx Fran for posting this..

Here Quincy singing the same song... How about that I understand every word even with the vocal movement..

You know that's not Quincy singing. He's the rare producer that gets cover credits, but the singer is someone like Pebo Bryson (Just Once) or the like.

This is a studio recording. The other piece is live.
This is "straight ahead" melody, which I find nice but boring.

If you don't like Rachelle, it's your loss. Enough of us do to give her a satisfying, lucrative career many here would probably like to have.

And she earns it, in my opinion. Just looks like she sings "over the heads" of some folks here. Shaka and the dude who sang with her were embarrassingly average, in my opinion.

Oh well, it's your loss.


Russ

Good find, Fran, and you just reinforced my beliefs.

All the best,

Gary

I think it was the braces

Jim, you need to add stand-up to your act. Stand-up, guitar and a tubby little "straight man" from Kentucky.


Be well,


R.

Russ, I agree , I thought Chaka was less than average as a Pro singer..

I knew that was not Jones but could not find any credits..

My point was Quincy was sharing a stage with less than stellar talent..


I could not sit through an hour set of Rachelle's style... just as you would not sit thru a country show


My idea of good jazz.. is a Jazz guitar that takes an old standard and uses tasty chords and fills..... not a player playing fast scales and burying the melody... and as for a singer... there are many more I would prefer...

It's a matter of taste and what lights our fire..

No offense intended... you were just wrong this time

Just kidding

Is that Chas. Russ or Donny playing the piano... I didn't notice a sustain pedal so I thought it was Donny... But it sound more like Chas's detail work.. and I never heard Russ play any keys yet..

There is a part II. I laughed so hard I don't think my pants are ever going to dry.


Eddie

it dosn't matter what you play in your bedroom no one can hear it anyway......
that said enjoy what ever you play till the end.

Fran, first, I appreciate this interchange. It's great to disagree, but acknowledge another's right to his/her own opinion.

I especially like the little, "I'm right" reference.

As far as keys go, Don posted an 8 minute film score years ago. I redid that score with different instrumentation (all string instruments) and had them posted back to back.

The first score for an international vehicle manufacturer was all me on keys, with "sweetening" by a horn player. I did go back and add strings, but the version posted was the final rough before production; all on keys and all me.

I won't bore everyone with another post, but Don may be able to find it and send it to you, if interested.

Be well,


Russ

BTW, there was a neat reference to "running chords". That's what old time horn, piano and guitar players often do. I've played many times where I really wasn't comfortable with the melody when it was time for a solo, but was able to limp along
just "runnin the changes". Ya gotta be careful; somebody might figure out that you don't really know the damn tune.

LOVE YA, RACHELLE!

R.

Looked at this post again, and realized that the negative responses were all about vocal quality and diction.

My attraction is structure, innovation...lots of stuff that are not necessarily what most people think of when evaluating music.

Some jazz is not pleasant to listen to. I hear chord inversions, not notes. Structure is more important, in most cases than lyrics.

Jazz is an acquired taste. I sat with Ella, played with her, and she'd love Rachelle.

Rachelle has some early singles you folks would probably like...BORING!Look up "Til You Come Back To Me".

We are not talking apples to apples, and that's OK. Remember, this is from a guy who can't stand Elvis and thought that Mel Torme and Billy Extine made Frank Sinatra sound like a rank amateur.

I STILL LOVE RACHELLE, so there!

Russ (tone deaf) Lay

Actually, the only others here I think would appreciate this form and talent would be Chas, Boo...maybe Uncle D and possible Nigel.