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.