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VOCALISTS

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Dr. Bailey Hinkley Grogan�University of Northern Colorado

A JAZZ SINGER CRASH COURSE

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WHAT (OR WHO) IS A JAZZ VOCALIST?

A vocalist who improvises and sings jazz music.

Jazz is an improvisatory music

Repertoire

Training, lessons, and work.

Jazz instrumentalist training

Steeped in tradition of jazz music

Bebop, post-bop, swing, bossa, hard bop, modern.

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WHERE DOES SINGING APPEAR IN THE JAZZ IDIOM?

  • Soloists
  • Duo
  • Quartet (bass, drums, piano)
  • Ensemble (3+ voices)
  • Backgrounds
    • Chord singing/support
    • Church choirs
    • Wedding Gigs
    • Mainstage Events (Grammys, Superbowl, Festivals, Commercials, etc.)

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SKILL SET OF JAZZ VOCALS (OR ANY MUSICIAN)

Technique

Repertoire

Vocabulary

History

Marketing

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TECHNIQUE

Technique is technique, style is style

Timbre

Tone

Vibrato (or lack there of)

Dexterity

Models of Style and Genre

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TIMBRE AND TONE

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TIMBRE, TONE WITH STYLE

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STYLE

  • Swing, Latin (very large umbrella), Straight 8ths
  • Not just Great American Songbook!
  • SIGHT READING SKILLS
    • Preparedness with musical settings of all kinds
  • Blending with instruments
    • Heaviness, tone, vowels
    • Texture, Colors, double melody or individual sound

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DEXTERITY (TIME-FEEL AND AGILITY)

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REPERTOIRE

  • What is the gig?
  • How much soloing are you going to do (hopefully a lot)
  • Duo gig – 20-25 tunes
  • 1 Hour Set -- 10 tunes
  • Memorization
  • KNOW the changes, the lyrics, the melody
  • 1899 (earlier probably) – now
    • Ragtime, Swing, Big Band, Bebop, Post Bop, Hard Bop, Jazz Fusion, Modern, etc.

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BAND WORK

  • Be the leader, take charge
  • Know the changes, know the tune, know the form.
  • Eye contact, verbal communication before beginning (even during)
  • Guide with cues, don’t be afraid to guide but don’t direct (the band knows what they’re doing)
  • Count off, key, tune, style, and form
  • Endings and Intros - how do you want to start? Ending may be a moments notice
  • Be kind always – be curious always

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TUNE LIST - NEEDS!

Tune

Style

Key!!!!

Time Feel

Clear, clean charts

15 Tunes REALLY WELL!

iReal Playlist or a document

Go to jams, learn the tunes, keep your ears open

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VOCABULARY (IMPROVISATION)

  • “Carving changes” or outlining the chord changes (1,3,5,7,9)
  • Melody, Harmony, Rhythm
  • Lyrics
  • Patterns or “licks”
  • Resources:
    • Darmon Meader, ”Vocal Improvisation: An Instrumental Approach
  • LISTEN!
  • Transcriptions and etudes
  • Syllables:
    • Da, Va, Ba, Do, ‘n’, Ah
    • Open sound – emulate horns
  • Resources:
    • Spotify Playlist:

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MARKETING

  • Instagram�
  • Business Cards (CD)�
  • Social Media �
  • EP�
  • Website

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THINGS TO CONSIDER

  • Jazz singers are jazz musicians FIRST
  • Internal Sense of Pitch
    • Piano, asking for pitch
  • Tunes in right key
  • Arrangements
  • Communicate with band with non-verbal communication (mic directing, arm movements, eye contact, etc.)
  • Check your mic – make sure its loud enough, not too loud (up or down hand signal at sound engineer to give more or less volume)
  • Take a moment to ground yourself before counting off. Sing a little bit if you need to to find your quarter note beat!
  • Bring your strengths into your artistry, they make you unique!
  • What do you like about jazz? What about jazz singing?
  • What do you want to learn? What kind of artists do you want to be?

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THANKS <3

Bailey Hinkley Grogan

  • University of Northern Colorado
  • Bailey.Grogan@unco.edu
  • Instagram: @baileyhgsings
  • Website: BaileyHG.com

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