Vocalese

Vocalese is a style or genre of jazz singing wherein lyrics are written for melodies that were originally part of an all-instrumental composition or improvisation. Where scat singing uses improvised nonsense syllables in solos, vocalese uses lyrics, either improvised or set to pre-existing instrumental solos. The word "vocalese" is a play on the musical term "vocalise" and the suffix "-ese", meant to indicate a sort of private language.

Related Topics:
Genre - Jazz - Singing - Lyrics - Melodies - Composition - Improvisation - Scat singing - Solo - Vocalise - Suffix

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Pioneers of vocalese include King Pleasure, Eddie Jefferson and Babs Gonzalez. The best-known practicioners are probably Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, which was made up of Jon Hendricks, Dave Lambert and Annie Ross. Ross's 1952 lyrics for the song "Twisted", a blues improvisation by saxophonist Wardell Gray, are considered a classic of the genre. Latter-day performers known for vocalese include Al Jarreau and Manhattan Transfer.

Related Topics:
King Pleasure - Eddie Jefferson - Babs Gonzalez - Lambert, Hendricks and Ross - Jon Hendricks - Dave Lambert - Annie Ross - Saxophonist - Wardell Gray - Al Jarreau - Manhattan Transfer

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Some performers, notably Slim Gaillard, Cab Calloway and Leo Watson, combine vocalese improvisations with scat singing.

Related Topics:
Slim Gaillard - Cab Calloway - Leo Watson

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