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Thread: Singers of similar vein as Al Jarreau

  1. #1

    Singers of similar vein as Al Jarreau

    I have fond memories of Al Jarreau's music from the mid 70's. I am just wondering whether you have any other favorite scat singers like Al?

    For me few artists that came to mind are Urszula Dudziak, Grzegorz Karnas, George Benson, Amy Winehouse, The Manhattan Transfer, even Dave Matthews...anyone else?


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  2. #2
    Member Digital_Man's Avatar
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    Maybe not really scat but I see(actually hear) similarities to Bobby McFerrin.

  3. #3
    Parrots Ripped My Flesh Dave (in MA)'s Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Digital_Man View Post
    Maybe not really scat but I see(actually hear) similarities to Bobby McFerrin.
    Bobby McFerrin is Al Jarreau mixed with Michael Winslow.

  4. #4
    (aka timmybass69) timmy's Avatar
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    One of my all time favorite albums is This Time (1980). The musical performances are exceptional. Not sure anyone really comes close to Jarreau.
    "Why is it when these great Prog guys get together, they always want to make a Journey album?"
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  5. #5
    Geriatric Anomaly progeezer's Avatar
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    Check out the catalog of Lambert, Hendricks & Ross. Jon Hendricks is thought by many to have invented a style of scatting called "Vocalese".

    Manhattan Transfer named one of their albums for that style of singing.

    Also a band called New York Voices fills the bill.
    "My choice early in life was either to be a piano player in a whorehouse or a politician, and to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference"

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  6. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by progeezer View Post
    Check out the catalog of Lambert, Hendricks & Ross. Jon Hendricks is thought by many to have invented a style of scatting called "Vocalese".

    Manhattan Transfer named one of their albums for that style of singing.
    Jarreau's version of Spain reminded me of what Hendricks and Manhattan Transfer did with Birdland the year before.

  7. #7
    George Benson was definitely the first to come to mind. Also perhaps Jon Lucien?

    Confirmed Bachelors: the dramedy hit of 1883...

  8. #8
    Kurt Elling (he and Jarreau did some duets in the last few years)

  9. #9
    I already mentioned his name, but this guy is just outstanding young jazz scat singer: Grzegorz Karnas, worth checking



    also I have discovered this clip by Czech jazz scat singer Petr Lipa about Prague Spring 1968, a mix of scat and rap perhaps...(you tell me)


  10. #10
    Member jake's Avatar
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    I think Louis Armstrong was the first real scat singer - Ella Fitzgerald was also a real great and sophisticated bop-style scat singer. Dizzy Gillespie had a singer in his band for a while called Joe Carroll who was really great too. A more modern take on bop scatting can be found in the singing of the great Eddie Jefferson - Here's a sample of his style.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khyNZ2VVpF8

  11. #11
    Member proggy_jazzer's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by pb2015 View Post
    Kurt Elling (he and Jarreau did some duets in the last few years)
    Much as I love Kurt Elling, it's incomplete to mention him without mentioning him-from-whom-he-came, the great Mark Murphy:



    ...and it's a good bet that KE would be among the first to point this out
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  12. #12
    Great choices thus far. I am surprised however that nobody mentioned any vocals group except Manhattan Transfer. I have a couple of candidates like Novi Singers from Poland or C&K Vocal from Czechoslovakia



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  13. #13
    Quote Originally Posted by progeezer View Post
    Check out the catalog of Lambert, Hendricks & Ross. Jon Hendricks is thought by many to have invented a style of scatting called "Vocalese".

    Manhattan Transfer named one of their albums for that style of singing.
    And that album featured arrangements and a guest appearance by Jon Hendricks...
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  14. #14
    Geriatric Anomaly progeezer's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Progmatic View Post
    Great choices thus far. I am surprised however that nobody mentioned any vocals group except Manhattan Transfer. I have a couple of candidates like Novi Singers from Poland or C&K Vocal from Czechoslovakia



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    I mentioned 2 groups. Lambert etc. and New York Voices.
    "My choice early in life was either to be a piano player in a whorehouse or a politician, and to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference"

    President Harry S. Truman

  15. #15
    Highly Evolved Orangutan JKL2000's Avatar
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    Was Jarreau Prog?

  16. #16
    Geriatric Anomaly progeezer's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JKL2000 View Post
    Was Jarreau Prog?
    Only his sphincter.
    "My choice early in life was either to be a piano player in a whorehouse or a politician, and to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference"

    President Harry S. Truman

  17. #17
    Quote Originally Posted by progeezer View Post
    I mentioned 2 groups. Lambert etc. and New York Voices.
    Thanks. You are right! I will check them out


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    Parrots Ripped My Flesh Dave (in MA)'s Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dave (in MA) View Post
    Bobby McFerrin is Al Jarreau mixed with Michael Winslow.
    I see I'm not the only one who had a similar idea...

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFfia3Zs3lE

  19. #19
    Man of repute progmatist's Avatar
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    Nathan East sounds similar. You can him hear him with Fourplay, and backup/occasional lead vocals with recent lineups of Toto.
    "Well my son, life is like a beanstalk, isn't it?"--Dalai Lama

  20. #20
    Studmuffin Scott Bails's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by progmatist View Post
    Nathan East sounds similar. You can him hear him with Fourplay, and backup/occasional lead vocals with recent lineups of Toto.
    Fourplay, yes. Not so sure that he's taken an lead vocals with Toto. Greg Phillinganes is featured on Falling in Between, however.
    Music isn't about chops, or even about talent - it's about sound and the way that sound communicates to people. Mike Keneally

  21. #21
    I had planned on sticking Al’s duet with Gayle Moran in here, but I have too much respect for Al to do that.
    Confirmed Bachelors: the dramedy hit of 1883...

  22. #22
    Man of repute progmatist's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Scott Bails View Post
    Not so sure that he's taken lead vocals with Toto.
    He does during his bass solo(s), where he sings the same thing he plays.
    "Well my son, life is like a beanstalk, isn't it?"--Dalai Lama

  23. #23
    Studmuffin Scott Bails's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by progmatist View Post
    He does during his bass solo(s), where he sings the same thing he plays.
    Right. Forgot about that. He did a fantastic solo during "Africa," and scatted through a great deal of it. He was a great fit in that band. Very talented guy.
    Music isn't about chops, or even about talent - it's about sound and the way that sound communicates to people. Mike Keneally

  24. #24
    Highly Evolved Orangutan JKL2000's Avatar
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    Which is his proggiest album?

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