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For those that do not understand what "vocalese jazz is, it is when a jazz vocalist takes a jazz composition or an important jazz solo from the vast jazz repertoire, and they write words to perform to it. Vocalese jazz is truly an underrated art form. It requires real thought and attention. Granted, it's not for everybody, but when performed, it's an amazing testament to jazz. Unfortunately, there is not a plethora of jazz vocalese artists, nor is there a great deal of focus on vocalese jazz. Jazz has been around for roughly 100 years. Vocalese jazz has been around for roughly 50 years. But, in those 50 years, some have emerged and still shine brightly. According to Will Friedwald in
The Oxford Companion to Jazz, "...it may be the last thing to happen to the development of jazz singing that could be called a 'movement'. Below are ten extraordinary examples of the vocalese movement. (Here we go, here we go, here we go, here we go...)
 | Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross: Everybody's Boppin' (Columbia/Sony)
This is the vocalese supergroup of all time. Comprised of David Lambert, Jon Hendricks, and Annie Ross, they brought a new sense and vitality to music that made everyone's ears perk up. On Everybody's Boppin', you can find Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross placing words to jazz classics such as Art Blakey's "Moanin' written by Bobby Timmons. Wardell Gray's "Twisted gets a brilliant vocal treatment by Annie Ross, along with Harry "Sweets Edison's "Centerpiece, Cannonball Adderley's "Sermonette, and Duke Ellington's "Cottontail. This is a great place to start if you want to get introduced to classic vocalese jazz. |
 | Eddie Jefferson: The Jazz Singer (Evidence)
Jefferson is probably the man that started the entire vocalese movement. Some of the earliest examples of vocalese can be found as far back as Bee Palmer and Marion Harris placing words to some Bix Beiderbecke sides such as "Singin' the Blues, but it was Jefferson that started an entire movement. Well, Jefferson and an incredible solo by James Moody to "I'm in the Mood for Love. It's one thing to compliment as soloist and say that his solo was "lyrical. It's an entirely different thing to actually write lyrics to that solo. That's what Eddie Jefferson did, and "Moody's Mood for Love was born. On The Jazz Singer, Jefferson gives a sparkling rendition of this song as well as singing lyrics to Miles Davis' "So What, Charlie Parker's "Now's the Time, Horace Silver's "Sister Sadie, Lester Young's "Lester Leaps In, and other jazz standards such as "Body and Soul, "Night Train, and "These Foolish Things. Highly recommended. |
 | Bob Dorough: Devil May Care (Bethlehem Archives/Avenue Jazz/Rhino)
If you have ever caught an episode of Schoolhouse Rock, then you already know Bob Dorough's voice. But, that's hardly his "mark in the jazz world. He's a very gifted singer, with that certain spry spirit that commands you to smile. Dorough has a very personal and unique voice that no one can imitate. Devil May Care is his debut album from 1956 and the lyrics he penned to Charlie Parker's "Yardbird Suite are phenomenal. He also takes a few liberties on this recording with Dizzy Gillespie's "Ow, Hoagy Carmichael's "Baltimore Oriole, and standards such as "Old Devil Moon, "Devil May Care, "Polka Dots and Moonbeams, "It Could Happen to You, and "Midnight Sun. The really surprising tune on this album is Duke Ellington's rarely recorded "I Don't Mind. A living legend, Dorough deserves to be recognized and this is a terrific place to start. |
 | King Pleasure: Golden Days (OJC)
King Pleasure was in the same boat as Eddie Jefferson, and they each have phenomenal versions of "Moody's Mood for Love. King Pleasure had a very defined, smooth voice, and when he sang bop vocalese, it was like melting butter. On Golden Days you can hear Pleasure sing not only "Moody's Mood for Love, but also "New Symphony Sid based on Lester Young's "Jumpin' with Symphony Sid, "All of Me from which he penned lyrics to Illinois Jacquet's solo, and "Tomorrow is Another Day which listeners may know better as "Dear Old Stockholm. Also included is "Parker's Mood in which Pleasure wrote lyrics not only based on Parker's solo, but on Parker's life. This can also be heard at the end of Clint Eastwood's film BIRD. |
 | Jon Hendricks: Freddie Freeloader (Denon)
Jon Hendricks is so important to this brand of music, that he deserves to be mentioned twice. He is the man that the vocalese torch was passed on to from Eddie Jefferson and King Pleasure. On Freddie Freeloader you can hear Hendricks wail on versions of "Jumpin' at the Woodside, "Freddie Freeloader, "Stardust, Stanley Turrentine's "Sugar, Thelonious Monk's "Trinkle Tinkle and "Listen to Monk (Rhythm-a-Ning), as well as a vocal rendition of Benny Goodman's big band arrangement of "Sing, Sing, Sing. Outstanding! |
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Volition & Vocalese
 Howard Hesseman wrote on 2009-02-24 16:33:21: Help, hepsters! Stuck for lyrics for Bird's NOW'S THE TIME, as below:
You've heard the people say
a dog'll have his day
but when it comes to wailin'
I ain't got a word to say.
You can do the waitin'
'cause I ain't hesitatin'
ya dada da, ya dada da
yas dada dada da.
Now's the time to wail,
not later but right now.
Right now...
Yikes! Brain no find "ya dada" portion of lyrics. Soul not at rest. Help this poor man to sleep w/swinging dreams once again. 
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