Jazz Articles about Lutalo Olutosin

Lutalo Olutosin: Tribute to Greatness

by C. Michael Bailey
November 17, 2010

Vocalese is the pinnacle of jazz singing; a jazz singing style based on lyrics composed to melodies that were originally part of non-vocal compositions or improvisations. There are only a handful of truly proficient vocalese lyricists, a short list including Eddie Jefferson, Babs Gonzales, King Pleasure (Clarence Beeks), Jon Hendricks, and Mark Murphy. East Chicago native Lutalo Olutosin honors all this and more on his Tribute to Greatness. Far from mere imitation, Olutosin sings these composition in his own relaxed ...