At 86 the visionary musical sage Jon Hendricks, who along with Ella Fitzgerald and Eddie Jefferson originated the jazz style called vocalese -- the setting of swing and jazz instrumentals with playful scat lyrics -- is as voluble as ever. Since the late 1950s, when he was a co-founder of the vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, this verbal conjurer and scat-singing virtuoso has remained a dedicated popularizer of a form that the Manhattan Transfer refined to a high buff in which polish undercuts raw spontaneity.
The original trio, which he founded in 1957 with Dave Lambert and Annie Ross, lasted five years until Ms. Ross departed, to be replaced briefly by Yolande Bavan. The group disbanded in 1964, and Mr. Lambert died two years later.
The original trio, which he founded in 1957 with Dave Lambert and Annie Ross, lasted five years until Ms. Ross departed, to be replaced briefly by Yolande Bavan. The group disbanded in 1964, and Mr. Lambert died two years later.
