[Dixielandjazz] remembering the lyrics

[Mike]

Believe it or not, there are a lot of musicians who learn the 
words to a tune; it helps with phrasing. Whenever I am learning 
a new tune I first learn the lyrics. I usually do this by 
listening to a vocalist sing it. Frank Sinatra is one of my favs 
but you can't go wrong with Ella Fitzgerald or many others. Have 
you ever heard how Sarah Vaughn sings 'Summertime'? Listen to 
how she milks every single word getting everything she can out 
of it. That's how to really learn and phrase a tune.

Mike





Cebuisle2 at aol.com wrote:
> Larry's recent post on his singing reminded me of my own inabilty to  
> remember all the lyrics to tunes. I too seldom listen to the vocals in  recorded 
> music.
>  
> Used to have a tenor sax man originally from the Bronx who could sing  every 
> tune ever written, or at least he was never stumped when a  request came from 
> the dance floor. He was of Italian origin, and could do  the lyrics in either 
> English, or switch easily to Italian! Used to amaze  the heck out of me ! 
>  
> Read somewhere that Ol Satch couldn't always remember the lyrics either,  
> which led him to scat his way through many a song.
>  
>                                                                            
> Ted   ( lyrically challenged)