<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">Listmates & especially Bill Sargent,<BR>
<BR>
There are damn few living "jazz" singers around no matter what their<BR>
stripe. Be they male, female, black, white, American, European or whatever!>><BR>
<BR>
Can't argue with that.<BR>
<BR>
<<The last male "jazz" singer was Al Jolson and even that's open for<BR>
discussion.>><BR>
<BR>
Can't agree with that.<BR>
<BR>
<<Now that I have your attention let's get back to basics. The original<BR>
songs and singers were referred to as the "blues" not "jazz". Look in just<BR>
about any discography of traditional jazz and you will find that most of<BR>
them have "blues" in the title.<BR>
As for the singers starting with Bessie and all the rest, they sang the<BR>
Blues, not Jazz. The musicians played Jazz to back them up.>><BR>
<BR>
Some folks are so hung up on having to put labels to everything . . . they miss the whole point and beauty.<BR>
<BR>
I've played with a ton of blues bands and blues singers. . . . and I've also done the same with jazz . . . of several genres . . . and the two were not the same . . . or even close.<BR>
<BR>
<<I am sure that most of you have heard the phrase "he could really make<BR>
that instrument cry". Now that's a "Blues" musician!>><BR>
<BR>
That term could be applied to anyone who played with an exceptional amount of expression and emotion.<BR>
<BR>
<< Singers are just like all the other musicians regardless of their axe.<BR>
There are those that do it with passion and those who just read the notes.<BR>
Expertly maybe but no soul, no passion, nothing directly from the gut.<BR>
That's what separates the wow from the ho hum.>><BR>
<BR>
I agree.<BR>
<BR>
<< Now that I have said my piece let's stop knocking "Chick" singers for<BR>
their gender. >><BR>
<BR>
I love female vocalists (good ones). Fact is, I named my doughter after Ella.<BR>
<BR>
<<Face it men, things have changed considerably in the last<BR>
hundred years.>><BR>
<BR>
Truth NEVER changes. Fools do.<BR>
<BR>
<<They even train Women Marines in the same platoons with the<BR>
men and they die just as easily but that's another string which I prefer to<BR>
let lie.>><BR>
<BR>
See above.<BR>
<BR>
<< All of you have a great weekend!<BR>
Gary (one lung) Wallbridge>><BR>
<BR>
Especially, you too!<BR>
Bill<BR>
414-777-0100<BR>
BillSargent.com<BR>
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