Betty Carter was an American jazz singer known for her improvisational technique, scatting and other complex musical abilities that demonstrated her vocal talent and imaginative interpretation of lyrics and melodies. Vocalist Carmen McRae once remarked: "There's really only one jazz singer—only one: Betty Carter."
Carmen Mercedes McRae was an American jazz singer. She is considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century and is remembered for her behind-the-beat phrasing and ironic interpretation of lyrics.
Shirley Valerie Horn was an American jazz singer and pianist. She collaborated with many jazz musicians including Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Toots Thielemans, Ron Carter, Carmen McRae, Wynton Marsalis and others. She was most noted for her ability to accompany herself with nearly incomparable independence and ability on the piano while singing, something described by arranger Johnny Mandel as "like having two heads", and for her rich, lush voice, a smoky contralto, which was described by noted producer and arranger Quincy Jones as "like clothing, as she seduces you with her voice".
"Black Coffee" is a song with music by Sonny Burke and words by Paul Francis Webster. The song was published in 1948.
"With a Song in My Heart" is a show tune from the 1929 Rodgers and Hart musical Spring Is Here.
Robert Michael Watson Jr., known professionally as Bobby Watson, is an American saxophonist, composer, and educator.
John Josephus Hicks Jr. was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. He was leader of more than 30 recordings and played as a sideman on more than 300.
Curtis Lundy is an American double bass player, composer, producer, choir director and arranger. Lundy is best known for his work as part of jazz vocalist Betty Carter's band. He is the brother of vocalist Carmen Lundy, with whom he has also recorded.
Carmen Sings Monk is a 1990 studio album by the American jazz singer Carmen McRae, focusing exclusively on the songs composed by Thelonious Monk. It was one of the last recordings released in her lifetime. McRae was accompanied by Clifford Jordan on soprano and tenor saxophone, and a rhythm section with pianist Eric Gunnison, bassist George Mraz and Al Foster on drums. Two songs, namely "Get It Straight" and "Suddenly", were recorded earlier that year live at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco with tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse, who played the longest time with Monk. The rhythm section was almost the same, then with Larry Willis on piano.
Marvin "Smitty" Smith is an American jazz drummer and composer.
Margo Guryan was an American singer-songwriter. As a songwriter, her work was first recorded in 1958, although it was for her 1960s song "Sunday Mornin'", a hit for both Spanky and Our Gang and Oliver, that she is perhaps best known. Her songs have also been recorded by Cass Elliot, Glen Campbell and Astrud Gilberto, among others.
Mary Stallings is an American jazz vocalist and mother of soul singer Adriana Evans.
Lorez Alexandria was an American jazz singer, described as "one of the most gifted and underrated jazz singers of the twentieth century". She became established in the midwest before moving to Los Angeles in the mid-1960s. Jazz critics have compared her to Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae, and Ella Fitzgerald.
Victor Lewis is an American jazz drummer, composer, and educator.
Roseanna Elizabeth Vitro is a jazz singer and teacher from Arkansas.
Carmen Souza is a Portuguese jazz singer and songwriter of Cape Verdean heritage. She combines traditional forms of Cape Verde with contemporary and traditional jazz.
At This Time is an album by Trio 3, a jazz group consisting of saxophonist Oliver Lake, bassist Reggie Workman and drummer Andrew Cyrille, with guest pianist Geri Allen. It was recorded in 2008 and released by Intakt Records.
Brianna Thomas is an American jazz singer, vocalist, composer, songwriter, band leader, and percussionist. She was born and raised in Peoria, Illinois, United States. She made her singing debut at the age of six. She is the daughter of drummer and vocalist Charlie Thomas. She is known as being one of the best young straight ahead young jazz singers, says music critic and author Will Friedwald. She is known to bring together various forms of American music from bluegrass to jazz in to an original hybrid of jazz/funk/rock and soul. Her voice is said to be strong and her range huge. She incorporates rare music in her repertoire of early female blues and jazz pioneers such as Bessie Smith, Victoria Spivey, Ma Rainey, Ethel Waters, Mamie Smith, and Ida Cox. All About Jazz said of her 2015 debut album, You Must Believe in Love, “Brianna Thomas is the complete package. Through this music she exhibits emotional depth, to-die-for scat skills, incredible pitch control and shading, strong songwriting skills, intuitively elastic phrasing, soulful bearing, and a great range.”
Beatitudes is an album by saxophonist and composer Bobby Watson and double bassist Curtis Lundy. It was recorded on April 11, 1983, at Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was released on vinyl later that year by New Note Records. In 1997, the album was reissued on CD by Evidence Music. On the album, which features five Watson originals, a Lundy composition, and Gigi Gryce's "Minority", Watson and Lundy are joined by pianist Mulgrew Miller and drummer Kenny Washington.
Just Be Yourself is an album by double bassist Curtis Lundy. It was recorded during 1985 at Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was released on vinyl in 1987 by New Note Records. In 1997, the album was reissued on CD by Evidence Music. On the album, Lundy is joined by saxophonist Bobby Watson, vibraphonist Steve Nelson, pianist Hank Jones, drummer Kenny Washington, and vocalist Carmen Lundy.
