jazz vocalist
Improvising musical performer
A jazz vocalist is a singer who performs jazz music, typically distinguished by improvisational skill, rhythmic flexibility, and interpretive phrasing.
Jazz vocalists often use techniques like scatting—wordless vocal improvisation—and bend melodies freely around the beat: Ella Fitzgerald remains the quintessential jazz vocalist.
The term emphasizes artistry over mere singing.
- singerVocal music performer
- croonerSoft-voiced romantic vocalist
- scatImprovised vocal jazz
- improvisationSpontaneous, unplanned creation
- balladNarrative poem or song
torch song · torch · smoky · microphone · nightclub · piano bar · lounge · standards · swing · bebop · sultry · Ella · Billie · Sarah Vaughan · velvet · phrasing · blues · blue note
- vocalistssinger, soloist, songstress, songster, crooner
- voice professionalsvoice coach, voice actor, voice teacher, speech coach, speech therapist
- Jazz Showsbebop, saxophone, trumpet, quartet, quintet
- live performerslounge singer, wedding band, bar band, karaoke singer, house band
- folk musiciansfolk singer, folk guitarist, folk duo, folk trio, fiddler
jazz, vocalist, vocal, vocals, vocalize, vocalization, vocalized, vocalizing, voiced