Share & Discover Vocal Recordings

Vocal Accompaniment
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Boz Scaggs - haven’t heard his name in a while! I love that song We are All Alone, enjoyed that. And especially enjoyed the Dukes of September song. I like the arrangement and players involved.
And interesting take on Dindi. Nice and Mellow.

And what a cool story about Melody Gardot’s Song Morning Sun. Such a tender innocence she captured in the song as well as the arrangement. Here’s a small except from the link you sent me…

"We called it, amongst ourselves, ‘Ezra’s Song,’ (in honor of the baby) as the song was finished at the same moment we received the news his son had arrived into the world, Gardot tells Billboard . “Literally, I had just finished the last chords and a message came through: ‘Ezra has arrived!’ It’s a kind of spiritual, talking about life, the beauty of the world and how the universe is waiting with open arms to receive all the dreams, hopes and desires of every young child.” Though Gardot “wasn’t convinced from the beginning that it would make the cut,” now she “can’t see the album without it.” - Billboard

That’s interesting about the Modern U piano Sample. Looked into it a bit, and it is a very nice, soothing sound. I typically prefer Baby Grand’s to upright, even in samples, but this offers something very mellow and bright at the same time. It expresses the optimism I heard in Melody Gardot’s song.
It’d be nice to know when you share a recording using this sample.

Finally, Been working on Beautiful Love this week as one of the next tracks for the Accompaniment challenge. I’ve found lots of great vocal versions, but I found these two stood out.

I had not heard of Lauren Hendersen before this video. I like how fast the tempo is but it’s about more than just a fast tempo. She changes up the melody a bit, floats over the tempo at times, makes the song fresh to me again.
Side note: From my ears, I can’t figure the timing on the pick up at the start. It also sounds like she might come in 2 measures early after the solo? Not sure, but it all works! They all line up tight once she starts singing…

Vasundhara Vee & Saurabh Suman - Never heard of this couple, but I like creativity and interplay! Just a different perspective on this Standard - bass and vocals only but with some vocalese written to solos from Anita O’Day’s classic version. (Vocalese is something we discussed on this tread a while back; Vocalese is a style or musical genre of jazz singing in which words are added to an instrumental soloist’s improvisation. Interesting.

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@Lyndol,

I enjoyed your session on “Beautiful Love.” I don’t sing, but I found your ideas about how to accompany singers and your suggestions about chord choices quite useful.

As we go into the holiday season, for me a time of reflection, the beautiful tune “Who Knows Where the Time Goes”–written by Sandy Denny (1947-1978)–seems apt. “Who Knows Where the Time Goes” became a signature song for both Denny and Fairport Convention and has been covered by many artists. Here are two: Nina Simone and Nanci Griffith. I love all things Nanci Griffith, but this is one of my favorites.

I don’t know why Griffith’s video says it’s not available [El vídeo no está disponible]. Just click on “Ver en YouTube” to see it.

Here are the lyrics:

Across the evening sky, all the birds are leaving
But how can they know it’s time for them to go?
Before the winter fire, I will still be dreaming
I have no thought of time
For who knows where the time goes?
Who knows where the time goes?
Sad, deserted shore, your fickle friends are leaving
Ah, but then you know it’s time for them to go
But I will still be here, I have no thought of leaving
I do not count the time
For who knows where the time goes?
Who knows where the time goes?
And I am not alone while my love is near me
I know it will be so until it’s time to go
So come the storms of winter and then the birds in spring again
I have no fear of time
For who knows how my love grows?
And who knows where the time goes?

Enjoy! :musical_keyboard:

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Hi Scott,

So I’m back from the Thanksgiving Holiday, lots of family and travel and food. This song you shared, “Who Knows Where the Time Goes” really resonates with me today, on this Monday that I return to regular life. We lost a friend this weekend, and this is exactly the lyrics that help to see the bigger picture of life.

I really liked the arrangement on the Nina Simone, including when it goes into organ and full band at the end. Very cool.

And I’m becoming a huge fan of Nancy Griffith’s. I’m learning Love at the 5 and Dime. and now, yes, this is just enchanting. In particular, I love the harmonies. Such a reflective song that returns the mind to peace and stillness. Thank for sharing.

I wanted to share a holiday original song by Acute Inflections. They are a duo that are quite successful in NYC. Booked out all year long, they have good support for their albums. I like seeing local success of musicians that are doing their own thang. They are more than jazz, doing a wide variety of covers and originals.

This song is an original Christmas classic. I’m very interested in this because as a composer, I’ve never attempted to write a Christmas tune. And this year I’ve been thinking about attempting it. They are just so many good classics, so how does one actually add to the catalogue with something original but centered on the spirit of Christmas? It’s far too easy to be cliche. But this song, ‘In December’ has something I truly like. Maybe it’s just that I love the singer’s high end vocals. So beautiful. You can really hear it stand out with confidently with the bass only accompaniment.

Seems like they’ve inspired a movement in NYC for bass and vocals only duos. Not sure if they actually started it, or if it’s just a trend due to economics. (smaller bands for smaller music budgets) Maybe I just heard if first from Acute Inflections, but they are the best I’ve heard so far.

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@Lyndol,

Love this tune from Acute Inflections and the minimalist feel.

I apologize in advance if the following is not really in keeping with the Great
American Songbook. But you’re composing now, and nearly 100-year-old tunes aren’t everything–except probably the most beautiful and harmonically satisfying of all time!

You said you “wanted to share a holiday original song by Acute Inflections . . . [and that m]aybe it’s just that I love the singer’s high end vocals. So beautiful.”

My immediate gut response to her vocal register was that it is so like Kate Bush, an English late 70s pianist/vocalist/performance artist discovered by David Gilmour, the Pink Floyd guitarist. Totally different genre, but beautiful nonetheless.

You may know her, but I’m guessing from your age that maybe you don’t. At any rate, in case you don’t, here are three of her greatest tunes with some commentary I found.

The one that immediately connected me with the sound of the vocalist of Acute Inflections is “The Man With the Child in His Eyes” (1978).

Remarkably, Kate Bush wrote this song when she was just 13 years old and recorded it only a few years later at the age of 16. Pink Floyd’s very own David Gilmour, who had helped discover the bright young talent, footed the bill for a gigantic backing band which Bush would later admit frightened her.

The track is written about the relationship between a young girl and an older man and shows off Bush’s marvellous talent at such a young age. It’s a song filled with artistic promise.

The next is “Cloudbusting” (1985).

[ A] track from Kate Bush’s seminal album Hounds of Love, the track is a bounding and beautiful affair that rarely provides room for breath. It’s a shining example of Bush’s ability to transform herself into the figurative mind of her protagonist and bring us as an audience along for the ride.

Written about the famed psychologist and philosopher Wilhelm Reich and the tumultuous relationship he shared with his son, Peter. The song is written from Peter’s point of view and focuses on the games he and his father shared during his upbringing on the family farm.

It’s a testament to Bush’s writing that she is able to turn a subject matter like this into a chart hit and have the song remain a bonafide classic.

And look at such a young Donald Sutherland. :smiley:

And the last is probably her most iconic tune, “Running Up the Hill.”

The track, ‘Running Up That Hill’ was the lead single of one of Bush’s most incredible works, Hounds of Love, which remains a pop masterpiece, and the song is a lead single worthy of such an album. Only released ahead of ‘Cloudbusting’ through Bush’s insistence, the track has become one of her most iconic to date.

Bush told BBC about the song, “I was trying to say that, really, a man and a woman can’t understand each other because we are a man and a woman. And if we could actually swap each other’s roles, if we could actually be in each other’s place for a while, I think we’d both be very surprised! [Laughs] And I think it would lead to a greater understanding.”

She continues to add layer upon layer to the lyrics as she explores heavenly sources of inspiration, “Really the only way I could think it could be done was either… you know, I thought a deal with the devil, you know. And I thought, ‘well, no, why not a deal with God!’ You know, because in a way, it’s so much more powerful the whole idea of asking God to make a deal with you.”

Charged with emotion and passion that few artists can even muster, let alone put down on tape, ‘Running Up That Hill’ will continue to be regarded as one of the greatest pop songs of all time. It feels bristling with modernism nearly 40 years after its release.

As well as writing and performing this tune, she’s the dancer here as well. Enjoy! :musical_keyboard:

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Here is a recording by Beegie Adair and Monica Ramey. It is a beautiful Christmas song called Wouldn’t You Like an Old-Fashioned Christmas. I can just imagine Lyndol and Hayden performing it. :grinning:

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What a beautiful tune, @celia! Thanks for sharing.

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@celia - How very lovely! What a nice, intimate duet for Christmas.
I would like an old fashioned Christmas, actually! The whole vibe is warm but super classy.
And It’s a great idea for Hayden and I! Been too long since we’ve duet’ed together! Thanks for the suggestion.

What do you think @Hayden?

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@scott1 - Yes, I’m familiar with Kate Bush, but mainly the song Running Up that Hill.
What you’ve shared has captivated me today.
First of all I find it amazing what all we categorize under Pop. So much gets lumped there, and Pop today is nothing at all like Pop from the 80’s and 90’s. Kate Bush’s work is so creative, and such a high quality of songwriting; as well as complexity of message and form. And her voice is just so beautiful.
Mostly though, she is so original it’s hard to place her in a genre. She’s her own genre.
Also, I’m familiar with Wilhelm Reich’s research and find that video and song fascinating. That she even attempted such a complicated subject and story line. Then turned it into such a likable tune. Talent. It was so well illustrated by her video, as well as the song. Too too cool!
And as many times as I’ve heard Running up that Hill, I never knew what it was about. The commentary was so helpful. And as I watched the video, I had chills from head to toe! True art! Her voice, her dancing. Wow. I’ve been elevated today and reminded how powerful art can be. Thank you.

Makes me think of Tori Amos. She probably the earliest singing Pianist to inspire me personally. I believe she was very influenced by Kate Bush, which is how I came across Kate Bush many years ago.
Tori is more classical, but has her own original ‘Piano Pop’ style. The piano is intrigual to almost all her songs, which she plays while singing even for her live shows.
I saw her once at Texas A&M when I was in college, then again many years later in Paris. She commands the stage effortlessly as a solo artist, for very large audiences. I don’t believe she has much improvisation to her playing, but her piano is quite complicated to be singing over at the same time. I’ve learned several of her tunes over the years. But this is my favorite.

Though most people on Pianogroove are Jazz/Great American Songbook focused, sharing music that inspires is more important that keeping with strict genres.
Most of us are influenced by a variety of artist, and the lines between genres becomes more and more fuzzy these days. So I hope everyone feels free to share any vocalist that they like, jazz or otherwise. Skies the limit!

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Yes great idea @celia and lovely recording. Coincidentally I stumbled across another recording from the same album whilst preparing Xmas piano songs.

“The Christmas Waltz” is also one of the tunes we will cover in Friday’s Xmas seminar:

And yes @Lyndol it has been way too long since our last duet - we must schedule something next time I’m in the USA!

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Heard a concert last night with Montreal based jazz vocalist Caity Gyorgy and my favorite local (Calgary) pianist, Mark Limacher. Fantastic!!
Caity posts wonderful vocal performances of transcriptions of jazz instrumental solos on liftaday, her Instagram account. Very cool.

I posted this in What are you listening to a few days ago, but thought it might fit better here.

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I added this for an earlier scott1 entry that showed “video unavailable” on my device. Great thread.

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@james18 - Just went down a Caity Gyorgy rabbit hole and loved what I heard. I especially love her scat, and it makes sense after seeing the Instagram you mentioned - liftaday - what a cool concept and I JUST love how easily she interprets a wide variety of instruments, not just horn. Very inspiring. Here’s a few videos I enjoyed of her talent…

She has such a bright, authentic voice. I love her range, and how light her high end touch is… very uplifting.

She is a songwriter too, and was the Grand Prize Winner of the 2021 John Lennon Songwriting Contest in the Jazz category for her song "Secret Safe”.

This next one is not my favorite song, but I love how she handles some of those tricky spots in the melody at the end.
Also, Id love to do a duet next time you are in the USA, but since it’s harder to meet up these days, wondering about doing a long distance Duet this way @Hayden ?

Finally, I watched this and thought I’d share. She seems to truly love transcribing/lifting and it’s contagious. Watching her lift the guitar has got me inspired to do much more transcriptions for 2022~~ yes, my resolutions for the new year has begun! Not sure I could do every day, but maybe 1 a month.

Thanks for the inspiration and all the beautiful music shared. The Christmas Waltz was fun, and I believe I was able to hear that Beautiful Love by Tierney Sutton and Christian Jacob before but heard lots more beautiful details this time around @BrianP

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@Lyndol,

You’re right. The Caity Gyorgy video on transcription is “contagious.” It does make you want get to it.

Thanks for your input here at PianoGroove–and have a very Happy New Year! :clinking_glasses: :clinking_glasses:

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beautiful song and arrangement

HNY to all pianogroovers !! :star_struck: :sunglasses: :tada: :confetti_ball: :firecracker: :saxophone: :trumpet: :drum: :microphone: :star2: :star2: :champagne: :champagne: :tada: :tada:

the cover of this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyjyNw3OKFk

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Thanks @scott1! I’m very thankful to be part of the PG community! Such talent and kindness that I find here, it supports musical growth in a way that is so important and yet so rare.

And in that spirit, hoping everyone has a safe and healthy Holiday! Wanted to share a bluegrass version of Old Lang Syne since it’s close to my roots, and a tradition steeped in improvisation and vocal harmonies - 2 of my favorite parts of music.

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@Lyndol,

Love your bluegrass version of “Auld Lang Syne.” I was a fan of country and bluegrass long before I became interested in jazz. My roots are in NW Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas.

And now for something completely different. Yilian Cañizares has a new EP on the way, and this is the first release, “Plumas en en el viento” (Feathers in the Wind). Her voice and her violin are captivating. Enjoy! :musical_keyboard:

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@Lyndol,

I’ve been spending a lot of time studying Brazilian pianists. I came across a few really fine tunes frorm Tania Maria, a pianist/vocalist (b. 1948). I posted one of her videos here some time ago.

The first is a live recording of “Estate” that I thought you would like. (Hayden has a transcription of it somewhere.) That tune and the other two–“Dee Dee Vee” and “Senso Unico”-- are from the album Tempo (@2011 Naive ). On “Dee Dee Vee” she doesn’t sing but does some interesting vocal effects that include a conversation with the bassist toward the end. That bassist is Eddie Gomez who spent 11 years with the Bill Evans Trio. The last tune is “Senso Unico.” It’s an instrumental, but I thought it worth including to show a bit more of her piano style. I hope you enjoy. :musical_keyboard:

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Yilian Canizares’s song and video are esquisite. And I Love Tania Maria! What a fun bounce to the groove in Dear Dee Dee and she is just so commanding of voice and hands. I’m in awe of such a Master.

We have similar roots - Texas and Louisiana. I was raised on Old School Country like Willie Nelson and Robert Earl Keen. Later I fell in love with Bluegrass in the Austin late 90’s early 2000’s music scene. I frequented a blue grass jam in Wimberley, Texas that left a mark on me. It was a huge circle of mainly elders but they welcomed any serious enough student, of any age. They all played together, a huge circle of stringed instruments. It was outside so no piano. But they all sang harmonies and most took solos. I loved the sense of community and lack of pretense. It was a great way to gain confidence in your music and in particular, there were quite a few young musicians who have made great musical careers since then.
This video shares that spirit of elders supporting youngsters in music and showcases one of those great young stars Sarah Jarosz. She is singing and playing here with my favorite singing violinist Alison Krauss and I believe that’s the great Jerry Douglass on Dobro.

I went to Paris and NYC to be amongst a strong jazz tradition, but after almost 20 years, seems I’m returning to my roots:) I love music in general, but when there’s improvisation AND harmonies involved? Count me in!

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@Lyndol,

I share your love of bluegrass, and I love Alison Krauss. The sessions she has shared with Robert Plant from Led Zeppelin are incredible.

Here’s something that I think you will like from the Brazilian pianist/vocalist/composer Tania Marīa (b. 1948). These clips are from her album Viva María (℗ 1980 Concord Picante). I came to these to study the piano; you can study the vocals as well. Enjoy! :musical_keyboard:

Here’s the Spotify link to the album if you’re interested:

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One critic said that Antonio Carlos Jobim was the heart of Bossa Nova and that Elis Regina was the voice. Here are some videos from Elis Regina’s 1973 live MPB [Musica Popular Brasileiro] television broadcast special that showcase that voice. Apart from the intimacy of her voice, of interest is the understated piano accompaniment of César Camargo Mariano, her husband. Of all these tunes, she made Jobim’s “Águas de Março” her own. Enjoy! :musical_keyboard:

(A note: this session was set up as a tune followed by an interview. Stop each video at the end and click on the next one, unless you speak Portuguese :wink:.)

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