Beautiful! She looks so happy and joyful up there! Nice to hear that in her voice. And nice to hear Brad - been awhile since I’ve heard him. Thanks for sharing!
Glad you enjoyed Fleurine and Mehldau.
Here’s another Latin tune, Jobim’s “Chega De Saudade,” from Eliane Elias with the great Marc Johnson on bass. Some really fine music here. 
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Love this!
Man her fingers can fly and there is so much joy of music here.
I like the arrangement too - starting with the guitar and voice going into Piano and Bass Solos then back to piano theme then Drum solo. Very cool.
Good timing for me to watch this since I’m rededicating part of my practices to my latin feel - something I haven’t dedicate enough time to yet.
And since a student is working on the vocals for Desifinado - I checked out Eliane’s version from the same 2015 AVO sessions and it was another killer arrangement as they play with the tempo and feel - going into swing, doing a super chill bow bass solo and back into the fast latin.
Wow! I just love her interplay with both Marc Johnson (Bass) and the drummer Joey Barron who killed it!
Great way to start the week. Thanks Scott!
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That range–
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Thanks @keynut. Such dynamics and, as you said, range. I’ve always loved this tune.
Here’s one of my favorite vocal versions that you might find of interest. It’s by Gretchen Parlato and includes the brilliant Taylor Eigsti on piano.
Enjoy.
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@keynut & @scott1 -
Such cool versions. Dist I really like the heavenly quality of the Kurt Elling. So light and airy.
But I love the feel of Gretchen Parlato. Super cool and sultry.
I know of this Tune, but have never studied it myself. Wondering about the lyrics since both versions seem to have different lyrics? And they are different from the first 2 versions of lyrics I found online. Do people just make up their own lyrics for this?
Hey Scott - I missed this one. Not on purpose, tho maybe subconscious since I’m not a fan of Billie Eillish in particular. But this is cool. And you’re right, this could be cool with a trio. Nice find! I try not to be a music snob. It’s important to be open to good music from all directions. So thanks for sharing.
Yes, there seems to be a lot of different lyrics to this tune with wide emotional variety, too (water, expansiveness, jealousy…). Is that what vocalese means or does vocalese refer more to improvisation?
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Yillian Cañizares is a Cuban violinist, vocalist, and composer, now living in Switzerland. I was fortunate to see her in concert last year in a small venue (when we could still have concerts) with Omar Sosa, the brilliant Cuban pianist. I spoke with her for a bit after the show. That show was, in part, responsible for my renewed interest in Latin music. Having lived in Argentina from 2000 to 2018, I’m pretty well acquainted with the Latin scene, but I’ve always had a fondness for all things hispano-american.
Classically trained, and working with orchestras in Europe for several years, she turned to jazz, blending her Afro-Cuban rhythms into the mix with her great voice.
Here are three videos. The first is her with Omar Sosa. The others are her as a leader. Enjoy.
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Yes, Vocalese officially means putting lyrics to an instrumental jazz improvisation …
" a style of singing in which singers put words to jazz tunes, especially to previously improvised instrumental solos."
It’s a nebulous term since it also includes set melodies, such as Blue in Green. But it’s distinctively different from Scat - pure vocal improvisation…
“Vocalese uses recognizable lyrics that are sung to pre-existing instrumental solos, as opposed to scat singing which uses nonsense words such as “bap ba dee dot bwee dee” in solos” - wiki
I would add to this that Scat is completely improvised by singer- note choice, rhythm and syllable.
I’ve thought of the term Vocalese as being more specific to the works of Hendrix.
" The term is attributed by Jon Hendricks to jazz critic Leonard Feather to describe the first Lambert, Hendricks, and album, Sing a Song of Basie.
And I personally have run across many more songs that have just ONE agreed upon set of lyrical vocalese for a particular standard. That’s what I find interesting about all these varied versions of Blue in Green - they are all over the board. The subject is so different in each, as you mentioned. And now my eyes are open - did I just assume 1 main interpretation for certain instrumental songs taken to the lyrical level? Are there many interpretations for many jazz standards, different for each vocalist?
Love having my perspective expanded here!
I’m researching now to see how many lyrical interpretations there are for some of the most popular standards. Cool to explore…
Wow, so much to say about Yilian Canizares… blow away from these videos.
First Video - love the whole thing from the air piano 
to the beautiful touch of the violin arrangement through out the song. Just lovely. And I was wondering - did she sing/play violin at the same time (around 3:12 it starts)?
Then that was answered by video 2 where she clearly is so fluent at playing violin and singing at the same time. Wow! I was super blown away by this video - my favorite of the 3 you shared.
The song itself is so beautiful and so powerful. And the way she soloed on her violin - I’m in love!
I find jazz violin to be very hit or miss since it’s often an instrument more matched with Classical and Bluegrass traditionally. She marries her violin with her jazz in the most natural and convincing way. And is so proficient as a soloist.
As a band leader - She led the charge back to the best crescendo moment at the end - gave me chills. What a build to joy! Bravo.
The 3rd video was beautiful too and I especially loved how the rhythm goes into a fun latin groove at the end there.
That’s so cool that you lived in Argentina for 8 years! I’d love to hear you play latin. It’s such a language that I myself have not put the time in yet to really get that fluidity - but man I love to feel that groove.
Wondering if in the 2nd video - is she singing spanish or just syllables?
Also, what do you think of the pianist - Daniel Stawinski - in the 3rd video… something felt off to me, but since I’m not fluent in latin, wondering if it’s just my sense of rhythm being too rigid?
Thanks for sharing these Scott. AS always - an excellent find! So cool you heard this genius live!
PS - have you already shared some your latin tunes here on PG? Interested in hearing your music.
Lyndol,
She is indeed a “Wow.” Apart from her talent, in performance she’s a charismatic ball of energy and always with a smile. At her performance here, she had nearly all of the generally staid, old jazz fans on their feet, singing and dancing along with her.
On the second video, no it’s not Spanish. It’s probably Yoruba, a language of the Nigerian people “relocated” long ago to Cuba. They were, among others, a major influence on Afro-Caribbean music.
On the third video, I think the pianist is quite good. I think the parts that may be problematic for you are those where there is an interchange between all the percussion instruments–the piano obviously being one of them. They play off of each other and fill in the spaces between the others’ rhythms. This sort of music seems (to me) to lean heavily on the ensemble for its overall effect.
At any rate, I’m glad you enjoyed her music. (And I lived in Argentina for 18 years, not 8, not that it matters. 
)
Thanks for the clarification on the language in the 2nd video. And for your thoughts on the pianist. Makes sense that he’s intentionally finding space in the texture of the rhythm.
And 18 years - big difference from 8 years!!! Bravo!
Maybe overkill here, but here’s one more from Cañizares . I think the piano player redeems himself 
.
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love this song and old tune Invitation
still looking for some haunting interpretation
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An old tune, but new to me. Thanks for sharing, Pierrot! Yvonne Sanchez has such a sultry, beautiful voice–and what an arrangement. Gonna give this a few listens right now.
YilianCanizares - Laila - Intense! What dynamics! She generates so much energy with her music. Tour de Force!
Pianist Daniel Strawinski - Redeemed? Lol! Well… he certainly held and matched her intensity! Not easy to do!
Invitation - Simply Beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
First heard this lovely tune here. Love the voice and guitar here:
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Lovely version, keynut! Thanks for sharing.
I’ve heard a few tunes by the guitarist before, but I never really knew anything about Dianne Reeves, except the name. It’s interesting how her voice moves beyond melody at times and becomes part of the harmonic structure of the sound–with chromatic movements and approach notes to the melody (or so it seems to me).
Whatever, it’s very nice!
Love this song! Fun to listen to this version today! So playful, how they interact to each other. I’m familiar with Dianne Reeves, but have never heard her in such an intimate arrangement. Thanks for sharing!