Jazz Singers

What is jazz singing? Is it the blues-inspired vocals of a legendary singer like Billie Holiday? Or the spiritual sound of the church you hear from Mahalia Jackson? What about scat, bebop, or ballads?

This thirteen-hour series illuminates jazz vocal artistry of every style. Listeners will hear the music and voices of Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Diana Krall, Abbey Lincoln, Kurt Elling and many more. Award-winning recording artist Al Jarreau hosts, taking listeners on a journey through the history of jazz singing -- from the era of the Great American Songbook in the 1930s and 1940s, to contemporary jazz infused with pop and rock.

Originally produced by The Smithsonian in 2001, this series had been re-packaged by PRX with new narration from original producer Jacquie Gales Webb for African American Music Appreciation Month in June.

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What is jazz singing? Is it the blues-inspired vocals of a legendary singer like Billie Holiday? Or the spiritual sound of the church you hear from Mahalia Jackson? What about scat, bebop, or ballads? This thirteen-hour series illuminates jazz vocal artistry of every style. Listeners will hear the music and voices of Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Diana Krall, Abbey Lincoln, Kurt Elling and many more. Award-winning recording artist Al Jarreau hosts, taking listeners on a journey through the history of jazz singing -- from the era of the Great American Songbook in the 1930s and 1940s, to contemporary jazz infused with pop and rock. Originally produced by The Smithsonian in 2001, this series had been re-packaged by PRX with new narration from original producer Jacquie Gales Webb for... Show full description