Type of Submission
Podium Presentation
Keywords
Jazz, vocals, singing, jazz vocal styles, jazz history, improvisation, technique
Proposal
Jazz developed in New Orleans, Louisiana, during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Beginning with ragtime, swing, and blues, jazz soon became recognized as a major form of musical expression across the globe. This presentation breaks down the evolution of jazz as a whole, while also bringing special attention to the vocal styles and improvisation that characterize jazz singing. Vocalists have brought jazz to life through advanced vocal styles and techniques, highlighting the broad diversity of the human voice. In jazz, the voice often functions as an instrument, creating improvisations derived from complex melodies and rhythms. Phenomenon Ella Fitzgerald is renowned in this area, specifically for her flexible vocals and seamless improvisation skills in scatting. In terms of voice, several jazz giants are addressed in this presentation, highlighting their distinguishable vocal qualities and techniques that rewarded their fame. Because jazz music is written with room for freedom in improvisation, vocal interpretation in jazz will vary depending on the individual. This adds to the beauty of musical dimension, but also insists that differences be made between performative and critical interpretation. This study breaks down these concepts, while including musical illustrations and sheet music excerpts that help explain jazz improvisation. Ultimately, the exploration of jazz vocal history deepens musical appreciation while providing a greater understanding of the genre’s rich history and artistic innovation.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Copyright
© 2025 Soraya McKay. All rights reserved.
Publication Date
2-28-2025
Scat, Swing, and Soul: The Evolution of Jazz Singing and Improvisation
Jazz developed in New Orleans, Louisiana, during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Beginning with ragtime, swing, and blues, jazz soon became recognized as a major form of musical expression across the globe. This presentation breaks down the evolution of jazz as a whole, while also bringing special attention to the vocal styles and improvisation that characterize jazz singing. Vocalists have brought jazz to life through advanced vocal styles and techniques, highlighting the broad diversity of the human voice. In jazz, the voice often functions as an instrument, creating improvisations derived from complex melodies and rhythms. Phenomenon Ella Fitzgerald is renowned in this area, specifically for her flexible vocals and seamless improvisation skills in scatting. In terms of voice, several jazz giants are addressed in this presentation, highlighting their distinguishable vocal qualities and techniques that rewarded their fame. Because jazz music is written with room for freedom in improvisation, vocal interpretation in jazz will vary depending on the individual. This adds to the beauty of musical dimension, but also insists that differences be made between performative and critical interpretation. This study breaks down these concepts, while including musical illustrations and sheet music excerpts that help explain jazz improvisation. Ultimately, the exploration of jazz vocal history deepens musical appreciation while providing a greater understanding of the genre’s rich history and artistic innovation.
