Tony Bennett's career has enjoyed three distinct phases, each of them very successful. In the early '50s, he scored a series of major hits that made him one of the most popular recording artists of the time. In the early '60s, he mounted a comeback as more of an adult-album seller. And from the mid-'80s on, he achieved renewed popularity with... [+] Read More

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The only vocalist in history to net Grammy awards in three different categories (jazz, pop, and R&B, respectively), Al Jarreau was born in Milwaukee, WI, on April 12, 1940. The son of a vicar, he earned his first performing experience singing in the church choir. After receiving his master's degree in psychology, Jarreau pursued a career as a... [+] Read More

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The founder of vocalese (putting recorded solos to words), Eddie Jefferson did not have a great voice, but he was one of the top jazz singers, getting the maximum out of what he had. He started out working as a tap dancer, but by the late '40s was singing and writing lyrics. A live session from 1949 (released on Spotlite) finds him pioneering... [+] Read More

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George Benson is simply one of the greatest guitarists in jazz history, but he is also an amazingly versatile musician; and that frustrates critics to no end who would paint him into a narrow bop box. He can play in just about any style -- from swing to bop to R&B to pop -- with supreme taste, a beautiful rounded tone, terrific speed, a... [+] Read More

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The genius of vocalese, Jon Hendricks' ability to write coherent lyrics to the most complex recorded improvisations is quite notable, as were his contributions to the classic jazz vocal group Lambert, Hendricks and Ross. Hendricks grew up in Toledo, OH, singing on local radio. After a period in the military (1942-1946), he studied law but... [+] Read More

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During the '70s, Jon Lucien became a popular figure as a jazz-tinged romantic song specialist. Lucien's deep, prominent baritone, his penchant for sentimental fare, and his suave, commanding personality and presence made him enormously popular on the cabaret/supper-club circuit as well as among fans of love ballads and similar material. After a... [+] Read More

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Aged 9, his mum took him to the doctor with whiplash from moshing to 'Stray Cats'. Dave Ezra (Juxtachrome) loved his music, but it wasn't until long after his neck had repaired that he started writing. Ezra left school and took on a job as apprentice golf professional which failed to meet his needs or expectations. A couple of years before... [+] Read More

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Along with Eddie Jefferson, King Pleasure was one of the early masters of vocalese -- a style in which lyrics are written and sung to the solos of jazz instrumentalists. Although Pleasure cited Jefferson as his main influence and said that Jefferson was embracing vocalese before him, Pleasure's sax-like phrasing and scat singing proved equally... [+] Read More

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Olly J Wedgwood - pianist, singer, composer and performer - has been gigging and leading bands for over fifteen years, starting early on by founding the 'Big Jazz and Blues Band' during his sixth form at Hampton School in the UK. At Cambridge University, he then founded, conducted, arranged music for and managed Selwyn Jazz, an 18-piece swing... [+] Read More

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Slam Stewart was a superior swing-oriented bassist whose ability to bow the bass and hum an octave apart made him famous in the jazz world. He had thought of the idea while studying at Boston Conservatory when he heard Ray Perry singing along with his violin. In 1936, Stewart was with Peanuts Holland's group and the following year he started... [+] Read More

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