…and Tanya Jean.
(This one’s for Jeremy…)
The artistry and genius of Dondald Byrd and Dexter Gordon:
And what the amazing Kurt Elling has done with Tanya.
[If you’re not familiar, vocalese is a style of jazz singing where-in the singer creates lyrics that are sung to the melody of another artist’s instrumental tune, improvised solos included. Kurt sure can pick ’em.
While I was never much for vocalese, Kurt Elling is another story. Impeccable timing, rich timbre, a technically stunning performer, style out the wazoo and he happens to be just one hell of a poet in his own right. The lyric he wrote over this piece is perfect.]
A Prayer Like Gravity 
Wow! This is great tune … thanks for sharing. I’ll have to check out more of Kurt’s stuff.
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He is amazing. Tons of live stuff on youtube. I will be posting more!
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Thank you, man. Thank you.
It takes true talent to do something like this. Vocalese is really difficult to pull off: it seems like you have to be a poet, musician and have a composer’s sense of musical composition all at the same time.
I’m definitely impressed with this.
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Yeah, most vocalese leaves me rather flat, even knowing what it takes to make it happen (I used to date a jazz-singer who was in an a cappella vocalese group), but Kurt takes things to a whole other level.
Glad you enjoyed.
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SUCH pleasure – I am back in New York, it’s 1970, the world is full of possibilities (yes, and it’s falling apart fast) and I am completely ALIVE! Thank you.
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🙂 Gratified that my little music-post has hit home! Even if it is a bitter-sweet memory.
Thank you!
(and I won’t tell you what I was doing in 1970…)
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