The students I’ve had over the years seem to struggle with a core set of issues. Phrasing, vocal technique, tone, rhythmic interpretation, and learning the correct melody are all aspects that must be practiced to the point where they can present them to an audience in a way that comes across as effortless and authentic.
The student may be making a transition from another musical genre to jazz. Jazz is not musical theater, for example, even though they may have some aspects in common. Usually, a classical singer will need to shorten phrases and straighten out the vibrato, which is completely acceptable in jazz but more as an effect instead of a constant thing. Getting away from the rhythm that is notated on the page is usually very uncomfortable for classical and musical theater students coming to jazz. “The rhythm on the page is only a suggestion” will usually be an uncomfortable idea for them at first.
I came from classical training and made the switch to jazz/contemporary music, so I have a deep understanding of the issues someone in that situation will face.
If music is a language, jazz is a dialect of that language. Listening to it (a lot) is a must. Not just hearing it. Listening to it. What are the instruments doing? Why? How does the feel/tempo affect the lyric? What is the groove? What is the instrumentation? What’s the form of this piece?
10 Tips for Singing the Jazz
01 : Have your physical instrument where you want it. Cultivate good vocal health and be able to produce sound effortlessly.
02 : Pick songs you love. Or write some! Or both.
03 : Don’t try to sound like anyone else. There was already an Ella. Who are YOU?
04 : Phrase like you mean it. Conversational tone is key.
05: Know how to chart your songs. Clear and concise roadmaps can make or break your performance.
06: You must be able to swing AND groove on a latin feel. Funk up some stuff and go straight eighth feel. Whatever the groove, you have to live in the pocket, and make sure you’re in the same pocket as the other musicians playing with you.
07: Observe dynamics. Your song must go somewhere.
08: Do you really need all that vibrato? (Spoiler alert: The answer is usually “no.”)
09: Pick the right key for you and your band. No one will like you if you bring a chart in in B. Trust me.
10: You don’t have to scat, but you may find yourself wanting to the more you sing jazz. If you ever find yourself on a “wrong” note, you’re only a half step away from the “right” one.