Female vocalists have defined jazz, inspired their fellow musicians, and thrilled audiences since the dawn of jazz music – more than a century ago. While it may appear to some that singing is an easy thing to do, true jazz lovers know how sacred the instrument of the human voice is, and how it can elevate jazz to the realm of the ethereal.
From Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan, to Billie Holiday and Nina Simone, to Abbey Lincoln and Dee Dee Bridgewater – the vocal jazz tradition is a strong and well documented one. We at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival are thrilled to continue bringing this tradition to Vancouver audiences.
Cécile McLorin Salvant’s latest album breaks down barriers between jazz and pop music, and shows why she has been one of the most talked-about jazz vocalists of the past decade. We are lucky to be one of over 20 stops on her current international tour that takes her from Paris to Minneapolis. She will grace the stage at the Vancouver Playhouse on June 27 as one of this year’s headliners and part of the Marquee Series.
Laila Biali straddles the worlds of contemporary pop and traditional jazz so effortlessly that it’s hard to hear where one ends and the other begins. The winner of a Juno in 2019 for best Vocal Jazz Album will be performing at Pyatt Hall on June 26 at a show that is not to be missed.
When writing about singers, it’s customary to mention other vocalists they sound like. That’s pretty much impossible with South Korean singer Youn Sun Nah, as she doesn’t sound like anyone else. While she has a background in mainstream jazz, her most recent album is her first to exclusively feature her own compositions and showcase the massive range of this unique performer. Her show is on June 27 at Performance Works.
Seven-time Juno nominee Emilie-Claire Barlow is only featured twice on pianist Amanda Tosoff’s latest album, but the collaboration meant so much to both musicians that they’re touring together. They’ll be performing alongside some of Toronto’s finest instrumentalists at Pyatt Hall on June 28.
Samara Joy will be making her Vancouver debut this year. After winning the Jazz Times 2021 Critics’ Poll Award for Best New Artist, and releasing one of last year’s very best vocal jazz albums. She’ll be backed by the Pasquale Grosso Trio at her June 30 show at Performance Works.
Anyone who follows singers here in Vancouver knows that Sarah Kim is one of the city’s under-appreciated gems. She’s known for her work with Mili Hong in the Watermill Project, but will be featured at this year’s festival as part of art-pop darlings Omianan. They’ll be performing tunes from their latest album on July 2 at the Roundhouse Exhibition Hall.
Amirtha Kidambi and Julia Ulehla have been collaborating with saxophonist / composer Darius Jones for years. While Kidambi and Jones continue performing together regularly, Vancouver-based Ulehla hasn’t shared the stage with them in three years. They will reunite in one of the most anticipated shows of the festival on July 3 at The Ironworks.
— by Tim Reinert
Listen along to The Infidels podcast for more on female vocalists at this year’s festival.
