Francoise Sagan once said
that “jazz music is an intensified feeling of nonchalance". Jazz is an
American genre of music developed from ragtime and blues music. Jazz was born
in the melting pot of New Orleans during the late nineteenth century. Jazz
began to increase popularity and eventually spread across America including
Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York.
Prohibition ignited the Jazz Age in
the 1920s where jazz was frequently played in dance halls and speakeasies. Jazz
evolved through the decades of the Depression, World War I, and World War II and from its origins of the swing era to a sophisticated genre of
music. Inspiring stars of jazz have been Louis Armstrong
(1901-1971), Billie Holiday (1915-1959), Frank Sinatra (1915-1998), Ella
Fitzgerald (1917-1996), Charlie Parker (1920-1955), and Miles Davis
(1926-1991). Each brought their own style of jazz using their talented voices,
creative harmonies, and unique melodies.
My two favorite jazz artists are Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra. Ella Fitzgerald was one of the only successful female jazz vocalists of her time. She began her career at seventeen after winning an amateur singing contest at the Harlem's Apollo Theatre. She had a successful career that lasted four decades. In the midst of her career she collaborated frequently with Louis Armstrong and made a record full of jazzy duets. Some of her greatest songs were "Dream a Little Dream of Me", “Cheek to Cheek", and "Someone to Watch over Me".
I have to admit I am a tad biased, but Frank Sinatra is the best American singer of the 20th century. Sinatra did not only have one of the successful music careers of all time, but he was an Academy Award winning actor and producer as well. He sold over 250 million records and had seven #1 hit singles. He was also the leader of the famous “Rat Pack” which included Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop, and Peter Lawford. Some of his greatest songs were “Fly Me to the Moon”, “The Best is Yet to Come”, “New York, New York”, and “You Make me Feel so Young”. He defined American Jazz throughout his long and successful career.
My two favorite jazz artists are Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra. Ella Fitzgerald was one of the only successful female jazz vocalists of her time. She began her career at seventeen after winning an amateur singing contest at the Harlem's Apollo Theatre. She had a successful career that lasted four decades. In the midst of her career she collaborated frequently with Louis Armstrong and made a record full of jazzy duets. Some of her greatest songs were "Dream a Little Dream of Me", “Cheek to Cheek", and "Someone to Watch over Me".
I have to admit I am a tad biased, but Frank Sinatra is the best American singer of the 20th century. Sinatra did not only have one of the successful music careers of all time, but he was an Academy Award winning actor and producer as well. He sold over 250 million records and had seven #1 hit singles. He was also the leader of the famous “Rat Pack” which included Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop, and Peter Lawford. Some of his greatest songs were “Fly Me to the Moon”, “The Best is Yet to Come”, “New York, New York”, and “You Make me Feel so Young”. He defined American Jazz throughout his long and successful career.
Some
Songs I Suggest
1. “A
Kiss to Build a Dream On” – Louis Armstrong
2. “At
Last” – Etta James
3. “Beyond the Sea”- Bobby Darin
4. “Come Fly With Me” – Frank Sinatra
5. “Embraceable
You”- Sarah Vaughan
6. “Hallelujah I Love Her So” – Ray Charles
7. “Just
One of those Nights”- Rat Pack
8. “I Want a Little Sugar in my Bowl” – Nina Simone
9. “Miss
Otis Regrets” – Ella Fitzgerald
10. “Return
to Me” – Dean Martin
11. “Smile”- Nat “King” Cole
12. “Summertime” – Miles Davis
13. “That’s Amore”- Dean Martin
14. “That Ole Devil Called Love” – Billie Holiday
15. “What a Wonderful World” – Louis Armstrong
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