The best jazz singers. Contemporary Jazz and Contemporary Jazz Artists

Top Jazz Singers

Frank Sinatra (1915-1998)

A talented person is talented in everything - that's how you can describe it. He excelled in any activity, whatever it was in his hands. Whether acting skills and shooting in films, writing music or participating in television shows - Frankie showed class everywhere.

Who doesn't know songs like Let It Snow or strangers in the Night? Sinatra rewarded them with the strongest energy

No wonder in his youth the singer had the nickname "Voice". No one else on the planet has such a rich and soft voice, like velvet. He became classic example in conversation about pop performance and swing. More than one generation was brought up in his manner of singing "krooning".

Little Known Facts about the great singer in the movie

Probably Frank Sinatra, "Mr. Blue Eyes", the only singer who not only managed not to lose popularity, but also repeat success young years. The song New York, New York, performed by him, was so loved by the residents of the city that to this day it is his unspoken anthem.

Perry Como (1919-2001)

Actor and singer Pierino Ronald Como. A voice with an unsurpassed baritone. Starting your career path even before the war, he passed through many barriers, reaching the very stars. No one else had such an approach to business as Como.

He was bright, bold and fearless in his own way. He loved irony and sarcasm, was not afraid to apply all this in his work. Perry Como was not like the others and this fascinated.

Nat King Cole (1919-1965)

The king, which is impossible to forget -. He is known as the "golden hands" of the piano. He equally skillfully performed simple melodies and complex works. But that's not why they called him the King. And not even for his, certainly beautiful, low baritone. He became the first representative of jazzmen with dark skin who was able to express himself openly in his work.

Nat King Cole - "golden hands" piano

Music on topics close to his dark-skinned listeners, a TV show with his participation - all this went to him with the greatest difficulty. But it was worth it, because it opened good way for other performers. Nat had an amazing charm, which, along with a well-delivered and rich speech, simply captivated the listeners and everyone who only once communicated with him. Many actors still note the clarity of Cole's diction.

Dean Martin (1917-1995)

Dino Paul Crocetti, better known as, is a real representative. People liked his music so much that it still occupies a worthy place in the repertoires of other singers, and is also used as soundtracks for films.

Dean Martin's singing style was called authentic

Martin was one of the members of the group of entertainers and actors Rat Pack, which included Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis. His voice was firm, flexible and a little cool, just like its owner. However, it was this “little piece of ice” that attracted his listeners. Everyone found their own in Dean's work: someone bright and cheerful notes of Italy's Mamba, someone - soulful cool jazz.

Sam Cook (1931-1964)

If you understand jazz, then the name of Sam Cooke is not an empty phrase for you. In about 10 years, his charming tenor became so close to the audience that the sudden death of a musician at the hands of a well-aimed shooter led the country into a deep depression.

As a young man, Sam Cooke did not seek recognition from the aesthetes of high jazz, did not try to play too serious, but appealed to a young audience. He was the one who considered his audience fresh minds - youth.

Despite the calm melodies in his repertoire, they possessed a special inner energy, thanks to which they not only pacified the soul, but also cheered up.

Sammy Davis Jr. (1917-1995)

The man with the disarming smile, Sammy Davis Jr., is an actor and singer. He had a subtle sense musical style. His voice sounded light and airy, as if Sammy weren't walking on the same ground as us, but floating in the air. It's amazing how a person with such difficult fate there was such a gentle voice, from which goosebumps.

You will surely recognize it when you hear it. famous song candyman. We also advise you to include When I look in Your Eyes in your repertoire. You will literally fall in love with his singing and wish to dance at least one dance with Sammy Davis.

Bing Crosby (1903-1977)

Successful and attractive Bing Crosby was favored by women, he was respected by other jazzmen. He was one of the first to sing in the crooner style and had an unsurpassed sense of swing. Not surprisingly, his albums feature collaborations with Louis Armstrong.

Until now, Crosby's hits are in swing styles and are known, if not in his performance, then as rehashings of other groups. His Christmas songs, in particular White Christmas, are loved even decades later.

Chet Baker (1929-1988)

Louis Armstrong (1901-1971)

The name of the musician has become synonymous with jazz, he is the first one that everyone will remember when talking about this music. And although, first of all, he was an excellent trumpeter, his voice captivated the listeners no less. The musician himself was very shy about his hoarseness, which was a consequence of the operation.

Armstrong took up music seriously in a reformatory (he was arrested for shooting in the air on New Year). There, Louis learned to play the alto horn, the bugle, and then the cornet. He did not know musical notation, but had an excellent ear and sang in the choir since childhood.

Unconditional hits late creativity Armstrong is the song Hello, Dolly! From the musical with The latest hit, What a Wonderful World, topped the UK charts.

After Christopher Columbus discovered a new continent and Europeans settled there, ships of human traders increasingly followed the shores of America.

Exhausted by hard work, homesick and suffering from cruel attitude guards, slaves found solace in music. Gradually, Americans and Europeans became interested in unusual melodies and rhythms. This is how jazz was born. What is jazz, and what are its features, we will consider in this article.

Features of the musical direction

Jazz refers to music of African American origin, which is based on improvisation (swing) and a special rhythmic construction (syncope). Unlike other areas where one person writes music and another performs, jazz musicians act as composers at the same time.

The melody is created spontaneously, the periods of writing, performance are separated by a minimum period of time. This is how jazz comes about. orchestra? This is the ability of musicians to adapt to each other. At the same time, everyone improvises their own.

The results of spontaneous compositions are stored in musical notation (T. Cowler, G. Arlen "Happy all day long", D. Ellington "Don't you know what I love?" etc.).

Over time, African music was synthesized with European. Melodies appeared that combined plasticity, rhythm, melodiousness and harmony of sounds (CHEATHAM Doc, Blues In My Heart, CARTER James, Centerpiece, etc.).

Directions

There are more than thirty directions of jazz. Let's consider some of them.

1. Blues. Translated from English word means "sadness", "melancholy". Blues was originally called solo lyric song African Americans. Jazz-blues is a twelve-bar period corresponding to a three-line verse form. Blues compositions are performed at a slow pace, some understatement can be traced in the texts. blues - Gertrude Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith and others.

2. Ragtime. The literal translation of the name of the style is broken time. On the tongue musical terms"reg" denotes sounds that are additional between the beats of the bar. The direction appeared in the USA, after they were carried away by the works of F. Schubert, F. Chopin and F. Liszt overseas. music European composers performed in jazz style. Later original compositions appeared. Ragtime is characteristic of the work of S. Joplin, D. Scott, D. Lamb and others.

3. Boogie-woogie. The style appeared at the beginning of the last century. The owners of inexpensive cafes needed musicians to play jazz. What is musical accompaniment implies the presence of an orchestra, of course, but to invite a large number of musicians was expensive. sound different instruments the pianists compensated by creating numerous rhythmic compositions. Boogie features:

• improvisation;
• virtuoso technique;
• special accompaniment: left hand performs a motor ostinant configuration, the interval between the bass and the melody is two or three octaves;
• continuous rhythm;
• pedal exclusion.

Boogie-woogie was played by Romeo Nelson, Arthur Montana Taylor, Charles Avery and others.

style legends

Jazz is popular in many countries around the world. Everywhere there are stars, which are surrounded by an army of fans, but some names have become a real legend. They are known and loved throughout. Such musicians, in particular, include Louis Armstrong.

It is not known how the fate of a boy from a poor Negro quarter would have developed if Louis had not ended up in a correctional camp. Here future star enrolled in a brass band, however, the team did not play jazz. and how it is performed, the young man discovered much later. world fame Armstrong acquired through diligence and perseverance.

Billie Holiday (real name Eleanor Fagan) is considered the founder of jazz singing. The singer reached the peak of popularity in the 50s of the last century, when she changed the scenes of nightclubs to the stage.

Life was not easy for the owner of a range of three octaves, Ella Fitzgerald. After the death of her mother, the girl ran away from home and led a not too decent lifestyle. The start of the singer's career was a performance at music competition amateur nights.

George Gershwin is world famous. The composer created jazz works based on classical music. The unexpected manner of performance captivated listeners and colleagues. Concerts were invariably accompanied by applause. The most famous works of D. Gershwin are "Rhapsody in Blues" (co-authored with Fred Grof), the operas "Porgy and Bess", "An American in Paris".

Also popular jazz performers were and remain Janis Joplin, Ray Charles, Sarah Vaughn, Miles Davis and others.

Jazz in the USSR

The emergence of this musical trend in the Soviet Union is associated with the name of the poet, translator and theatergoer Valentin Parnakh. The first concert of a jazz band led by a virtuoso took place in 1922. Later A. Tsfasman, L. Utyosov, Y. Skomorovsky formed the direction of theatrical jazz, combining instrumental performance and operetta. To popularize jazz music E. Rozner and O. Lundstrem did a lot.

In the 40s of the last century, jazz was widely criticized as a phenomenon of bourgeois culture. In the 1950s and 1960s, attacks on performers ceased. jazz ensembles were created both in the RSFSR and in other union republics.

Today, jazz is performed without hindrance at concert venues and in clubs.

The moment in jazz, which can be considered the main one, is improvisation. It was from the jazz direction that many performers adopted the ability to include improvisation in their compositions. But such a technique was almost completely excluded by classical music schools. Although even one of its representatives - Johann Sebastian Bach - was considered a true master of improvisation.

If you carefully consider the jazz direction, then such an element as syncopation will immediately become noticeable in it, which, in fact, provides and creates the uniqueness of a jazzy playful mood.

As you know, the emergence of jazz music is associated with the fusion of different cultures. Even the moment when jazz became an independent musical direction /

The birth of classical jazz

Representatives of African tribes are called the founders of jazz, and the beginning of the twentieth century is considered to be the peak of its heyday. It was in New Orleans that the birth of jazz took place, and it was precisely that style of performance that music historians consider "golden classics". Among the most famous early founders of jazz were dark-skinned people. Therefore, there is nothing surprising in the fact that the origin of the direction took place on the street among people-slaves.

Great jazzmen of the 20th century

Like any musical direction, jazz has musicians who set the tone for the whole style. Among those whose performance of jazz is considered the best, named:

Louis Armstrong

If you already name those musicians who are considered the most famous jazz performers of the twentieth century, then you should definitely name Louis Armstrong. He is also the ancestor of such a direction in jazz, which is considered to be classical.

Count Basie

Also notable is Count Basie, a jazz pianist who was also black. All of his works are most likely related to the blues. It was his compositions that proved that the blues is still multifunctional. Musical direction. The musician gave concerts not only within the United States, but also in many European countries where there were many admirers of his talent. Even after the musician's death in 1984, his band continued to tour around the world.

Women performing jazz.

But among the fair sex in this direction Music standouts are Billie Holliday, Sarah Vaughn and Ella Fitzgerald. It was they who set the bar high for masterful female performance jazz.

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The reason and condition for the emergence of such a musical direction as jazz was a mixture of several cultures and their traditions. Namely, the fusion of the culture of Europe and the peoples of Africa. Jazz is believed to have been brought to the United States...
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16.07.2014

In the 20s of the last century, characteristic sounds and rhythms of styles were found: swing with double bass and drums, virtuoso improvisation of solo musicians and vocal performers. At that time, the blues became an integral part of the jazz repertoire. Later...

Jazz artists have invented a special musical language, which was built on improvisation, complex rhythmic figures (swing) and unique harmonic patterns.

Jazz originated in late XIX- early XX in the United States of America and represented a unique social phenomenon, namely, the fusion of African and American cultures. Further development and the stratification of jazz on various styles and sub-styles are due to the fact that jazz performers and composers continuously continued to complicate their music, look for new sounds and master new harmonies and rhythms.

Thus, a huge jazz heritage has accumulated, in which the following main schools and styles can be distinguished: New Orleans (traditional) jazz, bebop, hard bop, swing, cool jazz, progressive jazz, free jazz, modal jazz, fusion, etc. e. This article brings together ten outstanding jazz performers, having familiarized yourself with which, you will receive the most complete picture era free people and energetic music.

Miles Davis (Miles Davis)

Miles Davis was born on May 26, 1926 in Alton (USA). Known as an iconic American trumpeter whose music has had a huge impact to the jazz and music scene of the 20th century as a whole. He experimented a lot and boldly with styles, and perhaps that is why the figure of Davis stands at the origins of such styles as cool jazz, fusion and modal jazz. Miles started his musical career as a member of the Charlie Parker Quintet, but later managed to find and develop his own musical sound. Miles Davis' most important and seminal albums are Birth of the Cool (1949), Kind of Blue (1959), Bitches Brew (1969) and In a Silent Way (1969). Main Feature Miles Davis was constantly on the creative quest and showing the world new ideas, which is why the history of modern jazz music owes so much to his exceptional talent.

Louis Armstrong (Louis Armstrong)

Louis Armstrong, the man whose name comes to most people's minds when they hear the word "jazz", was born on August 4, 1901, in New Orleans (USA). Armstrong had a dazzling talent for playing the trumpet and did much to develop and popularize jazz music throughout the world. In addition, he also captivated the audience with his husky bass vocals. The path that Armstrong had to go from tramp to the title of King of Jazz was thorny. And it began in a colony for black teenagers, where Louis ended up for an innocent prank - firing a pistol at new year's eve. By the way, he stole a gun from a policeman, a client of his mother, who was a representative ancient profession in the world. Thanks to this not too favorable set of circumstances, Louis Armstrong got his first musical experience in the camp brass band. There he mastered the cornet, tambourine and alto horn. In a word, Armstrong went from marches in the colony and then episodic performances in clubs to a world-class musician, whose talent and contribution to the jazz treasury can hardly be overestimated. The influence of his landmark albums Ella and Louis (1956), Porgy and Bess (1957), and American Freedom (1961) can still be heard in the game. contemporary performers various styles.

Duke Ellington (Duke Ellington)

Duke Ellinton was born April 29, 1899 in Washington DC. Pianist, orchestra leader, arranger and composer whose music has become a real innovation in the world of jazz. His works were played on all radio stations, and his recordings are rightfully included in the “gold fund of jazz”. Ellinton has been recognized all over the world, received many awards, wrote a huge number of brilliant works, which include the standard "Caravan", which bypassed the entire Earth. His most notable releases include Ellington At Newport (1956), Ellington Uptown (1953), Far East Suite (1967) and Masterpieces By Ellington (1951).

Herbie Hancock (Herbie Hancock)

Herbie Hancock was born on April 12, 1940, in Chicago (USA). Hancock is known as a pianist and composer, as well as the owner of 14 Grammy awards, which he received for his work in the field of jazz. His music is interesting because it combines elements of rock, funk and soul, along with free jazz. Also in his compositions you can find elements of modern classical music and blues motifs. In general, almost every sophisticated listener will be able to find something for themselves in Hancock's music. If we talk about innovative creative solutions, then Herbie Hancock is considered one of the first jazz performers who combined the synthesizer and funk in the same way, the musician is at the forefront of the newest jazz style - post-bop. Despite the specificity of the music of some stages of Herbie's work, most of his songs are melodic compositions that have fallen in love with the general public.

Among his albums, the following can be distinguished: "Head Hunters" (1971), "Future Shock" (1983), "Maiden Voyage" (1966) and "Takin' Off" (1962).

John Coltrane (John Coltrane)

John Coltrane, an outstanding jazz innovator and virtuoso, was born on September 23, 1926. Coltrane was a talented saxophonist and composer, bandleader and one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Coltrane is rightly considered a significant figure in the history of the development of jazz, who inspired and influenced modern performers, as well as the school of improvisation in general. Until 1955, John Coltrane remained relatively unknown until he joined the Miles Davis band. A few years later, Coltrane leaves the quintet and begins to closely engage in his own creativity. During these years, he recorded albums that made up the most important part of the jazz heritage.

These are "Giant Steps" (1959), "Coltrane Jazz" (1960) and "A Love Supreme" (1965), which became icons of jazz improvisation.

Charlie Parker (Charlie Parker)

Charlie Parker was born on August 29, 1920 in Kansas City (USA). Love for music woke up in him quite early: he began to master the saxophone at the age of 11. In the 30s, Parker began to master the principles of improvisation and developed in his technique some of the techniques that preceded bebop. Later he became one of the founders of this style (along with Dizzy Gillespie) and, in general, had a very strong influence on jazz music. However, as a teenager, the musician became addicted to morphine, and in the future, the problem of heroin addiction arose between Parker and music. Unfortunately, even after treatment in the clinic and recovery, Charlie Parker could not work as actively and write new music. Ultimately, heroin derailed his life and career and caused his death.

Charlie Parker's most significant jazz albums are Bird and Diz (1952), Birth of the Bebop: Bird on Tenor (1943), and Charlie Parker with strings (1950).

Thelonious Monk Quartet (Thelonious Monk)

Thelonious Monk was born October 10, 1917, in Rocky Mount (USA). He is best known as a jazz composer and pianist, as well as one of the founders of bebop. His original "torn" style of playing absorbed various styles - from avant-garde to primitivism. Such experiments made the sound of his music not quite characteristic of jazz, which, however, did not prevent many of his works from becoming classics of this style of music. Being very an unusual person, who from childhood did everything possible not to be "normal" and like everyone else, Monk became known not only for his musical decisions, but also for his unusually complex character. Many anecdotal stories are associated with his name about how he was late for his own concerts, and once refused to play at a Detroit club because his wife did not show up for a performance. And so Monk sat in a chair, arms folded, until his wife was finally brought into the hall - in slippers and a dressing gown. Before the eyes of her husband, the poor woman was urgently delivered by plane, if only the concert would take place.

Monk's most notable albums include Monk's Dream (1963), Monk (1954), Straight No Chaser (1967), and Misterioso (1959).

Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday, famous American jazz vocalist, was born on April 7, 1917 in Philadelphia. Like many jazz musicians, Holiday began her musical career in nightclubs. Over time, she was lucky enough to meet producer Benny Goodman, who organized her first recordings in the studio. Fame came to the singer after participating in the big bands of such jazz masters as Count Basie and Artie Shaw (1937-1938). Lady Day (as her fans called her) had a unique style of performance, thanks to which she seemed to reinvent a fresh and unique sound for the most simple compositions. She was especially good at romantic, slow songs (such as "Don't Explain" and "Lover Man"). Billie Holiday's career was bright and brilliant, but not long, because after thirty years she became addicted to alcohol and drugs, which negatively affected her health. The angelic voice lost its former strength and flexibility, and Holiday was rapidly losing the favor of the public.

Billie Holiday enriched the jazz art with such outstanding albums as "Lady Sings the Blues" (1956), "Body and Soul" (1957), and "Lady in Satin" (1958).

Bill Evans (Bill Evans)

Bill Evans, the legendary American jazz pianist and composer, was born August 16, 1929 in New Jersey, USA. Evans is one of the most influential jazz artists of the 20th century. His musical works so sophisticated and unusual that few pianists are able to inherit and borrow his ideas. He could masterfully swing and improvise like no other, at the same time, melody and simplicity were far from alien to him - his interpretations of famous ballads gained popularity even among non-jazz audiences. Evans was trained as an academic pianist, and after serving in the army began to appear in public with various obscure musicians as a jazz performer. Success came to him in 1958 when Evans joined the Miles Davis sextet, along with Cannonball Oderley and John Coltrane. Evans is considered the creator of the chamber jazz trio genre, which is characterized by a lead improvising piano, as well as solo drums and double bass along with it. His musical style brought a variety of colors to jazz music - from inventive graceful improvisations to lyrically-colored tones.

To nai best albums Evans can be attributed to his solo recording of "Alone" (1968), made in man-orchestra mode, "Waltz for Debby" (1961), "New Jazz Conceptions" (1956) and "Explorations" (1961).

Dizzy Gillespie (Dizzy Gillespie)

Dizzy Gillespie was born on October 21, 1917 in Chirow, USA. Dizzy has a lot of merit in the history of the development of jazz music: he is known as a trumpeter, vocalist, arranger, composer and leader of orchestras. Gillespie also co-founded improvisational jazz with Charlie Parker. Like many jazzmen, Gillespie started out playing in clubs. Then he moved to live in New York and successfully entered the local orchestra. He was known for his original, if not to say buffoonish, behavior, which successfully turned the people who worked with him against him. From the first orchestra, in which a very talented, but peculiar trumpeter Dizz went on tour in England and France, he was almost kicked out. The musicians of his second orchestra also did not react quite cordially to Gillespie's mockery of their playing. In addition, few people understood his musical experiments- some called his music "Chinese". Collaboration with the second orchestra ended in a fight between Cab Calloway (his leader) and Dizzy during one of the concerts, after which Gillespie was expelled from the band with a bang. After Gillespie creates his own group, in which he and other musicians work to diversify the traditional jazz language. Thus, the style known as bebop was born, on the style of which Dizzy actively worked.

The best albums of the brilliant trumpeter include "Sonny Side Up" (1957), "Afro" (1954), "Birk's Works" (1957), "World Statesman" (1956) and "Dizzy and Strings" (1954).

For decades, the music of freedom, performed by dizzying jazz virtuosos, has been a huge part of music scene and just human life. The names of the musicians that you can see above are immortalized in the memory of many generations and, most likely, the same number of generations will inspire and amaze with their skill. Perhaps the secret is that the inventors of trumpets, saxophones, double basses, pianos, and drums knew that some things could not be done on these instruments, but forgot to tell jazz musicians about it.

As a musical direction, jazz was formed in the United States at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century, representing a synthesis of cultures: African and European. Since then, it has evolved a lot and has become the impetus for the development of many other musical styles. At the beginning of the last century, jazz bands were gaining popularity, musical ensembles, which included wind and percussion instruments, as well as piano and double bass. Most bright performers jazz have been forever inscribed in the history of music.

Iconic Jazzmen

Perhaps the most famous jazz musician in the world is Louis Armstrong. This name is known not only to fans of this musical style, for a wide audience it is so closely associated with jazz that it has become its personification. Armstrong is a representative of the traditional, New Orleans jazz, thanks to him this style was developed and became popular in the world, and its influence on the music of the last century can hardly be overestimated. He is also called the "Maestro of Jazz" or the "King of Jazz". Louis Armstrong's main instrument was the trumpet, but he was also an excellent vocalist and leader of a jazz band.

And Frank Sinatra was legendary jazz vocalist with an incredible voice. In addition, he was also an excellent actor and showman, a standard musical taste and style. During his musical career, he received 9 top music awards - Grammy, and also won an Oscar for his acting skills.

The most famous jazz artists

Ray Charles - real genius jazz, marked by the main music award of America as much as 17 times! He is ranked 10th out of 100 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the greatest artists. In addition to jazz, Charles also performed soul and blues compositions. This great artist went blind as a child, but this did not stop him from achieving world fame and making huge contribution in the history of the music industry.

Miles Davis, the most talented jazz trumpeter, gave rise to new varieties of this musical style, such as fusion, cool jazz and modal jazz. He never limited himself to one direction - traditional jazz, this made his music multifaceted and unusual. He was the one who, one might say, founded modern jazz. Performers of this style today are often his followers.

great women

The best jazz performers are not necessarily men. Ella Fitzgerald is the greatest singer with a unique voice spanning three octaves. This magnificent vocalist was a master of vocal improvisation, having received many awards during her long career, including 13 Grammys. 50 years of the singer's work is a whole era in music, during which this jazz diva has released more than 90 albums.

Billie Holiday's career was much shorter, but no less colorful. Her singing style was unique, and therefore the legendary vocalist is considered the founder of jazz vocals. Unfortunately, the unhealthy lifestyle of the singer led to her death at the age of 44, and in 1987 she was awarded the Grammy posthumously. These great singers are far from the only women- Jazz performers. But they are definitely one of the brightest.

Other artists

There are, of course, others famous performers jazz of yesteryear. Sarah Vaughan is "the greatest voice of the 20th century", her voice was indeed unique, mannered and refined, becoming deeper and deeper over the years. Throughout her career, the singer has honed her skills. And Dizzy Gillespie was a virtuoso trumpeter, vocalist, composer and arranger. Dizzy founded modern improvisational jazz (bebop) with Charlie Parker, an amazing saxophonist who became such through hard practice and 15 hours of music lessons.

Living and popular jazzmen

Diversity and fusion of styles is what modern jazz is all about. Performers often go beyond one direction, combining jazz with soul, blues, rock or pop music. To date, the most famous are: George Benson, a virtuoso of voice and guitar for about 50 years, a Grammy winner; Bob James is a smooth jazz pianist, one of the founders of the style and the founder of a band called the Bob James Trio, which features saxophone, drums and bass performed by David McMurray, Billy Kilson and Samuel Burgess. Another piano genius and the composer is Chick Corea. Multiple Grammy winner and very talented musician, in addition to keyboards, he also plays the percussion instruments. Flora Purim is a Brazilian jazz performer with a rare voice with a range of 6 octaves, known for her joint performances with many jazz stars. Georgian Nino Katamadze is one of the most famous jazz singers of our time, she is also the composer of her own songs. He has a surprisingly deep, special voice. She has her own jazz band called Insight, with whom she records and performs. The ensemble consists of a guitar, bass guitar and drums, performed by Gocha Kacheishvili, Uchi Gugunava and David Abuladze, sound engineer - Gia Chelidze.

Younger generation

Modern popular jazz performers are often young talents, among which girls stand out in particular. A real breakthrough was the talented Norah Jones, author and performer of her own songs, singer and pianist. Thanks to the range and timbre of her voice, many compare her to Billie Holiday. During her 10-year career, she managed to release 10 albums, as well as earn a Grammy and many other prestigious awards. Another young jazz singer is multi-instrumentalist Esperanza Spalding, the first performer in this direction to win a Grammy in the Best New Artist of the Year nomination in 2011, and also won other nominations in this music award. He plays many instruments and speaks several languages.

Above are the brightest and most prominent jazz performers. And although there are a lot of excellent musicians in this direction, it is enough to listen to the best ones to get a basic understanding of such a concept as jazz.