Captivating female jazz singers who illuminate the history of jazz. Recommended jazz vocals from around the world.
A jazz world woven from innate vocal talent and distinctive timing.
The voices of female jazz vocalists possess a mysterious allure that stirs the listener’s heart.
From legendary divas who captivate with silky phrasing and lustrous tone, to young artists who pursue new forms of expression through bold reinterpretations, we invite you into the realm of female singers cherished across generations.
They spin the deep emotions embedded in jazz through the delicate expressiveness unique to women.
Encountering such gemlike voices will surely enrich your musical experience.
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Captivating female jazz singers who have colored the history of jazz. Recommended jazz vocalists from around the world (11–20)
What Difference A Day MakesDinah Washington
Dinah Washington was active in a wide-ranging style, not limited to jazz but also masterfully singing blues, R&B, country, and pop.
A Grammy Award winner, she was also known as the “Queen of the Blues.” With her soulful voice, she exerted influence across a wide variety of genres, not just jazz.
You’d Be So Nice to Come Home ToAnita O’Day
When it comes to female jazz singers, some might imagine powerful vibrato, wide vocal ranges, and long tones reminiscent of a saxophone.
Anita O’Day, however, established her uniqueness not with those weapons, but with a singing style that delivers short, intermittent notes.
Her one-of-a-kind, rhythmic voice is a must-hear.
There Will Never Be Another YouDoris Day
Known less as a jazz vocalist and more as an actress—and for the massive hit Que Sera, Sera, the song featured in the 1956 film The Man Who Knew Too Much—Doris Day nonetheless brings a certain pop sensibility and catchiness to her jazz singing.
That makes her easy to recommend even to those unfamiliar with jazz.
She is one of those singers who deserves better than to be remembered merely as a successful pop star.
Black CoffeePeggy Lee
Peggy Lee’s singing voice is husky yet somehow even exudes elegance.
Dubbed “soft and cool,” her songs have a charm distinct from jazz singers with a Black music–style sense of swing.
She showcased her talent not only as a vocalist but also as a composer, leaving behind many works.
Someone To Watch Over MeBlossom Dearie
In a female jazz vocal scene strongly associated with rich, powerful voices, Blossom Dearie’s sweet, girlish tone may strike some as unusual.
Yet her delicate singing—unsurprising given her roots in a vocal group—overflows with a charm entirely different from that of many other female jazz singers.
Cry Me A RiverDiana Krall
Among female jazz singers since the 1990s, the one who enjoys the most global recognition is undoubtedly Canada’s Diana Krall.
Her cool voice shines not only in swing but also in gentle ballads.
She is also a first-rate pianist, and the sight of her singing while playing the piano can truly be called a symbol of the modern jazz scene.
Captivating female jazz singers who color the history of jazz. Recommended jazz vocalists from around the world (21–30)
Song For My FatherDee Dee Bridgewater
Dee Dee Bridgewater, a great American artist who has been at the forefront of the jazz world for more than half a century.
Her overwhelming voice is rooted in jazz tradition yet brilliantly fuses soul, African music, and even French chansons.
Many listeners have surely felt their hearts dance to her playful scat, as heard on her tribute album dedicated to Ella Fitzgerald.
Her versatility, which has earned her not only Grammy Awards but also a Tony Award in the theater world, is nothing short of stunning.
Her performances, which embody the joy of music with her entire being, set listeners’ hearts free.