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[2025] Classic Jazz Vocal Albums: Must-Listen Recommendations
Jazz vocals are one of the most captivating forms of musical expression created by the human voice.
The sound world woven from heart-stirring melodies, profound emotional expression, and swinging, groovy rhythms heals the listener’s soul and at times offers powerful encouragement.
Timeless masterpieces continue to be loved across generations, and contemporary artists draw out new allure through fresh interpretations.
From classic standards to innovative contemporary jazz vocals, here are exquisite albums that are sure to enchant any music fan.
Encountering these legendary recordings will surely enrich your musical experience.
[2025] Classic Jazz Vocal Masterpieces: Must-Listen Recommended Albums (1–10)
Guess Who I Saw TodaySamara Joy
When it comes to rising stars in the jazz world, it has to be her: Samara Joy from the United States, who won Best New Artist at the 2023 Grammy Awards.
This work, released on a prestigious label, is the landmark album that made her name resonate around the globe.
Her warm, buttery voice—reminiscent of Sarah Vaughan—meshes exquisitely with the stylish performances of seasoned jazz musicians.
It’s breathtaking to hear how she breathes new life into beloved standards like “Misty” and “Someone to Watch Over Me.” A jewel-like classic, it blends deep affection for the golden age of jazz with the fresh sensibilities of the present day.
My Funny ValentineChet Baker
Trumpeter Chet Baker, who began performing as a vocalist in 1953.
This album is filled with the charm of his sweet, whisper-like, and androgynous voice.
It’s a great-value album that lets you fully enjoy both sides of him—his trumpet and his vocals.
Hey LauraGregory Porter
Gregory Porter is an American singer whose music is rooted in gospel and soul.
His 2013 release Liquid Spirit is a career-defining album that won a Grammy.
On the title track, powerful gospel-derived handclaps blend with his warm vocals, like a spring soaking into a parched heart.
His deeply human lyrics about love, life, and at times social issues resonate profoundly.
Transcending the jazz genre, his soulful groove and positive energy soothe listeners and give them strength for tomorrow.
Don’t Know WhyNorah Jones
If, at the end of a hard day, you want to listen to music that lets you truly relax, Norah Jones’s debut album “Come Away With Me” from the United States is just what you’re looking for.
Its sound—an exquisite blend of jazz, pop, and country—is like a gentle blanket that wraps around your heart.
Filled with gems like the Grammy-winning “Don’t Know Why,” the album weaves together serene piano and a warm, soothing voice.
Its timeless, comforting melodies will make you lose track of time as you’re drawn in.
When you want to step away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, why not give it a listen?
Cheek To CheekElla Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
Two American legends who helped build the history of jazz: Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.
Their miraculous duet album, released in 1956, is Ella and Louis.
Ella’s silky-smooth vocals and Louis’s warm, endearingly gravelly voice nestle together as if in conversation, gently enveloping the listener’s heart.
The stylish accompaniment by the Oscar Peterson Trio pairs perfectly with their singing.
Familiar standards shine anew in a relaxed atmosphere, letting you fully savor the brilliance of their musical dialogue—an enduring masterpiece cherished across generations.
Strange FruitBillie Holiday
The legendary American singer Billie Holiday’s classic album Lady Sings the Blues, released in conjunction with her autobiography.
Because it comes from the later period of her career, her voice bears the deep imprint of life’s hardships—yet that very weight becomes a heightened expressive power that profoundly stirs the listener’s soul.
The title track, which reflects her own life, and the ever-famous Strange Fruit, are nothing less than the embodiment of her very existence.
The blues she spins with her husky, trembling voice, combined with the performances of the master musicians supporting her, bring ineffable emotions surging to the fore.
That voice, which sublimated all the sorrows of life into song, tightens your chest with aching intensity.
Lullaby of BirdlandSarah Vaughan
This is a one-of-a-kind collaborative album by the American “goddess of jazz,” Sarah Vaughan, and the genius trumpeter Clifford Brown.
Vaughan herself cited it as a longtime favorite, and it was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Her commanding, instrument-like vocal mastery on classics like “Lullaby of Birdland” is nothing short of breathtaking.
The thrilling interplay between her rich, resonant voice and Brown’s brilliant trumpet—each matching the other as equals—is irresistible for jazz fans.
A miraculous session whose brilliance transcends time is captured here.