Recommended jazz vocals. The world’s greatest jazz singers.
Jazz fills you with exhilaration while maintaining a calm atmosphere.
It’s one of the most familiar genres of music, yet because of its long history, many people may feel it’s a bit “intimidating.”
For those people, we’ve picked out some of the world’s greatest jazz vocalists.
In the first half, we focus on the classic vocalists who helped shape jazz; in the second half, we feature vocalists leading today’s jazz scene.
Whether you’re well-versed in jazz or brand new to it, we’ve put together a list you can enjoy.
Please relax and enjoy it to the very end.
- [2025] Classic Jazz Vocal Albums: Must-Listen Recommendations
- Captivating female jazz singers who illuminate the history of jazz. Recommended jazz vocals from around the world.
- [Start Here] Jazz Masterpieces: A Must-Listen Album Selection
- Famous jazz musicians. Players who have graced the history of jazz.
- The Royal Road of Jazz: Classic modern jazz masterpieces. Popular tracks you should listen to at least once.
- [For Beginners] Classic Modern Jazz Albums: Recommended Records to Start With
- [Jazz Intro] Classic Jazz Tracks Recommended for First-Time Listeners
- A roundup of great soul music singers and artists
- Famous Western jazz classics. Recommended popular songs.
- A classic jazz ballad from Western music. A world-famous masterpiece and popular song.
- A roundup of iconic bossa nova artists and singers
- [Western Jazz] A Special Feature on Standard Numbers You’ve Heard at Least Once
- [Western Music] A Recommendation of the Lady of Soul: Wonderful Female Soul Singers
Recommended Jazz Vocals: The World’s Great Jazz Singers (21–30)
Santa BabyEartha Kitt
Famous for the Christmas classic “Santa Baby”! The owner of that sultry, coquettish voice is the American performer Eartha Kitt.
Her distinctive tone—supple like a cat yet almost otherworldly—sticks with you after just one listen.
While rooted in jazz and cabaret, she also scored hits in disco, and her talents extended beyond music: she portrayed Catwoman in the TV series Batman.
Behind her sexy, sophisticated performances lies a powerful life story of overcoming poverty and speaking out as a social activist.
Chances are, you too will be captivated by that one-of-a-kind voice.
On The Sunny Side Of The StreetKeely Smith
Keely Smith, the American singer hailed as the “Queen of Las Vegas Swing.” Though she won a Grammy for her lively duo with her husband, jazz musician Louis Prima, her prowess as a solo singer was equally exceptional.
Unpretentious in personality, yet once she took the stage her commanding performances captivated audiences—she was the idol of countless fans.
Masterful with ballads and praised for a voice that could make any song swing when she sang it, she kept performing right up into her later years—an undeniably cool legacy.
Recommended Jazz Vocals: The World’s Great Jazz Singers (31–40)
Teach Me TonightNancy Wilson
Nancy Wilson, the American artist celebrated as a “song stylist” who gracefully transcended the boundaries of jazz.
After her debut in 1960, her 1964 single “(You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am” became a hit and won a Grammy Award.
Her performances—where a soprano-like voice that is both delicate and powerfully resonant blends with a rich expressive range spanning soul and pop—are sure to move listeners’ hearts.
Winning three Grammys over her lifetime and an Emmy for her own show, her talent truly marks her as a complete entertainer!
Guess Who I Saw TodaySamara Joy
Samara Joy, hailing from New York, burst onto the contemporary jazz scene like a comet.
Her voice has been described as “silky and buttery,” with a luxuriously smooth tone like the finest velvet.
Her talent, recognized worldwide by music fans, earned her the Grammy Award for Best New Artist with her second album, Linger Awhile.
With a classic vocal style reminiscent of Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald, she brings the brilliance of jazz’s golden age into the present.
Many listeners have found themselves captivated by the depth of jazz after hearing her sing.
Experience her voice that bridges eras at least once.
Send in the ClownsCleo Laine
Cleo Laine, born in the UK and hailed as the Queen of Jazz, captivates most with her stage-honed expressiveness and astonishing vocal range that far exceeds the bounds of jazz.
Her collaborative album with her husband, Johnny Dankworth, Shakespeare and All That Jazz, is justly famous as a masterpiece showcasing her protean vocal artistry.
Notably, she is the only female singer in history to have been nominated for Grammy Awards in all three categories: Jazz, Popular, and Classical.
Her effortlessly genre-crossing performances are breathtaking, and anyone who encounters her voice will be swept away by its extraordinary scale.
You Go to My HeadRachael Price
Though her voice is husky and youthful, she’s a vocalist whose velvety tone carries a rich, sultry depth.
It’s a masterpiece that conveys the pain of heartbreak and a sense of saudade, intertwining strength and vulnerability to exquisite effect.
A highly recommended track that pairs beautifully with the piano trio’s sound.
Autumn LeavesEva Cassidy
A husky, compelling singing voice and a country-tinged yet somehow lonely, heartrending sound are its charms.
This track is a full-on showcase of Eva Cassidy’s uniquely original world, as she sings classic jazz standards with both tenderness and power while accompanying herself on guitar.