Vocalese is a style of jazz singing where words are added to the improvisation created by an instrumental soloist.

Definition

Vocalese uses familiar lyrics that are sung over pre-existing instrumental solos, unlike scat singing, which uses nonsensical words like "bap ba dee dot bwee dee" in solos. During the "first wave" of vocalese, this style sometimes honored the original instrumentalist. The word "vocalese" is based on the musical term "vocalise"; the suffix "-ese" suggests a type of language. The term was introduced by jazz critic Leonard Feather to describe the first album by Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross, titled Sing a Song of Basie.

Most vocalese lyrics are syllabic, not melismatic. This often results in many words being sung quickly in a single phrase, especially in bebop music.

Notable vocalese performers

King Pleasure began recording early examples of vocalese in 1949. The most well-known people who helped make vocalese popular are Jon Hendricks, Dave Lambert, and Annie Ross, who performed together as Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross. Other artists who used vocalese include Bob Dorough, Eddie Jefferson, Giacomo Gates, Kurt Elling, Al Jarreau, Mark Murphy, Roger Miller, New York Voices, The Royal Bopsters, and The Manhattan Transfer. The Manhattan Transfer’s Grammy-winning version of the song “Birdland,” originally by Weather Report, included lyrics written by Jon Hendricks. In 1990, Jon Hendricks released a vocalese version of the song “Freddie Freeloader” by Miles Davis, which included performances by Al Jarreau, George Benson, and Bobby McFerrin.

In 1979, Joni Mitchell wrote lyrics for songs by Charles Mingus, including “The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines” and “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat,” which were included on her album Mingus.

Other vocalese singers around the world include Les Double Six, who were popular in the 1960s, and Emilie-Claire Barlow from Canada. Some performers, such as Slim Gaillard, Harry Gibson, Cab Calloway, and Leo Watson, use both vocalese and scat singing in their music.