Jazz?

[tru blu]

Quote:

If you're looking for that female artist in jazz I suggest you check out:
 
Billie Holiday
Ella Fitzgerald
Anita O'Day
 
 
specifically:
Billie Holiday-
Autumn in New York
Solitude
A Fine Romance
Strange Fruit
You've Changed
 
Ella Fitzgerald-
Don't Mean a Thing
Airmail Special
Body and Soul
Anything Goes
Cheek to Cheek
 
Anita O'Day-
Tea For Two
Sweet Georgia Brown
Honeysuckle Rose
Sing, Sing, Sing
What Is This Thing Called Love?

 
Sooooo glad someone got to some women. I'd add…
 

 
Dinah Washington - The Definitive…
 
 

 
Carmen McRae - …Sings Lover Man and Other Billie Holiday Classics

 

[Spyro]

PATRICIA BARBER..hellow!  anybody out there? 
 
Best jazz vocalist in the 21st century.

 

[tru blu]

Quote:

PATRICIA BARBER..hellow!  anybody out there? 
 
Best jazz vocalist in the 21st century.

 
…no disrespect, but I think the OP used the word "soulful"…Barber's definitely freewheeling and unique, but "soulful" may not be the first word her work brings to mind…

 

[preproman]

Quote:

PATRICIA BARBER..hellow!  anybody out there? 
 
Best jazz vocalist in the 21st century.

 
Diana Krall as well..

 

[GearMe]

Quote:

Here are 25 jazz albums that I feel combine both great tunes, performances and recordings.

Dave Brubeck Quartet, Time Out...also 25th Anniversary Reunion CD

Diana Krall, Live in Paris...also Steppin' Out -- great singer and solid pianist as well (check out 'Big Foot', not a vocal on the track)

Wes Montgomery, Smokin' at the Half Note

+1

 
A few less listened to artists...

1. Bobby Enriquez - Wild Piano (love Bye Bye Blackbird...but I think he breaks the keyboard on Classical Gas!)
2. Stevie Ray Vaughan - Chitlins Con Carne and Riviera Paradise...yeah I know he's a blues / rock guy, but man he can play and these are jazzy tunes.
3. Stanley Jordan - Sunny & Georgia on my mind...plays with Hammering Style...does Lead and Rhythm on one guitar; in one take...no overdubs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-D1-sseP_A)
4. The Three (Joe Sample, Ray Brown, Shelly Manne) - Satin Doll, Funky Blues, On Green Dolphin Street...great jazz trio

 

[tjkurita]

From your enjoyment of MMW, you might want to check out John Scofield's funkier stuff.  I think Scofield "A Go-Go" you will really like (with MMW as his backing band).  And Grant Green "Alive."  I think another entry into jazz from the funky side would be, as you mentioned, Miles' stuff from the late 60's.  After that you might want to get a taste of modal stuff and then hard bop, etc. to get the vocabulary.  From there, you might go to some of Coltrane's "wall of sound" period from the late 50's to early 60's.  A great set is the Village Vanguard stuff from '61 either the Master Takes or the Complete Recordings.  Once that happens you will be ready for anything! 
 
This is how I got into jazz as a teenager.  I really liked improvised rock and roll like the Dead and the Allman Brothers but I was looking for more and more sophisticated music.  I got into jazz by listening to Miles Davis' "In a Silent Way." and then started listening to funkier jazz.  Then I went back in time and got very deep into Miles' great quintet with Coltrane.  Once I heard Coltrane I was hooked.  He led me into free jazz and the sky was the limit for me.  But without expanding my vocabulary I don't think I would have found the late period Coltrane stuff and stuff like Ornette Coleman as accessible.  I still find that my favorite jazz music was from approximately 1955 to 1962.  For me, that is the sweet spot. 
 
For soulful females, maybe Nina Simone, Carmen McCrae, Billie Holiday...

 

[jonyoo]

I only listen to instrumental jazz but here's what I like:
 
For piano, synth, keys:
Scott Wilkie
recommend "Sporty!"
 
For fusion jazz:
Tsquare, Casiopia
recommend "Fightman"
 
For chill jazz:
Fourplay
recommend "Magic Carpet Ride"

 

[Spurs]

Check out Jimmy Smith if you are looking into soul jazz.

 

[bbophead]

 
Quote:

Check out Jimmy Smith if you are looking into soul jazz.

Hopefully this successful kickstarter project will find distribution soon.  Jimmy Smith's son talks with Tony Monaco.  Others are Jimmy Smith video clips, also Dr. Lonnie Smith, Trudy Pitts, Joey DeFranceso, Reuben Wilson, Jimmy McGriff.  Choice hour thirty.
​

 

[linglingjr]

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[preproman]

I see 4 albums in iTunes.  That's if you don't mind compressed tracks.  They sound pretty good.