vocalese

Vocalese is a style of jazz singing that involves improvising lyrics to fit a pre-existing instrumental jazz composition or arrangement. The vocalist essentially creates a new melody to match the notes and phrasing of a solo or a full instrumental piece. This is distinct from scat singing, where syllables are used instead of words, though vocalese often incorporates scat passages.

The origins of vocalese can be traced back to the late 1930s and early 1940s. One of the earliest and most influential practitioners was Edward "Eddie" Jefferson, who wrote lyrics for Coleman Hawkins' saxophone solo on "Body and Soul." Another pioneer was King Pleasure, whose rendition of "Moody's Mood" (based on James Moody's alto sax solo on "I'm in the Mood for Love") became a significant hit.

Later artists like Jon Hendricks, Dave Lambert, and Annie Ross, forming the trio Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, further popularized the genre. They not only wrote lyrics for instrumental solos but also created entire arrangements with vocal harmonies, effectively replacing instrumental sections with their voices. Their work on albums like "Sing a Song of Basie" is considered a high point of vocalese.

The craft of vocalese requires a deep understanding of both music and lyric writing. The vocalist must accurately interpret the instrumental line, capture its nuances, and then craft words that not only fit the rhythm and pitch but also tell a coherent story or convey a mood. While not as prevalent today as in its heyday, vocalese continues to be appreciated by jazz aficionados and is occasionally explored by contemporary vocalists.