Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Pages: 208
•
Trim: 6 x 9
978-1-4422-2935-8 • Paperback • December 2015 • $50.00 • (£38.00)
978-1-4422-2936-5 • eBook • December 2015 • $47.50 • (£37.00)
Jan Shapiro has been on the faculty of Boston's Berklee College of Music for the past 31 years. She is a world -class practitioner of the art of jazz singing. She served as chairwoman in Berklee College's vocal department for over a decade.
Chapter 1 - The History of Jazz and Elements of Jazz Singing
Chapter 2 - Singing Jazz and Voice Science
Chapter 3 - Vocal Health and the Vocal Jazz Artist
Chapter 4 - Jazz Vocal Characteristics
Chapter 5 - Developing Jazz Ears
Chapter 6 - The Great American Songbook
Chapter 7 - Scat and Interpretation
Chapter 8 - Jazz Vocal Performance
Chapter 9 - Jazz Singing as a Career
For the reader intent on pursuing a career as a jazz vocalist, the entire book is useful; however, several chapters are indispensable.... This volume never wanders from a practical approach. Shapiro walks the singer through professional preparedness and etiquette, from the creation of lead sheets to appropriate apparel. She describes the challenges faced by the prospective jazz singer, such as a diminishing number of performance venues, and a proliferation of easily accessible recordings (usually as close as a cell phone) that lessens the demand for live performances. The author is not pessimistic, however, about the genre; nor does she discourage the reader to pursue jazz singing, either as an avocation or as a profession. Instead, she paints a realistic picture of the challenges and rewards that await the singer who is serious about a career in jazz.-Brian Manternach— Journal of Singing
So You Want to Sing Jazz, which in nine chapters provides the aspiring jazz vocal professional with the tools necessary to become just that. The book is highly practical, peppered with real-life tips that run from gargling lemon and honey to dressing appropriately for the job. The plethora of exercises and tips makes this book an excellent resource for those just finding their jazz singer feet, and will also be useful for the more seasoned singer to dip into.
— Jazz Journal