Eddie Jefferson
The founder of vocalese (putting recorded solos to words), Eddie Jefferson did not have a great voice, but he was one of the top jazz singers, getting the maximum out of what he had. He started out working as a tap dancer, but by the late '40s was singing and writing lyrics. A live session from 1949 (released on Spotlite) finds him pioneering vocalese by singing his lyrics to "Parker's Mood" and Lester Young's solo on "I Cover the Waterfront." However, his classic lyrics to "Moody's Mood for Love" were recorded first by King Pleasure (1952), who also had a big hit with his version of "Parker's Mood." Jefferson had his first studio recording that year (which included Coleman Hawkins' solo on "Body and Soul"), before working with James Moody (1953-1957). Although he recorded on an occasional basis in the 1950s and '60s, his contributions to the idiom seemed to be mostly overlooked until the 1970s. Jefferson worked with Moody again (1968-1973), and during his last few years often performed with Richie Cole. He was shot to death outside of a Detroit club in 1979. Eddie Jefferson, who also wrote memorable lyrics to "Jeannine," "Lady Be Good," "So What," "Freedom Jazz Dance," and even "Bitches' Brew," recorded for Savoy, Prestige, a single for Checker, Inner City, and Muse; his final sides appeared in 1999 under the title Vocal Ease.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
Discography
16 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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The Jazz Singer: Vocal Improvisations on Famous Jazz Solos
Jazz - Released by Inner City on 1 Jan 1965
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Letter From Home (Remastering 2022)
Bebop - Released by Honey Pie on 1 Jan 1962
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Golden Essentials
Vocal Jazz - Released by Stardust Records on 1 Dec 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Jazz Singer
Jazz - Released by Inner City Records on 1 Jan 1965
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Body And Soul
Jazz - Released by Original Jazz Classics on 1 Jan 1968
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Letter From Home (Remastered Version) (Honey Pie Collection)
Jazz - Released by Honey Pie on 29 Apr 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Letter From Home
Jazz - Released by Original Jazz Classics on 1 Jan 1962
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Main Man
Jazz - Released by Inner City Records on 9 Oct 1977
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jazz & Vocal Greats
Jazz - Released by Classic Music International on 4 Jan 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Essential Jazz Vocals
Jazz - Released by Master Series, Inc. on 6 Dec 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Letter from Home (All Tracks Remastered, Ep)
Jazz - Released by Hit Singles Records on 15 Apr 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Milestones of Jazz Legends - Male Jazz Singers, Vol. 7
Jazz - Released by Intense Media GmbH on 18 Mar 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo