Jazz Vocal Styling for Swing Era (1930s-1940s)

Legendary Swing Vocalists - Your Reference Points

Ella Fitzgerald ("First Lady of Song")

Extraordinary vocal range
Perfect pitch
Master of scat singing
Clear, bell-like tone
Exceptional improvisation
Reference: "A-Tisket, A-Tasket," "Flying Home," "Mack the Knife"

Billie Holiday ("Lady Day")

Haunting, emotive quality
Impeccable phrasing behind the beat
Deep emotional interpretation
Unique, plaintive voice
Conversational delivery
Reference: "Strange Fruit," "God Bless the Child," "Summertime"

Key Differences

Aspect	Ella Fitzgerald	Billie Holiday
Tone	Bright, clear	Dark, smoky
Technique	Virtuosic	Emotionally raw
Scat	Extensive	Minimal
Phrasing	Playful, rhythmic	Behind beat, rubato
Range	Wide	Limited but expressive

Core Jazz Vocal Techniques

1. Swing Phrasing

Behind the Beat

The signature swing vocal feel - slightly late, relaxed:

Written:  | One  Two  Three Four |
Sung:     | One   Two   Three  Four |  (slightly delayed)

Anticipation

Start phrases just before the downbeat:

Written:  | (rest) One Two Three |
Sung:     | Oooone Two Three    |  (anticipate beat 1)

Rubato

Stretching and compressing time expressively:

Slow down on important words
Speed through less important syllables
Return to tempo naturally

2. Melodic Interpretation

Note Bending

Slide into or away from notes:

Scoop UP into a note from below
Fall DOWN from a note at the end
Adds emotional color

Grace Notes

Quick ornamental notes before the main note:

Written: "Love"
Sung:    "ah-Love" (quick grace note before)

Melodic Variation

Change the written melody slightly:

Add passing tones
Simplify complex passages
Vary repeated phrases

3. Rhythmic Devices

Syncopation

Accent unexpected beats:

Normal:    ONE two THREE four
Syncopated: one TWO three FOUR (backbeat emphasis)
           or: one two-AND three four

Triplet Feel

Group notes in threes for swing:

Straight: da-da-da-da
Swing:    da-da-DA, da-da-DA (long-short-LONG)

Rhythmic Displacement

Shift phrases earlier or later than written:

Creates tension and release
Keeps listener engaged

4. Scat Singing

What is Scat?

Vocal improvisation using nonsense syllables instead of words.

Common Scat Syllables

Voiced:     doo, ba, bee, bop, dah, dee, dwee
Percussive: dit, dat, bip, bop, skit, skat
Sustained:  ooo, aah, shoo, bah

Basic Scat Patterns

Simple:    doo-bee-doo-bah
Rhythmic:  skit-n-skat-n-doo-wah
Bebop:     doo-dlee-doo-dlee-bop-bah

Scat Guidelines

Base on chord tones (1, 3, 5, 7)
Use scale passages to connect
Match syllables to rhythm (hard syllables for accents)
Listen to Ella Fitzgerald for inspiration
Start simple, build complexity

5. Vibrato

Types

Straight tone: No vibrato (modern, cool)
Terminal vibrato: Add vibrato at end of notes (Billie Holiday)
Constant vibrato: Throughout sustained notes (operatic - avoid)

Swing Era Style

Vibrato used selectively
Often saved for emotional moments
Faster, narrower than classical vibrato
Fitted to the passage

6. Dynamics and Expression

Dynamic Contrast

Build through phrases (crescendo)
Drop to intimate on personal lyrics
Full voice on climactic moments
Whisper for emphasis

Emotional Coloring

Joy: Brighter tone, forward placement
Sadness: Darker tone, breathier
Longing: Sustained notes, rubato
Playfulness: Light, bouncy delivery

Converting a Song to Jazz Vocal Style

Step 1: Learn the Original

Know the melody cold
Understand the lyrics deeply
Identify emotional peaks

Step 2: Establish Swing Feel

Feel the tempo in your body
Internalize the backbeat (2 and 4)
Practice counting in swing time

Step 3: Apply Phrasing Changes

Original: "I love you truly" Jazz: "I... love you tru-ly" (delay, stretch "love")

Step 4: Add Melodic Variations

Original: C - D - E - G Jazz: C - C# - D - Eb - E - G (chromatic approach)

Step 5: Interpret the Lyrics

Which words are most important?
Where should you breathe?
What emotion drives each phrase?

Step 6: Add Improvisation (Optional)

Scat intro or outro
Melodic variations on repeated sections
Fills between phrases

Practical Exercises

Exercise 1: Delay Practice

Sing "Happy Birthday" slightly behind the beat while snapping on 2 & 4.

Exercise 2: Scat Basics

Over a simple ii-V-I:

Dm7:    doo-bee-dah (D-F-A)
G7:     doo-wah-bah (G-B-D)
Cmaj7:  doooo      (C)

Exercise 3: Melodic Variation

Take a simple melody. Sing it 4 times, slightly different each time.

Exercise 4: Emotional Interpretation

Sing one verse happy, one sad, one angry, one longing. Notice how your voice changes.

Song Transformation Checklist

For turning any song into swing jazz:

[ ] Establish swing tempo (120-160 BPM typical)
[ ] Identify the key and comfortable range
[ ] Map out phrase breathing points
[ ] Mark words to emphasize
[ ] Plan where to delay/anticipate
[ ] Add melodic ornaments (grace notes, bends)
[ ] Consider scat sections
[ ] Practice with rhythm section or backing track
[ ] Record yourself and listen back
[ ] Refine based on what sounds natural

Communication with the Band

Signals and Cues

Head nod: Downbeat, start
Eye contact: Trade phrases, handoff
Raised hand: Hold, fermata
Cutting motion: End, cut off

Following the Form

Know when to come in after solos
Signal if taking another chorus
Clear ending signals (ritard, tag)

Style Tips for Authenticity

DO:

Listen to original swing recordings daily
Sing conversationally, like telling a story
Use natural breath points
Let personality come through
Connect with the lyrics emotionally

DON'T:

Over-sing or belt constantly
Use excessive vibrato
Ignore the rhythm section
Rush through phrases
Sacrifice lyrics for fancy runs