#7 Jazz Vocal production

Welcome back to my blag series "Jazz for the Classical Vocalist. This might be a good time to revisit that video in the introduction post. 

If you would prefer not to be a joke that's posted on social media in perpetuity, read on. So, what's going on here? Can you identify why these poor singers have ended up being  shamed for this performance for so many years? In contrast, let's check out the work of the great Carmen McRae, performing live in 1986.
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How would you describe the difference in the tone production of Carmen McRae in comparison to the singers in the first video? She's mostly staying in a register that classical vocal teachers don't talk about, and it's called "mix." It's not chest voice, and it's definitely not head voice. It rests securely in the front of the mask. This type of vocal production works right in the register that spans the break in the area of E4 and F4. Try singing triads starting on and A3 and going up to an A4 in a super nasal tone using the syllable "nya." You should using much less air than you would in head voice. To understand this, close your lips and blow out against them. Do you feel that pressure building in your core? Then try building pressure behind the syllable "B" and then sing "Bee" around an F4. It should feel bright and highly pressurized in your core.

Homework - Pull out the Latin tune that you chose in blog #2, and try singing it on a bright, nasal "nya" on every note. You can also try singing it on the syllable "bee" to practice building a more pressurized tone. You're at the point now where it might help you to work with someone who specializes in jazz and CCM genres to make sure you're getting this right. I'd be happy to meet up on Zoom to see how you're doing with this, so just let me know!