Sarah Vaughan

Definition

Sarah Vaughan was a renowned American jazz singer known for her rich, emotive voice and remarkable vocal range. She played a pivotal role in shaping the sound of jazz vocalists, blending elements of bebop with traditional jazz and pop music. Her influence extends beyond just her singing, as she contributed to the evolution of jazz as an art form while inspiring future generations of vocalists.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Sarah Vaughan was nicknamed 'Sassy' or 'The Divine One' due to her extraordinary vocal talent and stage presence.
2. She was one of the first vocalists to successfully incorporate bebop rhythms into her singing, which helped to bridge the gap between jazz and popular music.
3. Vaughan's recording career spanned over five decades, during which she released numerous albums and won multiple Grammy Awards.
4. She collaborated with many notable musicians, including Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, and Count Basie, showcasing her versatility across different jazz styles.
5. Sarah Vaughan's influence is still felt today, as many contemporary vocalists cite her as a major inspiration in their own musical journeys.

Review Questions

• How did Sarah Vaughan's unique vocal style impact the role of vocalists in jazz during her time?
  • Sarah Vaughan's unique vocal style significantly impacted the role of vocalists in jazz by introducing complex bebop rhythms and improvisational techniques that were previously more common among instrumentalists. Her ability to convey deep emotion through her singing while also displaying technical prowess elevated the expectations for jazz vocalists. As a result, she inspired many singers to explore new possibilities within the genre and helped establish a more prominent place for vocalists in the world of jazz.
• In what ways did Sarah Vaughan influence other female jazz vocalists who followed her career?
  • Sarah Vaughan's influence on other female jazz vocalists can be seen through her innovative approach to phrasing and improvisation, which encouraged future artists to take creative risks with their own interpretations. Vocalists like Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday admired her talent and drew inspiration from her ability to blend technical skill with emotional depth. Vaughan also broke barriers as an African American artist in a predominantly male-dominated field, paving the way for future generations of female musicians to gain recognition and respect in jazz.
• Evaluate Sarah Vaughan's contribution to the intersection of jazz and popular music throughout her career.
  • Sarah Vaughan's contribution to the intersection of jazz and popular music was profound, as she adeptly fused elements of both genres in her work. By incorporating pop standards into her repertoire while maintaining her jazz roots, she appealed to a broad audience without compromising her artistic integrity. This ability to traverse both worlds not only broadened her appeal but also helped to elevate jazz within popular culture during her era. Her collaborations with pop artists and ventures into other styles demonstrated how versatile a jazz singer could be, ultimately influencing how future artists approach genre blending.

Related terms

Bebop: A complex style of jazz developed in the 1940s characterized by fast tempos, intricate melodies, and advanced harmonies.

Jazz Standards: Musical compositions that are widely known, performed, and recorded in the jazz genre, often serving as the foundation for improvisation.

Vocal Improvisation: The spontaneous creation of melody and lyrics by a vocalist during a performance, a key element in jazz music.