Kurt Elling in Ghent

[Smithsoneon]

What is the second song he sang called?

[MattieSongbird]

@Smithsoneon hello, I believe the second song is Resolution. A vocalese rendition of Coltrane's solo.

[sorrythen1]

2 much!!!! MR ELLING IS TOO MUCH!!! :D watta range, wat skill, watta voice!!!!

[atpal]

I don't know. This sounds like it sucks to me. I don't think it's because I'm not there in person. I think it's because he can't sing in tune.

[klipponone]

@atpal you suck, kurt is the greatest jazz singer of all time! listen to more of his pieces then you might just be a believer!

[velomatty]

@atpal Your an idiot. You obviously have no idea what vocalese is. I suggest you stick to listening to Kenny G...

[FrankSax77]

This dude can SO sing!! I LOVE Kurt Elling. He totally deserves that Grammy for Vocal Jazz CD. They did the Hartman/Coltrane date really well, with Grammy-nom. arrangements.

Elling is so brilliant, and his chops, there's a little of the straight scat on this. And RESOLUTION PT2--Libretto for Coltrane and Dexter lines--brilliant Yo!

[lesatz4]

su voz es inconfundible al igual que su forma de cantar.

Me entusiasma!!

[masna2]

ohoh... amazing

[zaenzaen]

Hey man! yEH!!!!!

Vishnu!!! live..singing Coltrane Livings space!

Live in POwer my friend!

[larunru]

Wonderfull KURT !!! Bravo!

[crazeemohfoh]

I think Kurt is a competent singer in some ways, however, I think the shrieking and the babbling are baby-like. He sounds like a newborn with a deep voice, trying to decipher words at a rapid tempo. It bothers me that people go wild over this; maybe I just don't understand it. Also, I must agree, I think his lyrics are pretty awful; they are a blasphemy to all the instrumental jazz solos he's ever tampered with. Sighs*

[Rickriquinho]

Ive been saying the same thing; look at my comments in another Ellings videos.

[dougc85]

I'm not often one to write about a musician just to tear them down; I mean, whatever, artists are expressing themselves; people's tastes are different, etc.  But Elling just exudes arrogance and to read infinite comments and reviews talking about him like he's the second coming sort of makes me want to chime in. I really don't think he's very good. I mean, if I met him at a jam session, I might appreciate the energy he brings to his singing, but I wouldn't want to buy his record.

[dougc85]

I mean, I'm not sure what's happening at 1:28, but it's not very musical. It's loud...and fast, sort of. It's mostly just a trick, right? And hearing the audience cheer at his mumbling and not at the much hipper piano playing is annoying. And, I think, what's even worse about some of that showmanship is that it gets repeated by singers learning how to scat, mistaking something flashy (with less substance than most flashy music) for something tasteful.

[dougc85]

And his lyrics..."How did smoke learn how to fly?

Where do birds go off to die?

Why does coal sleep in darkness?

Do dreams live in apart-ness?" I don't get it. There's no subtlety. It's something somebody would write in a high school creative writing class, thinking they had found poetic gold. It's not good writing.

Anyways, I don't like him very much. I think he occasionally sings a few cool licks, and maybe some of his stuff is alright, but a lot of it is no good. Oh well.

[Rickriquinho]

His poetry is really awful!

[TheGodin]

It's not even his poem.

It's a beautiful poem though; you must have bad taste.

[Rickriquinho]

You are right, and your comments are very clever.

[1337L4G]

He is amazing live. You can't comprehend how great he is from this recording. See him live, then make judgments. He is definitely one of my top 5 favorite Jazz singers of all time.

[scatmando]

On what ive heard so far i wouldnt let him sing in my bath. I wonder what the likes of Tony Bennet, Johnny Hartman, Mel Torme and other genuine greats think of him. If the legend that was Mr Torme heard Elling scatting im sure he would have a right good chuckle to himself. But hey, opinions are like butholes we all have one.

[GeniusJunky]

You're comparing a jazz man to crooners. Torme and bennet and Hartman, while they have a permanent place in the vocal history books, were doing much different sorts of singing than the likes of Elling and Mark Murphy and John Hendricks. Neither Torme nor Bennet are really jazzmen. They're good pop singers who listen to lots of jazz.

[scatmando]

I kinda get what you are saying in a way but i have to disagree. Every (jazz) musician that i have ever worked with are always going on about the likes of Tony Bennet and Mel Torme as good role models for singing jazz and they were both known as a musos singer, in other words a joy to play with. Im going to see the so called legend that is Kurt Elling tomorrow night in Edinburgh hes here with the Norbotten big band. I will give you my honest opinion of him on Friday.

[scatmando]

Hello Genius,Just back from the K

[jsphotos]

With respect, Torme was known for his jazz innovations and superb scat singing. Would you call Ella Fitzgerald a pop singer? She and Tormeboth came out of the swing era, but incorporated bebop innovations to keep their sound fresh. Yorme was a penultimate jazz musician, with an amazingly strong intelligence and depth of insight into the structure of song and the history of the music that he sang. One of the true jazz greats.

[tommythomaso]

Torme, known as the "Velvet Fog", was considered by jazz critics and others as being the finest singer ever. Torme loved jazz and sang in the idiom often. Elling on the other hand doesn't seem to be interested in a career in movies and is not pursuing celebrety so much as being a jazz singer. He's the best around.

[scatmando]

And my opinion has just changed on this guy and im sticking to it this time........ This guy Kurt Elling really is up there with the greats of his trade, Im just back home from seeing him perform live in Edinburgh with The Norbotten Big Band and his take on Joe Jacksons Stepping Out was a highlight for me. The man then took the time out after the gig to pose for a picture with me and not an ego in sight. So to all musos who think the world revolves around them,take a leaf out this guys book

[nychandball]

Sounds to me Kurt is doing something that seems to be a little over your head if you "wouldnt let him sing in your bath".

[scatmando]

nychanball if you took the time to read all my above comments you will see my attitude has changed towards him and I have the upmost respect for his singing and musicianship. The first song I heard him sing was In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning and I didnt like it, just a bit to jazzwank for me, But Nature Boy with The Sydney Orchestra and his trio was AMAZING. Now read all before jumping back on your highhorse matey.

[6stringmonster]

how can you say elling sucks? he has an amazing ear, he's right on key, he has taste, and he's got such a smooth feel; just listen to him do april in paris or you dont know what love is. you should rather say that you dont like elling, not elling sucks.

[moneymasterjet]

I met Kurt at IAJE. He cool. Watched him at jazz alley...twice. Damn. Learned alot each time. I like him. He does it for love and not for ego. Jam on Kurt.

[Thomaso88]

My Foolish Heart, Excellent!!!!

[hellskitchen123]

i was there! chick corea en gary burton where on stage there the salme day. It's the Blue Note Records festival

[snazzyboy4077]

Kurt Elling is an absolutely amazing artist with an incredibly versatile voice. His performance is splendid on recordings, though even more so when one is fortunate enough to attend the live performance, as I was this year at Blue Note.

[jazziko]

minor7b5 please watch "americal idol", you do not deserve anything else. Elliot will be your idol

[minor7b5]

Elling sucks.

[lewood1204]

jealous

[minor7b5]

don't get your water hot, lewood; the sound is bad & I just don't like the guy's singing. I know many don't share my opinion.

[lewood1204]

This guy has a pretty high level in music and good carrier behind. I can understand this is not your cup of tea, but saying elling sucks is too extreme and wrong, even if you can take a mic to sing coltrane half as good as he does.

[retroafro98]

i agree leewood, for his rendering of Resolution alone, to say he sucks is just too extreme. i can understand how some would be put off by his scats and more poetic pieces, but, even those are leagues beyond most male vocalists today. Needless to say I'm a huge Elling fan...his pitch is perfect, he's highly inventive..amazing.

[kevinherbert]

lewood1204: don'y worry about minorb75..he's a well known disser of everything he hears on YouTube.....the only thing he likes to hear is his own voice....why won't he post some of his talent???..'cos he's most likely not got a shred of talent to spare

[carlyalex]

What a tremendous lack of class.

[minor7b5]

me or him?

[gottarockman]

As a Jazz singer and Jazz music fan I strongly disagree,I don't think Mr.Elling sux,and u shoulda shown some respect,for anyone who worked so hard and dedicated so much passion and love to music.

[amdinga]

Elling does NOT suck. You're entitled to your opinion, you can say that to you, he does not sound good, but he certainly does not suck. He's won downbeat's best male jazz singer of the year for the last SEVEN years. You don't achieve that kind of streak by sucking.

[minor7b5]

Why don't y'all lighten up? It's all a question of taste, & my ears tell me the guy sucks.....period. LOL...BTW, I make my living as a pro jazz musician and teach at the university level. That doesn't make my opinion more VALID than anyone else's, but I'm still entitled to say what I think.

[amdinga]

I would expect a professional jazz musician/jazz professor to be able to provide a stronger critique than "Elling sucks."

[minor7b5]

Kurt Elling is a very professional jazz vocalist, very good at what he does. It's simply a matter of taste; he's not my cup of tea. I was wrong to say "Elling sucks." Maybe I was just in a bad mood at the time or something. Also; the audio on this is not very good, so how about I reserve judgement on his singing till I hear a decent recording of his work?

[scatmando]

Here here mate, I first heard KE sing In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning and I for one thought it sucked but after seeing him sing live in Edinburgh I have to admit I liked him. His range in his voice is amazing and he had good stage presence and was rather funny, and he came out to the public bar for pics and a chat and he seems like a really nice guy.

But heh man you are entitled to your opinion, when I first heard him I thought to much jazzwank for me but that was only my first listen.

[loudsinger]

A lot of people hear Kurt on a particular chart and write him off without investigating the bredth of his abilities...I debate this with my friends in and out of professional jazz and classical circles all the time. Bach and Mozart both died paupers thinking that the world hated their music, history will be the judge and if Jon Hendricks is our standard bearer of vocalise, then Kurt will surely carry the torch.

[swerve19]

don't believe that, anyone at that level would atleast

recognize this guys talent.

[minor7b5]

I didn't say he was without talent; just that he's not someone I'd listen to twice. Deal with it.

[kevinherbert]

minor7b5 'disturbance': I reckon Kurt & his fans are really gonna lose a lot of sleep over your emotionally tired opinion..I've told you b4,don't take drugs & comment..it always shows..if you're not giving it to Herb Ellis, you're giving it to someone... post something o mighty musician..or are you just anotyher YouTube big mouth

[rdangelo]

But you do have a rather pretentious screen-name, minor7b5. ..

[minor7b5]

what's pretentious about my name? I think it's rather appropriate for a jazz musician. It came to mind, so I used it. So fuck you; if you don't like it, choke on it.

[rdangelo]

Boy, someone woke up on the wrong side of the Real Book, didn't we?

[minor7b5]

ELLING SUCKS

[kevinherbert]

minor7b5: ah here you are on You Tube once more, big noting your supposed ' taste '..I still reckon guys/girls like you should be making instruments, not playing them !!!!

[Rickriquinho]

You are right, this singer is nothing. Its a collective hysteria.

[gobignumber7]

AWESOME! Kurt Elling is the definition of an artist.

[minor7b5]

As a jazz guitarist & singer I strogly disagree.