I had the pleasure of taking his class at University of Toledo about a decade ago. I also had the unusual pleasure of driving him to the bookstore near Monroe. He is not just an artist, but also a hell of a great guy. Thanks Jon! I'll never forget.
So cool! I had the pleasure to welcome Jon & his wife and daughters (michelle & ..?)performing at the Jazz Club in Hong Kong back in 1990!! He is not just a very good vocalist but a wonderful person too!
I am trying to find out what particular instrumental solo(s) the vocalese lyrics were written to, and I do not think that it sounds like they were written to Miles and Rollins solos on the original recording from 1954... am I wrong? Anyone know what is up here?
Cool. It'd be quite something to go to that concert. Jon's vocalese is v. impressive, though I have to say I think I liked it slightly better on the vocalese cassette I had when he kinda put the words in there too. Still awesome though.
I have been a Jon Hendricks admirer since 1971, when I got turned on to vocalese via Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks. I had the honor of meeting Jon when he performed with Annie Ross at the Blue Note club in NYC during the late 90s. Jon was amazing on stage, as always, and a kind and appreciative artist. To me it was like meeting royalty. He autographed my copy of Lambert, Hendricks and Ross Sing A Song of Basie LP in the following manner: "Short jazz poem: LISTEN!" Truly a living legend!
This is from the 1985 recording, "Vocalese," which was a masterpiece no other vocal group (including MT) will ever replicate. The tunes--Rollins' "Airegin," Clifford Brown' s "Joy Spring"--were complex, hard to perform, and over most people's heads. Plus Dizzy Gillespie and McCoy Tyner were on the date. It was MT, Hendricks' poetry (and not the scat), African-American music at its best. It wasn't about hip or unhip--it was art. (Is Shakespeare, James Baldwin, or Toni Morrison "hip"?)
I am black and love Manhattan Tranfer; I just had to mention this because there seem to be some black folks on here that feel because they are not black how dear they attempt this; Annie Ross was not black and God was she good ! O.k. I like Ella but I also felt June Christy was underrated and now send in the clowns!
And while I am not a HUGE fan of MT, they continue to introduce hundreds of people each year to vocal jazz, and still sound great after all these years. I don't buy the comparison to Kenny G. I mean....ouch. The torch, however, is being passed to a new generation, and if you really want to listen to some amazing vocalese, you'll need to check out folks like Kurt Elling.
I think the important thing to keep in mind is that vocalese is based on an original instrumental solo. You can't really make a judgement on how well someone is performing without knowing the original tune, because much of the articulation and phrasing is based on the original solo. In this case, I'm thinking either Sonny Rollins or Miles Davis. Janis, for instance, is ripping it up, while I've heard the others do better in the studio.
Plz..you come off as some one who MAY have heard a coupla good jazz albums and read hundreds of critic quotes and now fancies himself as an expert..
Jazz is like soul, more prevalent in people of struggle, but to write someone off BECAUSE of their race is very textbook.
MT makes GREAT music, but i applaud thm even more because of their EFFORT. NO one is attempting what they do. Relax, Bals, this is NOT Elvis, NOT Kenny G, this is NOT even Eminem. Theyre genuine and have worked with the best.
I would rather listen to the sound of feces oozing from my bowels than MT. I Love john Hendricks though. He is one of the best but the true originator of vocalese is Eddie Jefferson. he came first although john made it more popular and penned great lyrics to an impressive amount of jazz tunes. he shames himself by being on stage with MT. Completely soulless and so white they should be slapped. They do not swing!!!!!!!
Wow that is out cold and vicious! I applaud there effort at least they tried to keep that sound alive for the next generation. Too bad i cant say the same for black artists -who left all these wonderful styles for what? Rap, PoP R&B--cant blame them for trying and doing not a bad job-boy you are hard-lol
Them keeping the sound alive is like us stuffing a polar bear then letting them go extinct. Well we still will have the stuffed bear isn't that good enough? hahahaha
Not understanding the hate; well. in a way i do, but HERE?...its not valid. MT and Steely Dan are REAL with what they do and actually can only be compared with each OTHER. They are doing a fusion of jazz that not only Blacks arent doing (if they even know about TODAY), but a style NO one can do. Artist who stay around as long as they have usually are around that long because they are exquisitely unique (MT, Steely Dan, E.W.F., Prince, P.E), and crossover to many taste and are universal
Gained a new respect for MT after learning the lyrics of this joint (they come w/the VOCALESE album). Hendricks may have forgotten his lyrics here, because the original verse is so deep, i doubt he would forego it just for entertainment.
Hi maz2aru, a lot of years since Jon recorded this tune with the Transfers. Anyway, when he sang this original with Dave Lambert & Annie Ross in early sixties, he and Dave sang scat on their parts.
My mom used to listen to Lambert Hendricks and Ross, therefore so did I. He is the master, I hear he is still performing and is 87 years young. If there is any performers I'd love to meet it would be him and Dizzy(RIP)
Jon is the best but of course he learned from the best, had the unbelievable opportunity to learn as a teenager and practice with Art Tatum. Jon could fit more word into a song, because Art could fit more notes than anyone who has ever lived.
That's right, Jon Hendricks is the master of vocalese, and all of them learned from him (Manhattan Transfer, Mark Murphy, Kurt Elling, New York Voices, The Ritz, String of Pearls, Dianne Reeves, Karrin Allyson, +4db,...)
@balhisay Indeed! I had the pleasure of seeing Jon, Janis, Dianne Reeves and Bobby McFerrin sing as a quartet years ago in San Francisco at the Great American Music Hall. Tim Hauser joined later. Great singing all around.
@ohd00bley oh my God!!! Do you have any picture from that event? I asked some time ago to a very famous jazz critic who was there too, but he told he's a writer not a photgrapher :S
The M.T., far more than anyone else, has carried the Lambert, Hendricks & Ross torch(the Pointer Sisters did some great stuff on their 1st few albums, but then went in other stylistic directions); bless them for continuing to breathe vivid life into this wonderful form of expression! & Jon Hendricks is simply 1 of the hippest & most creative cats who ever lived...A great performance(by the instrumentalists, as well);listening enjoyment X's 5!
Im a Jazz singer in Portugal i listen to Jon since ever. His Not Just a Great Bebopper His a Great Person with a great history, a master of Lirycs. A human Tenor horn. His it!
Swing, jive,rithm... You re the Man. Thank you. True your sounds I am were I am Today doing what i do. Thank you Jon.
I had the pleasure of taking his class at University of Toledo about a decade ago. I also had the unusual pleasure of driving him to the bookstore near Monroe. He is not just an artist, but also a hell of a great guy. Thanks Jon! I'll never forget.
cgmadridaz 4 months ago
That one person who disliked this is either a complete moron or a troll
TheBlackProject08 9 months ago
I attended the very first concert of the Vocalese tour in 1984. That was in Montreal. The whole show was AWESOME and ranks in my top 5 shows in life.
jeamphe 9 months ago
let's not 4get "Rare Silk", and the great Eddie Jefferson.
hippyblood4 11 months ago
@hippyblood4 yeah! you are right, and what about The Ritz or New York Voices?
eaprendizaje 11 months ago
So cool! I had the pleasure to welcome Jon & his wife and daughters (michelle & ..?)performing at the Jazz Club in Hong Kong back in 1990!! He is not just a very good vocalist but a wonderful person too!
MyNicole67 1 year ago
Does anyone know if Jon Hendricks and Ella Fitzgerald ever performed together? Good Lord, can you imagine the scat goin' on?
dmreeoogdaq 1 year ago
I am trying to find out what particular instrumental solo(s) the vocalese lyrics were written to, and I do not think that it sounds like they were written to Miles and Rollins solos on the original recording from 1954... am I wrong? Anyone know what is up here?
JayFongerMusic 1 year ago
does anybody have the video (or audio) for 'another night in Tunisia' with McFerrin, Hendricks and Manhattan Transfer? Please upload!
jdosia 1 year ago
Janis is Kinda cute
LoSignorino 1 year ago
Capusotto toca el caño!!!!!!!!!!?????????????'
Gospelar 2 years ago
Cool. It'd be quite something to go to that concert. Jon's vocalese is v. impressive, though I have to say I think I liked it slightly better on the vocalese cassette I had when he kinda put the words in there too. Still awesome though.
mrnnhnz 2 years ago
Yes, the vocalese lyrics of Hendricks solo are awesome. But scat is good to :)
balhisay 2 years ago
Cute when Cheryl gives up the skin to Janis after her solo.
CarlSchwamberger 2 years ago
I have been a Jon Hendricks admirer since 1971, when I got turned on to vocalese via Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks. I had the honor of meeting Jon when he performed with Annie Ross at the Blue Note club in NYC during the late 90s. Jon was amazing on stage, as always, and a kind and appreciative artist. To me it was like meeting royalty. He autographed my copy of Lambert, Hendricks and Ross Sing A Song of Basie LP in the following manner: "Short jazz poem: LISTEN!" Truly a living legend!
acari62 2 years ago
This is from the 1985 recording, "Vocalese," which was a masterpiece no other vocal group (including MT) will ever replicate. The tunes--Rollins' "Airegin," Clifford Brown' s "Joy Spring"--were complex, hard to perform, and over most people's heads. Plus Dizzy Gillespie and McCoy Tyner were on the date. It was MT, Hendricks' poetry (and not the scat), African-American music at its best. It wasn't about hip or unhip--it was art. (Is Shakespeare, James Baldwin, or Toni Morrison "hip"?)
caponsacchi 2 years ago
I love that ANYONE is keeping Jazz alive! Period!
GroundStone1 2 years ago
I Simply Love It!
guidomattina52 2 years ago
I am black and love Manhattan Tranfer; I just had to mention this because there seem to be some black folks on here that feel because they are not black how dear they attempt this; Annie Ross was not black and God was she good ! O.k. I like Ella but I also felt June Christy was underrated and now send in the clowns!
grenadian11 2 years ago 3
@grenadian11 I agree. Where I live lots of Black people like Manhattan Transfer, especially the song Ray's Rock House.
lookatdoor 1 year ago
And while I am not a HUGE fan of MT, they continue to introduce hundreds of people each year to vocal jazz, and still sound great after all these years. I don't buy the comparison to Kenny G. I mean....ouch. The torch, however, is being passed to a new generation, and if you really want to listen to some amazing vocalese, you'll need to check out folks like Kurt Elling.
pretzehlogic 2 years ago
I think the important thing to keep in mind is that vocalese is based on an original instrumental solo. You can't really make a judgement on how well someone is performing without knowing the original tune, because much of the articulation and phrasing is based on the original solo. In this case, I'm thinking either Sonny Rollins or Miles Davis. Janis, for instance, is ripping it up, while I've heard the others do better in the studio.
pretzehlogic 2 years ago
God, Jon rocks!
imaginator09 2 years ago 2
Plz..you come off as some one who MAY have heard a coupla good jazz albums and read hundreds of critic quotes and now fancies himself as an expert..
Jazz is like soul, more prevalent in people of struggle, but to write someone off BECAUSE of their race is very textbook.
MT makes GREAT music, but i applaud thm even more because of their EFFORT. NO one is attempting what they do. Relax, Bals, this is NOT Elvis, NOT Kenny G, this is NOT even Eminem. Theyre genuine and have worked with the best.
maz2aru 2 years ago
now THATS funny, someone with dead, miserable lifeless comments calling others zombies..laughable/lol
maz2aru 2 years ago
I would rather listen to the sound of feces oozing from my bowels than MT. I Love john Hendricks though. He is one of the best but the true originator of vocalese is Eddie Jefferson. he came first although john made it more popular and penned great lyrics to an impressive amount of jazz tunes. he shames himself by being on stage with MT. Completely soulless and so white they should be slapped. They do not swing!!!!!!!
balamoreaux 2 years ago
Wow that is out cold and vicious! I applaud there effort at least they tried to keep that sound alive for the next generation. Too bad i cant say the same for black artists -who left all these wonderful styles for what? Rap, PoP R&B--cant blame them for trying and doing not a bad job-boy you are hard-lol
Revmostrite 2 years ago
Them keeping the sound alive is like us stuffing a polar bear then letting them go extinct. Well we still will have the stuffed bear isn't that good enough? hahahaha
balamoreaux 2 years ago
Not understanding the hate; well. in a way i do, but HERE?...its not valid. MT and Steely Dan are REAL with what they do and actually can only be compared with each OTHER. They are doing a fusion of jazz that not only Blacks arent doing (if they even know about TODAY), but a style NO one can do. Artist who stay around as long as they have usually are around that long because they are exquisitely unique (MT, Steely Dan, E.W.F., Prince, P.E), and crossover to many taste and are universal
maz2aru 2 years ago
I wouldn't compare this to Steely Dan. This is wack. Steely Dan is pretty hip.
RyLay 2 years ago
Had he wrote the lyrics in the 60's Balhisay?
I thought the VOCALESE album were classic intsrumentals that Hendricks made lyrics for. No?
maz2aru 2 years ago
Gained a new respect for MT after learning the lyrics of this joint (they come w/the VOCALESE album). Hendricks may have forgotten his lyrics here, because the original verse is so deep, i doubt he would forego it just for entertainment.
maz2aru 3 years ago
Hi maz2aru, a lot of years since Jon recorded this tune with the Transfers. Anyway, when he sang this original with Dave Lambert & Annie Ross in early sixties, he and Dave sang scat on their parts.
balhisay 2 years ago
My mom used to listen to Lambert Hendricks and Ross, therefore so did I. He is the master, I hear he is still performing and is 87 years young. If there is any performers I'd love to meet it would be him and Dizzy(RIP)
janpage817 3 years ago
Jonh Hendricks is my Jazz professor at the university of toledo... He is truely amazing still
potter1907 3 years ago
That's so cool, what an honor to have him teach you.
janpage817 3 years ago
My father listen to them too. That was a long time ago compared to today's youth culture.
cdishmo 2 years ago
Jon is the best but of course he learned from the best, had the unbelievable opportunity to learn as a teenager and practice with Art Tatum. Jon could fit more word into a song, because Art could fit more notes than anyone who has ever lived.
solaidback21 3 years ago
actually the captions are correct......
easbysguy 3 years ago
john hendrix taught them all
dropfan195 3 years ago
That's right, Jon Hendricks is the master of vocalese, and all of them learned from him (Manhattan Transfer, Mark Murphy, Kurt Elling, New York Voices, The Ritz, String of Pearls, Dianne Reeves, Karrin Allyson, +4db,...)
balhisay 3 years ago
@balhisay Indeed! I had the pleasure of seeing Jon, Janis, Dianne Reeves and Bobby McFerrin sing as a quartet years ago in San Francisco at the Great American Music Hall. Tim Hauser joined later. Great singing all around.
ohd00bley 3 months ago
@ohd00bley oh my God!!! Do you have any picture from that event? I asked some time ago to a very famous jazz critic who was there too, but he told he's a writer not a photgrapher :S
balhisay 3 months ago
great stuff, but the captions mixed up cheryl and janis.
I love this group!
etraig 3 years ago
The M.T., far more than anyone else, has carried the Lambert, Hendricks & Ross torch(the Pointer Sisters did some great stuff on their 1st few albums, but then went in other stylistic directions); bless them for continuing to breathe vivid life into this wonderful form of expression! & Jon Hendricks is simply 1 of the hippest & most creative cats who ever lived...A great performance(by the instrumentalists, as well);listening enjoyment X's 5!
padajoha 3 years ago
Hi padajoha, thanks for your words.
balhisay 3 years ago
Im a Jazz singer in Portugal i listen to Jon since ever. His Not Just a Great Bebopper His a Great Person with a great history, a master of Lirycs. A human Tenor horn. His it!
Swing, jive,rithm... You re the Man. Thank you. True your sounds I am were I am Today doing what i do. Thank you Jon.
One Love
Jazzafari
Jazzafary 3 years ago 2
Jon is a national treasure.
jimgriff 4 years ago 7
Jon Hendricks can fit more words into a song than anyone on earth
TheOtherDeej 4 years ago 7
Seriously. I get tongue-tied just trying to keep up with him...
kenpachihitsugaya 4 years ago 3
the greatest living vocal group alive!
ohirish 4 years ago 3
fantastic!
kristhana 4 years ago
incredible, all of them is awesome
MT rock
blackchords 4 years ago 3